Parking restrictions in Fresno’s Tower District? Yes, and here’s what you should know

Those not paying particular attention during their trips into Fresno’s Tower District may have missed the parking signs that went up in front of businesses along Olive Avenue earlier this month.

Those who did notice the signs may have questioned whether this was the city implementing new restrictions or hinting at new plans for parking on the main corridor of the commercial and entertainment district.

It’s not.

The city’s parking options are evaluated on a regular basis “to determine if the current parking situation is successful or if a more in-depth evaluation needs to be conducted,” according to the city’s director of communications, Sontaya Rose.

Currently, there are no plans to install meters along Olive Avenue or to charge for the city-owned parking lot behind the Tower Theatre. The lot was included in the city’s purchase of the theater in 2022 .

“When the City acquired the lot,” Rose said, “it was determined that the lot would remain free of charge for daily parking.” A small portion of the lot is used by the theater during events for VIP parking.

But there are parking restrictions along Olive Avenue — 27 spaces with a two-hour parking restriction along the north and south sides of Olive Avenue , according to the city.

This parking zone has been in place since 2018 and was fulfilled after requests from businesses in the area, Rose said.

“They are monitored and enforced on a daily basis.”

The new signs were installed at four spots — at Olive and Linden avenues; Olive and Broadway avenues; Olive and Lucerne avenues; and in front of International Furniture.

Parking in those areas is restricted to two hours, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

Additionally, there is no parking for vehicles more than six feet high.

Last year, the city installed similar signs because the existing ones were covered in graffiti, the city said.

Parking restrictions in other parts of Fresno

Olive Avenue is an oddity in Fresno. It is one of the few areas outside of downtown to have parking restrictions and the only commercial corridor.

The city does have 11 Residential Parking Districts, where permits are required to park on the street during certain days and times.

The largest of these districts runs for several blocks around Veterans Affairs Medical Center , but there are also Residential Parking Districts around Fresno City College, Fresno State (during football home games) and in front of Duncan Polytechnical High School.

Comparative parking regulations in Clovis, Visalia

Other cities have restricted parking along shopping and entertainment corridors.

In Visalia, for example, parking along Main Street can be posted at anywhere from three hours to 20 minutes. Last month, there was come contention over the restrictions, as the owner of Crawdaddy’s in Visalia took to social media (and the sign posts outside his restaurant) to call the city out for making “unethical revenue” by handing out tickets.

In Old Town Clovis , all parking is free but it may also come with time restrictions. Drivers can park on any of the public streets or in one of several parking lots, but they should pay attention to posted signs.

Depending on where you park, “it will either be no time limit, two hours, or three hours,” said Ty Wood with the Clovis Police Department. Parking is enforced daily except for Sundays and holidays.

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