5 Tips for Easy Parking on the Grid

Get those freebies

During the holiday season, you can take advantage of FREE Holiday Parking through Dec. 25 in downtown, midtown and Old Sacramento[1]. Metered parking is free on weekdays after 4:30 p.m. and all-day on weekends, making it real cheap to shop on the grid and enjoy an #URBANholiday experience!

Ditch the coins, use your card

Paying for on-street metered parking is super convenient with smart meters that accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover cards – as well as coins. There are over 1,500 on-street metered spaces located in the 66 block downtown district.

Yep, there’s an app for that

The City of Sacramento has teamed with Parkmobile to provide more options to pay for parking at select locations using a mobile app! You can set up a free account by calling 916-722-7275 or visiting Parkmobile.com. You can also search for parking by comparing price and location with BestParking.com.

Scout nearby garages offering flat rates

Don’t forget about public parking garages – there are over 20,000 off-street parking spaces in City-operated garages on the grid! Many garages charge only $1.50 for each half hour and $5 maximums on weekends, and many offer validations for purchases at downtown retailers and restaurants. You can also take advantage of flat rates and discount programs offered at nearby private parking garages.

Be aware of NEW meter rates & SPOTZone

Beginning Dec. 10, 2015, parking meter rates will be increased to $1.75 an hour. The rate increase is part of the City’s parking modernization effort to improve meter technology, promote turnover, and simply make parking more convenient. A new parking pilot known as SPOTZone or Special Parking Over Time also begins Dec. 11 at select meters in Old Sacramento on Front Street at J Street and in the Handle District at 18th and L Streets. For more information on the City’s parking improvements visit sacpark.org or downtownsac.org.

[1] Free meter parking zones extend from I to L streets, and from Front to 29th streets, and only apply to metered on-street parking spaces. All other parking violations are still enforceable as posted, such as time limits, street sweeping, and color zones.