Free parking at eight Baltimore city-owned garages ends Wednesday night as storm cleanup continues

Free garage parking to end at 7 p.m. Wednesday

Baltimore’s temporary free parking program at city-owned garages is set to end at 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 28, returning facilities to normal paid operations. The measure was introduced as part of the city’s winter storm response, aimed at helping residents move vehicles off designated snow emergency routes so crews could plow curb-to-curb and maintain access for emergency services.

City officials have said this extension will be the final time free garage parking is continued for the January 24–27 winter storm event, and have urged drivers currently using the garages to plan to relocate their vehicles back to residential streets once charging resumes.

Which garages are included

The free-parking offer has applied to eight city-owned garages. The city has emphasized that availability is first-come, first-served and not guaranteed, and that residents may be asked to show proof of Baltimore City residency.

• Baltimore Street Garage (15 Guilford Ave.)
• Caroline Street Garage (805 S. Caroline St.)
• Fleet & Eden Garage (501 S. Eden St.)
• Franklin Street Garage (15 W. Franklin St.)
• Little Italy Parking Garage (400 S. Central Ave.)
• Penn Station Garage (1511 N. Charles St.)
• St. Paul Street Garage (210 St. Paul Pl.)
• West Street Garage (40 E. West St.)

Why the city opened garages for residents

The garage program has been tied to enforcement on snow emergency routes, where parking restrictions remain in effect regardless of posted sign times during the emergency phase. The city has warned that illegally parked vehicles on these routes can be ticketed and towed, citing the need to keep roads clear for plowing and for emergency access.

Parking restrictions on snow emergency routes are intended to support curb-to-curb plowing and continued road treatment.

Other temporary parking options and deadlines

In addition to garages, the city opened free parking at select Baltimore City Public Schools locations with lots during the storm response period. Those school-lot options are also scheduled to end at 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 28, with vehicles required to be removed by that time.

What residents should do next

Drivers using garages or school lots are being asked to plan ahead for the transition back to normal operations Wednesday evening. The city has continued to encourage residents to avoid parking on snow emergency routes while cleanup is ongoing, and has directed residents to the city’s 311 system for service requests related to winter weather impacts and street conditions.

The parking changes come as Baltimore continues managing road treatment and cleanup following the late-January storm, with city crews and contractors operating around the clock across prioritized routes.