Alexandria Parking Permit Delay: Mayor Apologizes, Sept. 4 Mail Set

August 20, 2024 – Alexandria, Va. – When residents opened their personal property tax bills last week, many expected to find the familiar residential parking permit sticker inside. Instead, they found only a tax notice—and a wave of confusion. The missing permits have prompted an apology from Mayor Alyia Gaskins, who acknowledged the city mishandled the rollout after a vendor abruptly went out of business.

Why Permits Didn’t Arrive

The city typically mails parking permit stickers concurrently with tax bills, a practice that has been in place for years. But in 2024, Alexandria switched to a new vendor for permit production. Gaskins explained in a video update that the city had to split the mailings into two separate batches. The vendor was supposed to mail permits first, or at least time them to arrive with the tax bills. However, before that could happen, the vendor ceased operations, forcing the city to scramble for a replacement.

“We had to rush and find a new vendor,” Gaskins said. “The vendor we are now working with ran into production delays.”

The result: tax bills went out without the stickers, leaving residents unsure whether they could legally park in designated permit zones.

Inaccurate Information on Tax Bills

Adding to the confusion, some tax bills contained a statement that vehicle owners could only obtain permits at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center. Gaskins said that information is incorrect. The city’s 8,700 residential parking permits will be mailed directly to residents by September 4, 2024. Until then, existing permits—even those from the previous year—remain valid through November 15, 2024.

“We understand the mistake. We understand the confusion, and we’re taking action to fix it,” Gaskins said.

Where Permits Are Required

Not all Alexandria residents need a parking permit. The stickers are only required in designated residential permit parking districts, including parts of Old Town, Del Ray, and a few other neighborhoods. Even permit holders must still follow the city’s ordinance that prohibits vehicles