Update: Good news, Denver. On March 19, Mayor Hancock announced that, due in large part to outcry on social media, the city would suspend parking meters payments, booting, time limits and residential parking limits.
Metered parking in the city will be extended, with free parking available during the evenings at these spots starting on Thursday.
You will be able to park for free from now until Thursday at metered spots. Why? Because between now and then, the city will be recalibrating meters, meaning they won't be functioning.
After Thursday, payment will be required at metered parking spots throughout the city, with spots available for use for up to 10 hours, eight hours more than the current limit, between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The spots will be free between 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Enforcement for metered parking will begin Thursday as well, which means you can still get towed or booted if you break the rules.
City-owned surface parking lots and parking garages will remain accessible to the public.
However, there won't be changes for non-metered parking where time limits are posted. You can still get a ticket if you park longer than what's allowed by the posted signs. City spokesperson Loa Esquilin-Garcia said the city is still enforcing this because people are still able to get out of their homes since the city has not mandated a shelter-in-place.
"Denver will continue to enforce posted time limits in non-metered areas to support the turnover of parking spaces and adjacent business activity," a statement from the city's Joint Information Center read.
Other new rules will take effect on Thursday.
The city is suspending its 72-hour parking rule. For streets without a parking-time limit, people may leave their car in one spot for longer than 72 hours.
Places with residential parking program restrictions will allow people with valid permits to park their cars in a single spot for more than 72 hours. You can still apply for a residential parking permit on the city's website if your address has that option.
Also being lifted: rules about larger vehicles. You can park trucks or other vehicles longer than 22 feet on streets as long as there are no posted time limits.
You can still report cars parked where they shouldn't be to 311.
Correction: This article has been updated to reflect city-owned surface parking lots and parking garages will still operate but won't be free.
