Avoid the Ticket: How Odd-Even Parking Works in Grand Rapids

It's officially fall in West Michigan. The warm temps have finally moved out of the area, the leaves are starting to change colors (and fall into your yard), and we're well on our way to Halloween.

Get our free mobile app

While fall is a magical time in West Michigan, it also marks the countdown to something that many folks in Grand Rapids dread every year - odd-even parking.

What is Odd-Even Parking, and How Does it Work?

Odd-even parking is something that many Grand Rapidians deal with every year. Especially those who live in neighborhoods where many of the houses don't have driveways (or have limited driveway space.) (You can see if your street is odd-even parking restrictions via this map from the City of Grand Rapids.)

During odd-even parking season, on odd dates, you must park on the side of the street with odd addresses between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

READ MORE: Grand Rapids Dibs: Spot Saving Or Illegal Move?

On even dates, you must park on the side of the street with even addresses between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

In both cases, if you park on the wrong side between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on those dates, you run the risk of being ticketed.

The good news is that between 6:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. each night, you're allowed to park on either side of the street. (You just have to make sure that you move your car at 1:00 a.m.)

When Does Odd-Even Parking Start in Grand Rapids?

Odd-even parking in Grand Rapids begins on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. It will be in effect until April 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

Why Does Grand Rapids Use Odd-Even Parking?

Odd-even parking rules aren't in place to make your life more difficult. The city says that the parking restrictions allow city workers to sweep the streets in the fall (removing leaves and other debris) and plow them during the winter.

READ MORE: 8 Things All Grand Rapids Residents Need to Know This Winter

Many people assume that the rules don't go into effect until the snow begins to fall. Those people are incorrect.

Can I Ask For a Review of Odd-Even Parking on My Street?

If your street has odd-even parking and you think that it shouldn't, or if your street doesn't have odd-even parking and you think that it should, you can reach out to the City of Grand Rapids and request a review of seasonal parking restrictions on your street via the city's website.