Drivers jockeying for spots around the DeKalb County Courthouse are about to pay more for the privilege. DeKalb County commissioners voted Tuesday to raise public parking prices at three county-managed lots in downtown Decatur, moving the courthouse deck off its long-standing $6 flat rate and changing fees at two nearby surface lots. The new prices will affect the DeKalb County Courthouse parking deck on West Trinity Place, the Maloof Building lot and the Camp Circle lots. The measure passed on a split 4-2 vote.
According to a DeKalb County agenda, the action appeared as item 2026-0632 and had been recommended to the full board by the County Operations Committee ahead of the May 26 meeting. The agenda lists the three locations and shows commissioners adopting the committee’s recommendation to approve the proposed rate changes.
What Drivers Will Pay
As reported by WSB-TV, the courthouse deck will keep a $6 charge for the first two hours, climb to $9 for stays up to three hours and top out at $12 for four hours or more. Commission documents reviewed by the station also spell out multi-year escalators, with rates rising to $7, $10 and $14 in the next year, then $8, $12 and $16 the following year, and finally reaching $10, $14 and $18 in “Year 5.”
The Maloof and Camp Circle lots are scheduled to remain at a $6 flat fee for years two and three, then move up to an $8 flat rate later, according to the same records. County files cited by WSB-TV project the new structure will bring in roughly $47,000 a month in revenue and state that the plan carries no direct cost to the county.
Who Manages the Lots
Downtown parking at the courthouse deck and its adjacent surface lots is already run by a private operator. Universal Parking announced in 2024 that it had been selected to operate the Trinity parking deck and nearby county lots, and a county contract record confirms the award and revenue sharing terms.
DeKalb County procurement records filed in 2024 detail the vendor’s contract and estimated revenue projections, which have been part of staff presentations to commissioners as they weighed the higher parking rates.
What to Expect Next
The meeting materials do not list an exact effective date for the new parking prices. For now, motorists will need to watch posted signage and the county’s website for implementation timing and any payment system updates.
The board’s action is final as of the May 26 session, and county staff or the vendor will publish the rollout timeline and payment options once they are set. Until then, downtown Decatur drivers may want to double-check the rate board before grabbing a ticket.
