Parking your car in Ridgewood New Jersey for your New York City Commute or your Downtown shopping trip is pretty simple – if you know the rules.

Update: 7/31/2011: New Reduced PARKING FEES in Ridgewood Parking LOTS.  ALL PARKING LOTS in Ridgewood are enforced Monday through Saturday for 12 hours from 6AM to 6PM at the rate of 25 cents per hour. TRAIN STATION LOT is the only lot that will require a Resident Permit.

Parking at the Ridgewood Train Station

The first order of business, if you want to park at the Ridgewood Train Station, is to go to the Ridgewood Village Hall and obtain a parking permit.  You need to be a Ridgewood Resident to obtain a permit and you need to bring your drivers license showing a Ridgewood Address or a copy of a deed or lease for a Ridgewood Home.

The good news is that the parking permits are free.  The not so good news is that having a permit does not guarantee you a parking spot at the Ridgewood Train Station. The parking permit simply gives Ridgewood Commuters the right to park at the metered spots at the train station.   The meters are first come – first served.  However, you can usually get a metered spot if you get to the Ridgewood Train Station at a reasonable time.  The cost for 12 hours of metered parking is 3 bucks.  Metered parking ends at 6pm.

Parking in Ridgewood’s Downtown Area

There’s plenty of street parking and several parking lots in Ridgewood’s downtown.  I live and work in Ridgewood and use the downtown every day – and not once have I been unable to find a spot.  The rumors of the Ridgewood Downtown Parking Nightmare are greatly exaggerated.  You may not always find a spot directly and exactly in front of the store you want to enter but I don’t think I have ever had to walk more than one or two blocks to get to my destination.

Most of the metered parking in Ridgewood Downtown area has a 2-hour time limit with the exception of the Ridgewood Train Station and Cottage Place Parking Lot.

Do I have to Feed Ridgewood Parking Meters on Sunday?

No.  Ridgewood Parking Meter rules are only enforced Monday – Saturday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm 6am to 6pm.  There is also no need to feed the Ridgewood meters on Federal Holidays.

What’s the deal with Parking in Ridgewood Overnight?

You can safely park on Ridgewood Streets until 2:00am.  Street parking is prohibited from 2:00am to 6:00am.  However, the town of Ridgewood is very good about making exceptions. If you have to park your car in the street overnight because your car died or if you are doing work on your Ridgewood Home and  have a dumpster in your driveway, etc. you just need to call 201.652.3900 before 2:00am.

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