Parking no longer free? The rules set to change on January 1

The parking reform, delayed by two years, will take effect on January 1, 2027. Municipalities with 120,000 residents or more will no longer be able to grant blanket exemptions to residents, only in regulated areas. Additionally, a limit will be imposed on fare gaps between residents and visitors in all municipalities.

The parking reform, originally scheduled to take effect at the beginning of 2025, has been delayed by two years and will come into force on January 1, 2027. Under the reform, local authorities with 120,000 residents or more will not be able to grant blanket parking exemptions to residents, but only in designated regulated parking zones. At the same time, a limit will be imposed on fare differences between residents and visitors in all local authorities where such a distinction exists. The article notes that a similar arrangement already operates in Tel Aviv, where residents are entitled to two hours of free parking in their residential area and then a 30% discount on the visitor rate. The reform aims to address traffic congestion and encourage alternatives to private vehicles, but concerns have been raised in Knesset discussions about economic harm to residents, especially in cities where parking is expensive and public transportation is insufficient.