Resident Access Parking Program (RAPP)
July 10, 2026
The City of Portsmouth launched a new Resident Access Parking Program (RAPP) pilot on July 1, 2026, designed to improve parking availability for residents in neighborhoods outside the downtown metered district. The one-year pilot program prioritizes residents by allowing them to park at no cost in designated areas once their vehicle license plates are registered with the City’s Parking Office or Tax Collector’s Office. Nonresidents will be charged $2 per hour to park in these same areas.
The RAPP pilot aims to address ongoing parking challenges in high-demand neighborhoods by balancing access for residents, visitors, and downtown hourly workers. The program includes a Downtown Workforce Parking Expansion pilot along Parrott Avenue to support employees of downtown businesses with lower-cost parking options. Enrolled downtown workers may park on Parrott Avenue for $0.30 per hour and continue to use the Foundry Garage at the existing rate of $3 for 10 hours.
The RAPP pilot zone includes the following streets:
• Parrott Avenue (roadway only)
• Hanover Street (Bridge Street to Brewster Street)
• Rock Street
• Pearl Street
• Tanner Street and Tanner Court
• Gates Street
• Hancock Street
• Washington Street (Court Street to Hancock Street)
Parking rules will be enforced Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 8 pm and Sunday from 12 pm to 8 pm, excluding holidays.
Residents who are already enrolled in the City’s Resident Parking Discount Program in the ParkMobile application do not need to take additional steps. New participants can register their Portsmouth vehicle license plates through the Parking Office or Tax Collector’s Office. Once registered, no app or payment is required for eligible users in the RAPP zones.
The City is conducting an outreach campaign that includes newsletters, notices, website updates, social media posts, and frequently asked questions to help residents understand how the program works and how to enroll. The program will begin with a short education period, during which informational warnings may be issued to help familiarize users with the new system.
City staff will monitor parking usage, occupancy, and revenue throughout the pilot and provide quarterly updates to the City Council. The goal is to evaluate whether the program increases parking availability for residents and to inform potential expansion to other neighborhoods.
More more information and an application can be found on the RAPP page or by contacting the City of Portsmouth Parking Office at 603-610-7257.