Brazil's Zona Azul bill granting 15 free minutes at paid curbside parking clears key House committee

Brazil's Chamber of Deputies has taken a step toward giving drivers a nationwide 15-minute grace period in paid rotating parking zones, known locally as the Zona Azul. Bill PL 4884/19 won approval from the chamber's Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) and now heads toward Senate review.

Under the text, municipalities would have to state the free window on street signage and in the apps used to operate paid curbside parking. Rapporteur Hugo Leal backed the bill, authored by AJ Albuquerque, with minor adjustments — including a clarification that cities handle only the installation, upkeep, and daily operation of the parking system, while its regulation stays under federal jurisdiction.

The rationale, per the bill's supporters, is that the whole point of paid rotating parking is keeping spaces turning over, so billing a full increment for a brief stop is unreasonable. Many Brazilian cities already grant some form of grace period in their own ordinances, but the proposal seeks to standardize the tolerance time across the country.

The bill moves forward on a conclusive track, meaning it goes straight to the Senate unless there is an appeal for a full chamber vote. Becoming law requires passage by both the Chamber and the Senate, and the rule would take effect 90 days after publication.