Purple curbs are coming off Miami Beach streets.

The City Commission voted Wednesday to ban all non-traditional curb colors citywide and ordered staff to repaint every purple-marked loading zone back to its original color. The resolution effectively kills the SMART loading zone program on Miami Beach, even though the city's parking director told commissioners the purple markings had cut violations and reduced towing.

Commissioner Joseph Magazine sponsored the resolution. Commissioners Laura Dominguez, Monica Matteo-Salinas and Alex Fernandez co-sponsored it.

Commissioners cited aesthetic concerns in reversing course on the program

The resolution argues that additional curb colors could confuse motorists and pedestrians, erode what it calls the city's "streetscape aesthetic" and undermine established design standards. Commissioners pointed specifically to the longstanding use of yellow markings, which the city considers central to its visual identity.

Purple paint had marked commercial loading zones since the program's rollout

The SMART loading zone program used purple curb paint to distinguish designated commercial and freight loading areas from other parking zones. City staff had already repainted curbs and updated signage across Miami Beach as part of the rollout, according to the Miami Beach Journal. The city's parking director told commissioners the program was working.

New paint is banned immediately, and existing purple curbs must be undone

Under the resolution, no new purple paint may go down on any Miami Beach curb as of Wednesday. Staff must also undo the work already completed, restoring those curbs to traditional colors.

Miami Beach currently operates three types of commercial loading zones: Commercial Loading Zones, Freight Loading Zones and Alley Loading permits. The city's Parking Enforcement Unit uses license plate recognition readers to enforce loading regulations. Those enforcement tools remain in place.

Residents with questions about loading zone permits or parking enforcement can visit miamibeachfl.gov/parking or contact the city's Parking Department.