Chattanooga City Council Advances CARTA Parking Enforcement Takeover

New ordinance would allow CARTA to boot repeat violators and set pricing guidelines for private parking operators.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 9:55pm

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The Chattanooga City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that would grant the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) the ability to boot vehicles of parking violators with three or more delinquent citations. The ordinance would also make CARTA the licensing agency for parking enforcement in the city, allowing it to set pricing guidelines for private parking operators.

Why it matters

This move is aimed at addressing concerns about the city's parking ecosystem becoming increasingly predatory, with private operators aggressively monetizing parking lots. The ordinance is seen as a way to bring down parking prices and make the system more consumer-friendly.

The details

The proposed legislation would give CARTA's subsidiary, the Chattanooga Parking Authority, the power to place immobilizing boots on vehicles of parking violators with three or more unpaid citations. The ordinance would also make CARTA the licensing agency for parking enforcement in Chattanooga. While the specific licensing requirements are not outlined, a draft plan presented to CARTA's board includes pricing guidelines for private operators, such as a $3 maximum hourly rate and $18 maximum daily rate.

  • The City Council unanimously advanced the ordinance on March 31, 2026.
  • The final vote on the ordinance is scheduled for April 7, 2026.

The players

Tim Kelly

The Mayor of Chattanooga, who attended the City Council meeting to express his support for the ordinance, emphasizing the need for affordable, convenient, and seamless parking downtown.

Jenny Hill

The Chattanooga City Council Chair, who expressed her belief that the city's parking ecosystem had become predatory in the past six years, with private operators aggressively monetizing parking lots.

Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA)

The regional transportation authority that would be granted the ability to boot repeat parking violators and set pricing guidelines for private parking operators under the proposed ordinance.

Chattanooga Parking Authority

A subsidiary of CARTA that would be responsible for enforcing parking regulations and booting repeat violators under the new ordinance.

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What they’re saying

“It needs to be affordable. It needs to be convenient, and it needs to be as seamless as possible.”

— Tim Kelly, Mayor of Chattanooga

“It was like there was a gold rush. I can just imagine the salesmen calling up and being like, 'Did you know you can monetize your parking lot.'”

— Jenny Hill, Chattanooga City Council Chair

What’s next

The City Council will hold a final vote on the parking enforcement ordinance on April 7, 2026.

The takeaway

This ordinance is a significant step in Chattanooga's efforts to address the growing concerns about predatory parking practices in the city. By granting CARTA more control over parking enforcement and setting pricing guidelines, the city aims to make the parking system more consumer-friendly and affordable for residents and visitors.