Kearny Cracks Down on Parking: New Permit Target Harrison Spillover

In response to residents' growing frustrations over the shortage of parking spaces, the Town of Kearny has enacted a new ordinance restricting overnight parking on several residential streets bordering the Town of Harrison, NJ. The measure is aimed at curbing the influx of Harrison vehicles that often occupy parking spots intended for Kearny homeowners.

Passed unanimously by the Kearny Mayor and Council on March 25, 2025, Ordinance 2025-12 establishes a residential permit parking program between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. on Sandford Avenue, Radley Street, Ann Street, and Ogden Avenue in Kearny. The latter street lies so close to the Harrison municipal border that it only covers one side of the street.  In other words, one side of Ogden Avenue is in Kearny, NJ, and the other side is in Harrison, NJ. The border of the two towns is the middle of the street.

Parking Wars at the Border

The move has stirred conversations on both sides of the town line, particularly in the Harrison Garden Apartments which is close to the Kearny border at the intersection of Harrison Avenue and Schuyler Avenue. The situation reflects a broader regional struggle for parking among the densely populated and closely connected communities of Harrison, Kearny, and East Newark.

Kearny residents have voiced increasing complaints that Harrison residents, who face their shortage of on-street parking, are spilling into adjacent Kearny neighborhoods and occupying limited overnight parking spaces.

“We’ve had to park blocks away from our own homes,” said one Kearny resident on Radley Street. “This ordinance is overdue.”

Harrison’s Parking Puzzle

While Harrison does have a residential parking permit program, it only applies to extended daytime parking and does not regulate overnight parking, a loophole that some Kearny residents may continue to exploit by leaving their vehicles just over the Kearny town border. Additionally, metered parking remains an issue on the other side of Harrison, particularly around the Harrison PATH Station and the popular residential community in  Riverbend District which is just up the street. 

Although parking garages exist in the communities around the Harrison Path Station, concerns over high costs, lack of reserved spaces, and vehicle break-ins in at least one major garage have driven residents to come to Harrison Mayor & Council meetings seeking relief.

Harrison residents have brought what remains one of the top quality of life issues in Harrison to various Mayor & Council meetings urging Mayor James Fife and the Harrison Town Council to revisit parking meter policies and explore more equitable residential parking solutions.  Mayor Fife & the Council have not made any changes be it the removal of some metered parking to make it Resident parking for local residents or reducing the Harrison Parking Garage parking rates for residents. Kearny’s Mayor & Council are more responsive than Harrison’s counterpart.

Details of Kearny’s Permit Ordinance

Under the new Kearny ordinance:

• Only vehicles registered to Kearny residents are eligible for $10 annual permits.
• Designated hours are 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. on Sandford Avenue, Radley Street, Ann Street, and Ogden Avenue in Kearny. See the map below.
• Non-resident employees of businesses on affected streets can obtain a permit for $50 per year.
• Permits must be visibly displayed on the driver’s side window.
• Exceptions are made for emergency, delivery, and service vehicles while rendering service.
• Violators will face a $50 fine, and vehicles may be towed at the owner’s expense.
• Repeat violations could result in up to 15 days of imprisonment.

The ordinance takes effect on Monday, June 2, 2025, and will be enforced by the Kearny Police Department. Kearny Residents from the designated area can apply for the Parking Permits at the Kearny Police Headquarters, located at 237 Argyle Place, Kearny, NJ, from 8:30 am to 5 p.m. You must have Proof of Residency, a Driver's License with your current Kearny address, Car Registration, and the $10 Permit Fee.  A copy of the Parking Permit Application with further instructions can be downloaded through this link.

Broader Implications

The parking permit move may be just the beginning. Kearny’s decisive action is putting pressure on Harrison and East Newark to reconsider their own parking regulations, particularly as redevelopment continues to increase residential density without corresponding parking infrastructure. Mayor Fife and the Town Council have ignored the Parking crisis in town for over eight years.  They recently formed a committee to analyze what could be done about improving parking for residents in and around the PATH Station and the conclusion was there was nothing that could be done.  When residents proposed several ideas, the answer was those ideas would not work. Parking is one of the Top issues in Harrison. Without leadership at the top to tackle the issue, there is no light at the end of the tunnel for residents.

What Comes Next?

Community members across the three towns are now calling for their elected officials to listen to them and implement changes to improve parking.

 “Lack of Parking is at a critical level,” said one Harrison resident, “you don’t move your car once you’ve found a parking spot out of fear you won’t find another spot. Our quality of life is terrible.”

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