Parking 101
Rates
Meter rates generally are $1.25 per hour, except where otherwise specified. All meters accept quarters, dimes, nickels, and pre-paid meter cards.
Meter rates for green-top meters and blue multi-space pay-and-display meter range from $0.50 to $1.25 per hour. Blue multi-space meters also accept Visa and MasterCard for purchases of $1.25 or more. However, they do not credit unused time back to a credit card or pre-paid meter card. Solar powered, single-head meters also accept Visa, Mastercard, pre-paid meter cards, and coins. To find where these meters are located please view the Uptown Parking Map.
Certain meters have time limits up to 9 hours. For more information about the green-top meter program visit the city's website at Parking Management Division.
Enforcement | General Rules
Meters list the time limits, hourly rates, and hours of enforcement that apply. You may get a ticket for parking your vehicle in a metered space longer than the posted time limit even if you add more money.
The City enforces parking meter limits from 8 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Saturday. Sundays and certain holidays are unrestricted.
Parking time limits range from four to nine hours for green-top and blue multi-space meters. Rates and time limits are posted.
Parking meters with yellow poles are within the jurisdiction of the Port of San Diego and may have different enforcement regulations.
| New Year's Day |
January 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
Third Monday of January |
| President's Day |
Third Monday of February |
| Cesar Chavez Day |
March 31 or nearest Mon/Fri |
| Memorial Day |
Last Monday of May |
| Independence Day |
July 4 |
| Labor Day |
First Monday of September |
| Veteran's Day |
November 11 |
| Thanksgiving Day |
Fourth Thursday of November |
| Christmas Day |
December 25 |
Zones
RED
A red curb means, "no stopping any time." When signs are used in place of a red curb, the prohibition is in effect on the days and times specified on the sign. If ANY part of your vehicle extends into a red zone you may be ticketed.
WHITE
Vehicles are allowed to stop for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers. The time limit is three minutes, or ten minutes in front of a hotel. Passenger loading zones are in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, unless otherwise posted.
YELLOW
Trucks and commerical vehicles are permitted to stop for 20 minutes to load or unload goods. Passenger vehicles may also stop for three minutes to load or unload passengers. Commerical loading zones are in effect between 6 AM and 6 PM, Sundays and City holidays excepted, unless otherwise posted.
BLUE
Vehicles displaying a placard or license plate that distinguishes a disabled person may park in this zone.They also may park at green curbs or in time-limit zones without observing any time restriction and at metered parking spaces without payment or time restriction.
GREEN
Parking is limited to the time-period posted, usually 15 or 30 minutes. Green zones are in effect 8 AM to 6 PM, except for Sundays and City holidays.
Who to Call
Contest a parking citation
Parking Management Division (866) 470-1308
Report an abandoned vehicle
Abandoned Vehicle Abatement (AVA) (858) 495-7856
Report illegal parking in your neighborhood or to reclaim your impounded vehicle
Police Non-emergency Dispatch (619) 531-2000
Report misuse of a disabled placard or license plate
Parking Enforcement Community Outreach (619) 685-1408
Report faded signs or curb markings
Streets Division (619) 527-750
Report a malfunctioning parking meter
Meter Shop (800) 808-5998
For additional information on parking zones
Transportation Engineering (619) 533-3126
