City to begin selling parking permits in early August

By Seraine Page

Correspondent

Gainesville Sun

Gainesville residential neighborhood parking permits/decals will be available for purchase starting Aug. 2.

A grace period will be in effect through Sept. 11 to "allow students and new residents to pick up decals before they are issued citations for not having one," said Bob Woods, the city's communications manager.

Permits are primarily for residents of single-family homes, and decals are for apartment complexes or multifamily units, he said.

People who live in any of the eight zones that require permits or decals can buy permits in person or online for $18.50 per decal.

Decals cannot be transferred from car to car, but those living in areas that require permits may transfer the tag between vehicles if they own more than one car, Woods said.

Decals and permits purchased online will be mailed to property owners or property managers, according to a July 21 news release from the city.

"Students living in sorority and fraternity houses associated with the University of Florida may also purchase residential decals online, provided the University of Florida submits the official member lists to the City of Gainesville," the news release said.

Any decals purchased online for sorority or fraternity houses will be mailed to the house director of each chapter house, according to the release."This is a city-managed program, separate from the UF program," Woods said. "A lot of college communities have this program. (If they didn't), it would result in a great deal of confusion."

To allow enough time for delivery, residents are encouraged to buy decals at least one week before the grace period ends or before their current permit or decal expires.

Any questions can be answered by people in the parking decal office. Call 334-5024 Monday through Thursday from 7 am to 6 pm.