Angus Council has formed a steering group to look at the issue of parking enforcement in the county.
The Members Officers Group will consider several options including introducing parking charges to pay for a traffic warden service.
Police Scotland withdrew its warden service in Angus last February and there have been complaints since about people exceeding the time limit on spaces and parking on double yellow lines.
The cost of the council enforcing parking over five years is expected to be between £470,000 and £1.1 million.
Councillors Bill Duff, Jim Houston, Iain Gaul, Ian McLaren and Craig Fotheringham will sit on the steering group.
Communities committee convener Donald Morrison said: “Since traffic wardens were withdrawn by police, we have seen coverage highlighting bad parking in the burghs.
“Police Scotland assured the council they would continue to deal with vehicles parked dangerously but our constituents have complained about irresponsible parking. We do need to look at something.”
Montrose councillor David May asked that the group consider the views of high street businesses in their study.
He added: “Parking in our high street has got worse and worse as a result of the decision by Police Scotland to remove our traffic wardens.
“Many drivers are ignoring the time limits and parking for parts of the day.
“This has had huge problems for the local retailers as some shoppers cannot find a parking place and this has led to a drop in sales.”
Carnoustie councillor Brian Boyd described the parking situation in his town as “ridiculous”.
He said: “I’m glad to see this moving forward because in Carnoustie, everybody knows they will not be stopped for exceeding the half-an-hour time limit.
“I recently tried to get a key cut in the high street and after 15 minutes, I almost gave up trying to find a space.”
Councillor David Fairweather indicated he would not be happy with parking charges being introduced and asked that the “status quo” of no parking charges remain.
Angus has had free parking for the last 20 years.