Hospitality Worker Parking Pilot Program

Hospitality Worker Parking Pilot Program – Union Pier Lot B

Supporting Charleston’s Hospitality Industry

The City of Charleston is launching a pilot program to provide free parking for hospitality workers on the Peninsula. This limited-scale initiative is designed to test a model that could expand in the future to support even more workers in the city’s essential hospitality sector.

Program Overview

What: Free 24-hour parking for permitted hospitality workers at Union Pier Lot B
Where: 196 Concord Street, Union Pier Lot B (clearly marked for hospitality use)
When:
- Application Window: May 12 – May 30, 2025
- Parking Begins: June 1, 2025
- Program Ends: December 30, 2025

How It Works

A total of 140 parking permits will be issued through this pilot program.
Only business owners or general managers may apply on behalf of their employees.
Each business may request up to 5 permits.
Permit holders may park at no cost in designated spaces at Union Pier Lot B.
Permit cost: $15 per permit (non-refundable if canceled or revoked).
Lost permit fee: $100.
Spaces are not guaranteed and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Permit Flexibility

Permits are not vehicle-specific and may be shared among employees at a business.
Businesses are responsible for keeping the permit on-site and available to staff when needed.
Employers must manage the distribution and return of permits to ensure proper use.

How to Apply

Applications may be submitted May 12–30, 2025 in one of two ways:

By Email: Send completed application materials to servicelotb@charleston-sc.gov
In Person: Drop off applications at 180 Lockwood Boulevard, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
(Please note: Applications dropped off in person will not be reviewed at the time of submission.)

CARTA HOP Route Returns

To support participants, CARTA has reinstated its HOP (Hospitality on Peninsula) route, with pickups directly at Union Pier Lot B. The HOP shuttle makes it easier for hospitality workers to get from the parking lot to locations across the Peninsula.

A Step Toward a Larger Solution

This is a pilot program, intended to test how a structured, employer-based parking system could work. Insights from this pilot will inform a broader, long-term strategy to improve parking access for more hospitality workers across Charleston.

Apply for the Hospitality Worker Parking Permit
Download Rules and Regulations

Hospitality Worker Parking Pilot Program