City Announces Healthcare Worker/First Responder Parking Pass Program

Following the suggestion of the City Council, City Manager Karen Conard has directed the creation of a program to provide free parking on City streets to Portsmouth residents who are healthcare workers or First Responders.

The return to paid parking on city streets has imposed an extra burden, in the form of erratic and late hours, on these residents who are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic response. To allow them to park as close as possible to their homes, the new program, starting Monday, April 27, will provide them with hangtags to place on the rearview mirrors of their vehicles. The presence of the hangtags alerts parking enforcement officers that on-street parking fees are being waived.

The procedure for residents to obtain a Healthcare Worker/First Responder Parking Pass is as follows:  

1. Applicants go to Foundry Place office with proof of employment in healthcare or as a First Responder, and Portsmouth residency.

2. Applicants fill out an application for the Healthcare/First Responder hangtag free parking pass.

3. Applicant receives a hangtag and places it on the rearview mirror of the vehicle.

4. The hangtag indicates a waiver of any fee for 'paid parking' spots. As with all hangtag pass programs, this waiver does not apply to Foundry Place or Hanover garages because of the mechanics of the automated-gate entry.

5. The Healthcare Worker/First Responder Parking Pass program is in effect April 27 through June 30, 2020.

All Portsmouth parking has a 72-hour limit, which will apply to these pass-holders, as well.