Parking in downtown Roswell changed twice in 2026. In May the City opened a new deck on Alpharetta Street. On Aug. 1 it changed the rules of its paid street parking pilot. News stories caught each change on the day, which is why search results still mix old rates, old space counts and a lot that is now closed. This is the picture on Oct. 18, 2026, from the City’s own posts.
- The City opened a 394-space downtown parking deck at 1056 Alpharetta Street (SR 9) on May 4, 2026, paid for with $20 million in bond funds. Entry is from Alpharetta Street via Kevin Cash Memorial Drive. Roswell Connections (City of Roswell news): City of Roswell Celebrates Opening of Downtown Parking Deck (May 6, 2026)
- The City is offering parking at no charge in the new deck while Green Street is closed for the Green Street Activation Plan, which turns Green Street one-way southbound and adds a brick-paved multi-use trail. Roswell Connections (City of Roswell news): City of Roswell Celebrates Opening of Downtown Parking Deck (May 6, 2026)
- Under the City's downtown parking pilot, which runs through December 31, 2026, the first two hours of on-street parking are free from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting August 1, 2026; after that the rate is $3 an hour up to $24 a day. Roswell Connections (City of Roswell news): Roswell Offers Two No-Charge Hours for On-Street Parking (July 30, 2026)
- The City lists paid on-street parking on Canton Street between Magnolia and Norcross Streets, Elizabeth Way between Canton Street and Alpharetta Highway, and East Alley between Canton and Norcross Streets. Roswell Connections (City of Roswell news): Roswell Offers Two No-Charge Hours for On-Street Parking (July 30, 2026)
Where is the free deck?
The Downtown Parking Deck is at 1056 Alpharetta Street (SR 9), at the corner of Green Street. The City opened it on May 4, 2026, paid for it with $20 million in bond funds, and gives it 394 spaces. You enter from Alpharetta Street by way of Kevin Cash Memorial Drive. While Green Street is under construction there is one entrance and two exits, all on Kevin Cash Memorial Drive. Take a ticket at the gate. The exit gate reads your license plate; if it does not open, scan the ticket’s barcode.
Right now it costs nothing. The City is not charging for the deck while Green Street is closed for the Green Street Activation Plan. The City said the closure would last about six months from May 4 and expected the improved street to open in fall 2026. It has not published what deck parking will cost after that. Its March 2026 plan called for free weekday parking from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and fees on weekday evenings and weekends, but the City replaced that plan with free parking during the closure. Deck hours are not published.
394 or 395 spaces?
The City’s May and July 2026 posts say 394, and its March 2026 post said 395. We use 394, the City’s newer figure.
How does paid street parking work?
The City’s pilot runs through Dec. 31, 2026, at four locations: Canton Street between Magnolia and Norcross Streets, Elizabeth Way between Canton Street and Alpharetta Highway, East Alley between Canton and Norcross Streets, and the East Alley Parking Lot. Since Aug. 1, sessions that start between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. get the first two hours free. After that the charge climbs $3 an hour to a $24 daily cap.
Three rules catch people out. You must start a session even during the free hours. Enforcement runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And a car in a paid space without a session gets a $20 fine.
What will I pay?
From the City’s Aug. 1 rate table:
- Start between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.: up to 2 hours free; 2 to 3 hours $3; 3 to 4 hours $6; 4 to 5 hours $9; 5 to 6 hours $12; 6 to 7 hours $15; 7 to 8 hours $18; more than 8 hours $24.
- Start before 8 a.m. or after 3 p.m.: up to 1 hour $3; 1 to 2 hours $6; 2 to 3 hours $9; 3 to 4 hours $12; 4 to 5 hours $15; 5 to 6 hours $18; more than 6 hours $24.
So a 90-minute lunch from noon costs nothing, as long as you start the session. A dinner that starts at 6:30 p.m. and runs two and a half hours costs $9. The deck and the City Hall lot cost nothing at either hour.
How do I pay?
Scan the QR code or text the number on the sign near your space; no app is needed. There are also two kiosks, one at the corner of Canton Street and Elizabeth Way and one along East Alley. You enter your plate number and how long you expect to stay. Phone users get a text reminder to extend; kiosk users have to walk back to the kiosk. Two 30-minute free spaces on Elizabeth Way, meant for a quick stop at a business, need no session.
12 Oaks Parking runs the pilot for the City, phone (678) 973-0348. Appeals are due within 15 days.
Why do some pages say $2 an hour?
Because that was the old rate. The City’s May 8 post showed $2 an hour and $16 a day. Its Aug. 1 update replaced those with the two free hours and the $3 rate. A page that quotes $2 was written before August.
Where else can I park for free?
These are free on the City’s parking map or in City posts, as checked on Oct. 18:
- Roswell City Hall lot, 38 Hill Street: 436 spaces on the City map. In March 2026 Council put off any decision on charging here and at the Cultural Arts Center, and nothing newer has been published.
- Roswell Cultural Arts Center lot, 950 Forrest Street: 84 spaces. The City has said space may be limited during performances.
- Mimosa Boulevard lot near Magnolia Street: 26 spaces.
- Street spaces on Hill Street (30), Park Square Court by the Town Square (17), Forrest Street (5), parts of Mimosa Boulevard, and Canton Street north of Norcross Street (3), as counted on the City map.
- Vickery Creek Old Mill Park, 95 Mill Street: free parking for the mill ruins. The City says parking can be limited, especially on weekends. See the Roswell Mill page.
Private lots, such as the Southern Post deck, set their own terms. The Green Street gravel lot that older pages mention is closed during construction.
Which option fits my plan?
- Saturday farmers market, through Oct. 31: the City Hall lot, or the deck and Mimosa Boulevard, which the market lists as alternates. See our last market Saturdays.
- Dinner on Canton Street: the deck and a short walk, or a paid street space. See the Canton Street page and restaurants.
- Alive in Roswell, Thu., Nov. 19: the City points to free parking at City Hall, and Canton Street closes to cars at 5 p.m. See the November festival guide.
What happens on Jan. 1, 2027?
The City has not said. The pilot is set to run through Dec. 31, 2026, and the deck is free for as long as Green Street is closed. Neither has a published plan for what follows. We will update this guide and our parking page, which has the parking picker and the full lot table, when the City posts one.
The City publishes no counts of accessible spaces for the deck, the paid streets or the downtown lots. Resident and Business Services, on the ground floor of City Hall, has designated accessible parking. The City map also marks four spaces on Canton Street for PTV and veteran motorcycles.
Parking questions
Where do I park in downtown Roswell?
The City opened a 394-space parking deck at 1056 Alpharetta Street (SR 9) on May 4, 2026, entered from Kevin Cash Memorial Drive. It is free while Green Street is closed for construction. On-street spaces on Canton Street, Elizabeth Way and East Alley are paid under a City pilot that runs through December 31, 2026.
How much does street parking cost on Canton Street?
Under the City's parking pilot, which runs through December 31, 2026, the first two hours are free from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, starting August 1, 2026. After that, and at other times, the rate is $3 an hour up to $24 a day. The paid streets are Canton Street, Elizabeth Way and East Alley.
Written by the Downtown Roswell Editorial Team. AI tools help us draft; people check every fact before it publishes.
Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Roswell
