Overnight parking in west Michigan: two cities, two rules

There is no single west Michigan rule for overnight street parking. This page compares Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo because their systems are easy to mix up. If you are in Wyoming, Kentwood, Walker, Grandville, East Grand Rapids, Portage, or another nearby city, do not borrow either rule. Check that city’s page and the signs on your block.

Grand Rapids: Seasonal odd-even and one-side rules run from 12:01 a.m. November 1 through 11:59 p.m. April 1, but only on streets marked with seasonal parking signs. On a signed odd-even street, park on the odd-address side on odd dates and the even-address side on even dates from 1 a.m. to 6 p.m. You may use either side from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., then need to be on the side matching the new date by 1 a.m. During the seasonal period, a one-side sign means no parking on the posted side at any time. The restrictions help with sweeping, plowing, catch basins, and emergency access.

Kalamazoo: The city code generally bars parking on the paved part of a public street from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. The exceptions are a permit under the city’s overnight-permit program or a specific block designated as an exception. A vehicle can also be impounded if it interferes with street maintenance. If a driveway or regular lot becomes unavailable, the city has a separate temporary-permit process for uncommon situations. Those permits can cover up to seven days and may be extended once; apply before counting on one.

The practical move is simple: read the sign where you plan to leave the car, then check the current city rule. An off-street space avoids this particular problem, but it does not replace any private-lot or property rules.