The purpose of the Z-Lot parking system in Downtown Crystal Lake is to provide reliable convenience for employees and residents, and the greatest possible accessibility for clients, customers, and visitors.

To purchase a Z-Lot parking pass, please submit the form at the bottom of this page.

  • REMIND YOUR EMPLOYEES – Employees, business owners, and residents are required to park in designated Z-Lots with a parking permit.

  • REMIND YOUR CUSTOMERS – Street parking will always be in demand, but there are convenient public parking lots that are often under-utilized, even when street parking is full. In addition to the Depot Park parking lot and Brink Street Market parking lot, there is:

    • The parking lot on Brink Street (between Dalzell Jewelers and Metro Bowl), 4-hour public parking. It’s a 30-second walk to the center of Williams Street.
    • The lot across Main Street has a crosswalk to Woodstock Street. It’s free 4-hour parking and a 1.5 minute walk to Williams Street.
    • All commuter lots and Z-Lots become free 4-hour parking on weekday afternoons and all weekend.

Z-Lot Locations

South of the tracks:

(1) Behind The Clothes Gallery, on Brink Street.

(2) Grant & Brink, next to Home State Bank’s parking lot.

(3) The parking lot at the northeast corner of Main Street and Crystal Lake Avenue is marked as a 4-hour public parking lot, but Z-Lot permit holders are also able to display their permits and use this parking lot.

North of the tracks:

(4) The parking lot located immediately to the rear of the former City Hall (now Dark Heart Tattoo/The Other Side Sober Bar) on Beardsley Street is a shared Public and Z-Lot parking lot. Allotted Z-Lot spaces are located throughout the parking lot, excluding the numbered commuter parking spaces in the two rows on the east side of the parking lot.

Z-Lot Parking Questions

  • What if I have mobility issues and need closer parking? – Please get in touch so we can customize a solution: info@downtowncl.org.

  • What if I work after dark and don’t walk to walk to a Z0Lot ? – Safety is not a commonly felt concern in DTCL. Still, if you work into the evening and feel uneasy walking to your car after dark, you may move your car to a closer lot before nightfall within 4 hours of your shift end. Please avoid using street parking, and park in one of the closer public lots.

  • Why aren’t Z-Lot passes free? The revenue from parking passes is split between the City and Downtown Crystal Lake/Main Street. Parking pass revenue helps mitigate some of the cost of ongoing maintenance, improvements, patrolling, and management of the employee and resident lots.

  • How does the cost compare to other downtown communities? Some bigger cities with more ample parking (like Elgin) offer free 72-hour public parking for everyone but encourage voluntary employee parking in designated lots. Downtown McHenry charges $60/year for residential parking and $10/year for employee parking. Downtown Wheaton charges $50/year for employee parking. Barrington‘s City Center: $160/year. (These comps were last updated 09/2025.)

  • How do I know when new Z-Lot passes are available? If you’re not sure you’re on our email list for updates on things like Z-lots, street closures, and upcoming events, please email info@downtowncl.org and ask to be added.

  • Can parking passes be shared? The hanging passes allow for sharing between employees. They can be returned to a businesses who purchased them if employment ends, to be redistributed.

  • Have a question that’s not addressed on this page? Email info@downtowncl.org

To purchase a Z Lot Parking Pass, please complete the following payment form, or download and print the application. Or, you can fill out a printed application at Abalabix Books and pay cash or check (made out to Downtown Crystal Lake; Memo: Z-Lot Pass).

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Price: $20.00
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