For New Haven Superior Court parking, the practical answer is a garage. The courthouse at 235 Church Street has no public parking of its own, and two commercial garages sit within a short walk of the front entrance. Meters ring the surrounding blocks, but court proceedings routinely run past the posted two-hour limits, so a garage with a daily maximum is the safer choice for anyone with a hearing, trial, or jury summons.1State of Connecticut Judicial Branch. New Haven JD Directions
Century Tower Garage
Century Tower at 265 Church Street is the closest covered parking to the courthouse, with a second entrance on Grove Street.2Judicial Branch of the State of Connecticut. Walking Directions – Century Tower Parking Garage The walk to the courthouse entrance takes just a few minutes.
As of early 2026, posted rates start at $2.00 for the first 30 minutes and $1.75 for each additional half hour, with a daily maximum of $18.00. The garage is open Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and accepts cash and major credit cards. Rates change periodically, so confirm on site or through a parking app before you commit.
Grove Street Garage
The Grove Street Garage at 65 Grove Street is the other frequently used option. It keeps the same weekday hours as Century Tower, 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and accepts cash and credit cards. The walk to the courthouse runs about five to ten minutes. Neither garage is typically open on weekends or court holidays, so plan accordingly if you have an unusual Saturday session or need to retrieve a vehicle after hours.
On-Street Meters and ParkMobile
Metered spaces line many of the streets around the courthouse, but the time limits are tight. Most downtown meters enforce posted limits from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Saturday, and continue collecting payment through 9:00 PM even after enforcement ends.3Park New Haven. New Haven Parking Meter Types and Payment Options Two-hour meters are the most common near the courthouse. If your case runs long and the meter expires during enforcement hours, you’ll get a ticket.
The city sells pre-paid vouchers as an alternative to coins: $1.50 for one hour, $3.00 for two hours, and $10.00 for a long-term voucher. You can display multiple vouchers to extend your time, but only up to the posted limit.4New Haven, CT. Parking Options and Regulations Stacking vouchers on a two-hour meter still gets you two hours.
New Haven meters also accept ParkMobile, a smartphone app that lets you start and extend a parking session from your phone. Download the app, create an account with your license plate and a credit card, then scan the QR code on the meter sticker or enter the zone number manually. Nothing displays on the meter when you pay this way, but enforcement officers check the ParkMobile database alongside the physical meters.5New Haven, CT. Meter Collection Posted time limits still apply, and moving to a new space requires starting a new transaction.
Backup Lots and Transit
If both garages are full, the State/Audubon Lot at 551 State Street is a city-managed surface lot that works as a fallback.6Park New Haven. State/Audubon Parking Lot in New Haven, CT The walk to the courthouse takes roughly ten to fifteen minutes, which makes it less appealing in bad weather.
Skipping the car altogether is a real option here. CT Transit operates multiple bus routes with stops on or near the New Haven Green, directly across from the courthouse. New Haven Union Station on Union Avenue is about a fifteen-minute walk and connects to Metro-North, Amtrak, and the local CT Transit bus network.
Accessible Parking
Designated accessible parking spaces sit on Church Street near the courthouse entrance, first-come, first-served. You must display a valid Connecticut disability placard or special license plate, available through the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles.7Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. Accessibility Parking Permit for Individual
Under Connecticut law, vehicles displaying a valid disability placard or plate can park at any metered space for an unlimited time without penalty, regardless of the posted limit.8Connecticut General Assembly. Handicapped Parking Laws in Connecticut That makes on-street parking a workable option for court visitors with disabilities, since proceedings often run past the two-hour ceiling that binds everyone else. Wheelchair access to the building is through the main front door on Church Street.1State of Connecticut Judicial Branch. New Haven JD Directions
Parking for Jury Duty
If you were summoned for jury duty, the same options apply, but a few details shift the math. Jury service can run a full day or longer, so a garage with a daily maximum will almost always beat trying to manage a meter. Keep your parking receipts. Connecticut reimburses jurors for travel expenses, and the IRS standard mileage rate for 2026 is 72.5 cents per mile, which is the benchmark many courts use for calculating reimbursement.9Internal Revenue Service. IRS Sets 2026 Business Standard Mileage Rate at 72.5 Cents Per Mile
Court operations run 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, with doors opening at 8:30 AM.1State of Connecticut Judicial Branch. New Haven JD Directions Budget at least 20 to 30 minutes for parking and the security line, especially on Monday mornings when courthouse foot traffic peaks. Late jurors delay everyone in the courtroom, and judges notice.
Before You Leave the Car
Every visitor passes through a security checkpoint at the entrance. Weapons, knives, box cutters, pepper spray, and sharp objects will be confiscated. Recording devices and cameras are restricted in courtrooms without prior permission. What gets flagged can vary by day and by the officer on duty, so leave anything you wouldn’t take through an airport scanner locked in the car.
Cell phones are generally permitted inside Connecticut state courthouses, though you’ll be told to silence yours before entering a courtroom. Recording or photographing proceedings without a judge’s approval can result in contempt. If you’re representing yourself and need to show documents or photos from your phone as evidence, tell court staff before your case is called.
One last thing on timing: Connecticut observes state holidays that don’t appear on the federal calendar, including Lincoln’s Birthday on February 12 and Good Friday.10CT.gov. 2026 State Holidays The court can also close by administrative order. Check the Connecticut Judicial Branch website before your visit.