Santa Rosa, CA – The City of Santa Rosa will resume charging for hourly and permit parking in downtown Santa Rosa beginning July 1, 2020. The decision, authorized by the City Council at its Tuesday, June 16 meeting, ends a temporary waiver of parking fees issued April 14 at the height of Sonoma County’s COVID-19 Shelter in Place Order.
The resumption of parking fees on July 1 aims to help ensure parking space is available to support restaurants and retail businesses as they re-open. With the gradual lifting of public health restrictions, Santa Rosa’s Downtown has experienced an increase in business activity and parking demand, including for curbside access for retail and restaurant pick-up service, and interest in expanding business activities in the public right of way.
“As employees return to work and businesses reopen, parking fees will help manage the high demand for on-street curbside parking,” said Parking Manager Kim Nadeau. “To encourage off-street parking during this time, the City is offering new free and reduced-price parking options beginning July 1 through the end of the year.”
The new free and reduced-price parking options, effective July 1 through December 31, 2020, will include the following:
- Free parking for the first hour of parking at all five of the City’s parking garages
- Free garage parking between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., Monday through Friday and all-day Saturday and Sunday
- Value Zone parking meter rates reduced to $0.75 an hour
- One free metered parking validation session up to $3.15 when using the Passport Parking mobile app
- Waiver of meter reservation fees for businesses to make temporary use of the public right of way for parklets, outdoor seating, and expanded outdoor retail space.
All parking fees Downtown will continue to be waived through the end of June 2020 prior to this new fee schedule taking effect.