News Summary
San Diego has announced the extension of parking meter hours and the introduction of Sunday enforcement in various neighborhoods. The changes aim to increase city revenue amid a budget crisis and will affect areas like Pacific Beach and North Park. Parking meters will operate two hours longer, with enforcement extending to Sundays. Residents can purchase permits to ease the impact, while plans for increased rates near Petco Park and at popular attractions are also underway. Critics argue these fees disproportionately burden locals and tourists.
San Diego has announced the extension of parking meter hours and the introduction of Sunday enforcement in several neighborhoods to boost city revenue amidst an ongoing budget crisis. The changes will take effect this week, marking a significant shift in parking management across the city.
In numerous neighborhoods including Pacific Beach, North Park, South Park, the College Area, Kensington, Talmadge, Normal Heights, and City Heights, parking meters will now operate two hours longer each day. This modification will also expand to additional areas such as Redwood Village, El Cerrito, Rolando Park, Rolando, Oak Park, parts of Golden Hill, and University Heights. Furthermore, downtown San Diego and Uptown, which encompasses Mission Hills, Hillcrest, and Bankers Hill, will see similar changes before the end of September.
While the start times for meter enforcement will remain unchanged at either 8 a.m. or 10 a.m. depending on the neighborhood, the ending times will be adjusted. For example, where enforcement currently ends at 6 p.m., it will now end at either 8 p.m. or 10 p.m. In Pacific Beach, the existing cutoff time of 8 p.m. will be extended to 10 p.m. Additionally, all meters within the affected zones will now also be enforced on Sundays, with Sunday enforcement initially applying only in commercial sets of the Mid-City area, specifically along El Cajon Boulevard.
As part of the changes, city crews are actively applying stickers to parking meter signs to notify drivers of the new enforcement hours, including the forthcoming Sunday rules. Residents who live in areas with Sunday enforcement will have the option to purchase residential parking permits for $9 per year. This initiative aims to minimize the impact of parking regulation on local residents while expanding revenue collection.
Future plans include implementing $10-an-hour meters near Petco Park and potentially expanding enforcement to more neighborhoods across San Diego. City officials are also nearing proposals to charge for parking at both the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park. These changes are expected to generate millions in added revenue while simultaneously enhancing parking turnover and availability for visitors.
San Diego city officials have remarked that the new rates will remain significantly lower than those charged in other large California cities that enforce stricter parking regulations. The intention is to reinvest the additional revenue into infrastructure projects within the neighborhoods where it is collected, thus relieving some pressures on the city’s general fund for other uses.
Despite the city’s justification for the changes, some critics contend that the increased parking fees are disproportionately burdening residents and tourists to balance the budget. Previously, parking meter rates were doubled from $1.25 to $2.50 per hour, in addition to hikes in parking violation fines, raising concerns among local citizens and businesses.
It is important to note that vehicles displaying a disabled placard or license plate will continue to receive free parking at meters throughout San Diego, ensuring ongoing accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, parking meters along the waterfront operated by the San Diego Unified Port District will not be included in these recent changes.
Furthermore, a special event parking zone around Petco Park is slated to launch on September 1, 2025. This zone will charge $10 per hour during major events, activated two hours before events expected to draw over 10,000 attendees, and will remain in effect for four hours following the conclusion of these events. The Padres organization has raised concerns regarding the marked increase in parking rates, indicating distress over the lack of input from essential stakeholders during the deliberation process. This development represents a considerable shift in how parking will be managed in San Diego, as the city aims to address its financial challenges through enhanced enforcement and revenue measures.
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Additional Resources
- NBC San Diego
- San Diego Union-Tribune
- Times of San Diego
- CBS 8 San Diego
- Google Search: San Diego parking meter hours extended
Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER
SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
