Tallinn is proposing changes to electric car parking regulations in the city center. Under the new plan, only electric car owners or responsible users registered as Tallinn residents in the Population Register would be eligible for free parking. The new rule, which requires approval by the City Council, is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.
Deputy Mayor Kristjan Järvan explained that the goal is to ensure fair treatment of car owners: “At a time when the new car tax comes into effect, it’s difficult to justify why residents of other municipalities should park their electric cars in the city center for free. I believe that residents of Tallinn’s neighboring areas can still afford parking for their electric cars here.”
The proposal would modify the current regulation, which exempts vehicles with zero CO₂ emissions per kilometer from parking fees. Under the new rules, the exemption will apply only to electric vehicles whose owners or responsible users are Tallinn residents. Electric car owners from other municipalities will need to pay parking fees according to the respective zone rates.
The number of electric cars has increased rapidly in recent years. As of November 1, 2024, Estonia had 7,834 registered electric cars, with 5,443 (69%) located in Harju County. In contrast, when the parking fee exemption was introduced on December 31, 2015, there were only 1,115 electric cars in Estonia. Meanwhile, the number of public parking spaces in Tallinn has remained practically unchanged.
Tallinn’s Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan 2035 prioritizes pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users, aiming to promote active and environmentally friendly transportation. Tallinn’s paid parking area is divided into four zones: city center, downtown, Old Town, and Pirita (where parking fees apply only during the summer from May 15 to September 15). The city center is Tallinn’s busiest traffic area with the best public transport connections and makes up the largest part of the public parking zone.
The proposal to amend the regulation “Public Paid Parking Area and Parking Fees in Tallinn” must be approved by the Tallinn City Council. If approved, the changes will take effect on July 1, 2025.
Source: tallinn.ee