The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has implemented new parking and curbspace changes in the Ballard Blocks area, adding paid parking, load zones, and disabled parking spaces in an effort to improve parking availability and reduce congestion.
The changes affect portions of NW Ballard Way, NW 46th Street, 14th Avenue NW, and 15th Avenue NW.
According to SDOT, the Ballard Blocks area experiences high demand for on-street parking. The agency said the changes are intended to improve parking availability, reduce the amount of time drivers spend searching for parking, support deliveries, and increase access for people with disabilities.
New two-hour paid parking is now in effect Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on portions of NW Ballard Way, NW 46th Street, and 14th Avenue NW. Parking remains free on Sundays and city holidays.
Current parking rates are:
- 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.: $1 per hour
- 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: $2.50 per hour
- 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.: $2.50 per hour
SDOT said it reviews data in paid parking areas and adjusts rates citywide two to three times per year. The next rate review for the Ballard Blocks area is scheduled for fall 2026.
The project also added new load zones and disabled parking spaces. In addition, some streets received two-hour time-limited parking instead of paid parking.
The agency conducted outreach with area property owners and businesses during fall 2025 and early 2026. SDOT said the outreach included mailers, flyers, door-to-door visits, emails, and one-on-one meetings.
Mike’s Chili Parlor owner Mike Semandiris has voiced frustration over the change.
“As a small business owner who lives [and] works on this street, I have offered numerous ideas to preempt the addition of parking meters,” Semandiris wrote on social media. “For 6 months, my expectation was that SDOT would at least fully consider them. Instead, they’ve move[d] forward with parking meters, which will start the countdown for the end of this small business.”
The changes follow a parking study conducted in spring 2024. According to SDOT, the study found that on-street parking in the area was more than 90% occupied during midday hours, while nearby garages and parking lots still had hundreds of available spaces. The project is one of several transportation and curbspace management efforts underway in Ballard, including SDOT’s work on the Route 40 corridor.
The agency also found that while some streets already had time-limited parking, most blocks had unrestricted parking, allowing vehicles to remain parked for extended periods and making it more difficult for customers and visitors to find available spaces.
SDOT said the project’s goals include making it easier for customers and visitors to find parking, reducing traffic from drivers searching for spaces, improving safety, creating dedicated space for deliveries, and encouraging longer-term visitors and employees to use nearby parking garages and lots.
Photo: Google Image Capture Sept 2025