Downtown Parking

In an effort to address parking concerns throughout downtown Goldsboro, the City will begin enforcement of two-hour on-street parking within the managed parking zone. This area includes Center Street from Ash to Chestnut; Mulberry Street from John to James; and Walnut Street from John to James. All other streets are not included and parking will continue as before.

Please see the Goldsboro Downtown parking map below for helpful information. The color-coded margin on the left side of the map shows where the two-hour on-street parking areas are located. The public lots shown have NO TIME LIMIT. Street parking areas with NO TIME LIMIT are also displayed. If you plan to spend longer than two hours downtown, park in the NO TIME LIMIT areas so you don’t have to move your vehicle. ADA/Handicap spots throughout downtown are also shown. Best of all, downtown parking listed on the map is FREE!

With the enforcement of two-hour on-street parking, visitors to City Hall or nearby businesses will no longer be able to park in the off-street lots next to City Hall (Center Street) and behind the City Hall Addition (Mulberry Street) from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. These lots will be reserved for City employees during this time. However these lots are open to the public Saturdays and Sundays with NO TIME LIMIT.

Goldsboro Police Department has hired a parking specialist who will enforce downtown parking regulations. Parking management enforcement is in the soft rollout phase. During this initial phase, warning tickets will be issued to those in violation of two-hour parking rules. Parking violation fines will not be assessed until the soft rollout phase has ended. A two-hour parking violation is $50. A late fee of $25 will be added if the fine is not paid within two weeks. 

Background:

In 2016, a traffic and parking study was done to analyze available parking, traffic conditions, patterns of use and opportunities. The study found that there were 1,929 parking spaces downtown, and determined that wayfinding signage was needed to help direct and inform the public. Wayfinding was added in 2020, however downtown has realized significant growth in the last three years, doubling the number of upper story apartments, realizing 40 building rehabilitations. This is fantastic progress, though it has led to congestion of street parking and a change in traffic/parking patterns that require the City to revisit management and education strategies.

The City of Goldsboro hosted a forum on Jan. 26, 2023, to hear input from downtown stakeholders — including residents, visitors, business owners, employees, property owners, landlords, and developers — regarding parking throughout the downtown area. Parking affects everyone who visits downtown Goldsboro, regardless of frequency. The goal of this public meeting was to gather input and feedback regarding downtown parking capacity and use, in an effort to determine the best way to manage changing parking needs.

After reviewing downtown parking concerns, the Downtown Development Department presented options to City Council for parking management to include two-hour parking in designated areas from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Council approved the implementation of two-hour parking at its May 1, 2023, meeting.