Locals can still park for free in downtown SLO despite rate increase. Here’s how
San Luis Obispo’s free parking in downtown structures is going away next month — but not for locals who sign up for the city’s new permit.
The city is launching a Park Local pilot program aimed at continuing to give San Luis Obispo County residents the first hour of parking free in downtown structures.
Parking rates are set to double downtown on July 1 to help pay for the new Cultural Arts District structure. With that, San Luis Obispo is also ditching its longstanding free first hour of parking in its structures — a move that upset some San Luis Obispo County residents.
“We heard loud and clear that residents want and need to keep their first hour of free parking in our parking structures downtown,” Gaven Hussey, parking services program manager, said in a news release. “To help support locals, we are excited to offer this program to county residents and hope they will continue their ongoing support and enjoyment of downtown San Luis Obispo.”
Locals who sign up for a permit through the city’s Park Local program can continue to get that first hour for free at the 842 Palm St. parking structure.
For now the city’s other structures do not qualify for the program, though there are plans to expand it in the future, according to the release.
How to sign up for free downtown SLO parking
San Luis Obispo County residents who want to keep their first hour of free parking will need to register online at www.slocity.org/parking.
Once you have created an account, select “Buy Permits” from the menu, choose the 842 Palm location, select “Locals Permit” option and click “buy” — don’t worry, it’s free.
You’ll also need to provide your vehicle’s license plate information and a proof of residency. That could include proof of vehicle registration, a copy of a lease agreement or a driver’s license, among other methods of verification.
You can register up to three cars on one account, but only one can use the permit at a time.
Once signed up, your license plate number will be saved so that when you enter the Palm Street parking structure, the new gateless technology will scan your plate and apply the first hour of free parking. You will not get a physical permit.
Hussey said the new pilot program is “contingent on new gateless technology that we are rolling out to downtown structures this year.”
“By having gateless parking, we will reduce delays caused by grabbing tickets or paying for parking, and instead, cameras will document license plates to facilitate pay-by-plate payment like on-street parking now,” he said in the release. “This also allows us to apply the first hour of free parking to cars with license plates registered in our Park Local pilot program. I think the enhanced technology and locals-only perk is a great combo to make parking even easier for our residents.”
With the launch of the pilot program, the city is also offering a “Park Local Bonus” to the first people to sign up for the new permit. Those individuals will get an extra five days of free parking, according to the release.
Codes for the bonus free parking will be sent out to those selected starting in July.
This story was originally published June 1, 2023 at 2:47 PM.
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