The Common Law

I have asked Geoff Kirshbaum to be a guest columnist for this week's topic. – Luke Ellis

---

Valet Parking Regulations in Austin Is it legal for the valet parking services downtown to reserve public spaces on the street for their clients? Can they tow your car if you park in a metered space that says reserved for valet?

Everyone knows the value of a free public parking space on a busy evening in downtown Austin. It can be frustrating when you see metered public parking spaces right outside your favorite downtown establishment reserved for valet parking service operations. As you are forced to continue looking for parking in what seems like Round Rock, you wonder, "Is that legal?"

In Austin, the answer is yes. A review of the Austin, Texas, Code of Ordinances reveals that valet parking service operators in the city of Austin are allowed to utilize metered public parking spaces in the public street for their operations if they obtain an on-street valet operating permit. Business establishments in the city may provide on-street valet parking service if they obtain a valet parking permit. Valet-operating permit holders must pay the city to provide parking meter hoods that indicate that the parking meter spaces in the designated area are reserved for valet parking only and that vehicles parked in the spaces for other purposes may be towed.

The city's Transportation, Planning, and Sustainability Department is responsible for administering the valet parking service provisions of the code. Other cities may have different but similar regulations regarding on-street valet parking service operations. Applicable city code provisions may be reviewed by clicking on the following link: www.ci.austin.tx.us/cityclerk/downloads/title13.pdf. If you have additional questions regarding this topic, or if you see an on-street valet parking service provider operating in a manner that you think may violate the code, please contact the department at (512) 974-1495.