Santa Rosa, CA — The City of Santa Rosa will revise its fee structure starting July 1 for all parking garages, lots, and meters, following over two years of various free or reduced-fee parking programs. 

The update will align parking fees and return operations closer to pre-COVID levels of service and function, with two notable exceptions becoming permanent. First, parking in the city’s five parking garages will be free for the first hour. Second, free parking will be provided in the city’s five parking garages each year every Saturday and Sunday from the Saturday after Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. 

“When we do something like this—that costs us a little money,” said Councilmember Victoria Fleming during the June 21 meeting approving the new fee structure, “we are investing in our economic drivers and reducing the stress on consumers, our residents, and our businesses owners.” 

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the city’s Parking fund had been running at an operational deficit, and the free and reduced parking measures during that time were intended to provide relief for businesses and downtown visitors. The goal of the two new changes will be to continue to support downtown businesses and encourage greater use of parking facilities, while creating clarity for residents, visitors, and businesses on how to use parking with stable, long-term programs. 

Parking officials will begin outreach over the summer at public events, meet with businesses and provide them with updated materials to help educate the public, while the city’s website will be updated to better streamline information about city parking. 

For more information, go to srcity.org/Parking.