Resident Access Parking Program (RAPP)

What is the Resident Access Parking Program?

Starting July 1st, the RAPP Pilot 2026 prioritizes residents by allowing them to park at no cost when their Portsmouth-registered license plates are enrolled in the existing resident parking program, while charging nonresidents to park in the same designated areas. This 1-year pilot program aims to address ongoing parking challenges in high-demand neighborhoods by balancing access for residents, visitors, and downtown hourly workers.

Residents:

Opt-in during car registration 

or

Sign-up in person at Foundry Garage

Nonresidents:

$2/hr in the pilot areas

South Mill Pond at Sunset
Map highlighting the streets affected by the RAPP

RAPP Pilot Areas

  • Parrott Avenue (roadway only)
  • Hanover Street (from Bridge Street to Brewster Street)
  • Rock Street
  • Pearl Street
  • Tanner Street
  • Tanner Court
  • Gates Street
  • Hancock Street
  • Washington Street (from Court to Hancock)
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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.

Nonresidents (including those from out of state) with handicap plates or placards or those with veteran license plates are able to park in any metered parking zone, including RAPP, for three hours for free.

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.

Downtown Workforce Parking Expansion

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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.

See the Downtown Workforce Parking Program page for information and an application.