On November 29, 2022 the Planning and Zoning Commission of Bridgeport, the largest city in Connecticut, adopted the Zone Bridgeport code update, a comprehensive zoning update which included a complete repeal of minimum car parking requirements for new developments.

Bridgeport now joins a rapidly growing cohort of cities that have removed these requirements. The Parking Reform Network is tracking this process and other efforts on the Parking Mandates Map. Check it out to see how other cities have improved their parking policy and to see a detailed report on Bridgeport’s changes or to submit a report on your own city.

Bridgeport’s zoning update comes in the context of a statewide reform effort led by DesegregateCT to enact more equitable land use practices. Earlier in 2021, the Connecticut Legislature passed HB 6107, and became the 4th state to enact state-level parking legislation, and the first to affect all housing, including market-rate apartments not near transit.

The Parking Reform Network is an international organization with a mission to educate the public about the impact of parking policy on climate change, housing, and traffic. The network provides support and a community for activists and practitioners in any field that experiences “parking problems.” Support the network by donating or becoming a member.