Navigating Downtown Gainesville, Georgia
Known as the Queen City of the Mountains, Gainesville is the gateway to the Appalachians and sits on the north shore of Lake Lanier. Downtown Gainesville has a beautiful historic district, vibrant with shopping, dining, music venues, and lifestyle small businesses.
Free Public Parking Decks:
All Public Parking Decks are FREE in Gainesville!
- Main Street Parking Deck: 301 Main Street SW (Max Height: 8’6″)
- North Parking Deck: 100 Brenau Ave NE (Max Height: 8’2″)
- Hall County Parking Facility: 225 Green St SE (Max Height: 7′)
Loading Zones:
In 2021, the City of Gainesville and the Gainesville Police Department installed marked loading/unloading and timed parking around the historic square in Downtown Gainesville. These spots are to be used for delivery trucks and delivery vehicles to quickly get in and out of downtown safely, to assist downtown businesses with day to day operations. The public can use them as well to drop off / pick up persons, as well. Timed loading zones are marked by painted street markings as well as a sign stating the time frame. Untimed loading zones are marked by a yellow curb. Both are digitally monitored by SafetySticks.
SafetySticks:
In 2023, GPD installed SafetySticks, a technology provided by Municipal Parking Services on bollard lookalikes, to help ensure loading zones are being used in the most effective manner possible, and tickets will be mailed to anyone not using them for their intended purpose.
SafetySticks are now actively monitoring spaces in the following areas, as shown on the map below: 15-minute loading/unloading spots in front of Atlas Pizza (Washington Street), THRIVE Coworking (Main Street) and Moore’s Wealth Management (Main Street); the 20-minute loading/unloading spot in front of Downtown Drafts (Bradford Street); and untimed loading/unloading spots in front of Racquets & Togs (Bradford Street), at the back of the Hall County Library (Main Street), plus several behind Martin Furniture and Design (Main Street).
On-Street Parking:
All on-street public parking spaces—excluding marked loading zones—are free with a two-hour time limit. These spaces are monitored by the City of Gainesville’s Downtown Security Ambassadors, who also support the Gainesville Police Department in overseeing public parking decks and surrounding downtown areas.
Privately Owned Paid Parking Lots:
Several privately owned parking lots throughout Downtown Gainesville offer paid public parking, typically managed through pay-by-text or smartphone apps. These lots are operated independently and are not monitored by the City of Gainesville. Please be sure to read all posted signage carefully to understand the specific payment requirements for each location.
Here are a few images of paid parking lot signage around downtown:
