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SITE NAVIGATION

Discounts & Parking Rates

Parking Meters

Parking Operating Hours

Discounts & Parking Rates

Parking Meters

Effective July 1, 2025: Base meter rate will be $3.00 per hour during Tier 1 time. Meters are enforced 7 days per week, including holidays

Parking meters on the street offer drivers multiple payment options. Meters and payment kiosks accept coins, mobile app payments, and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover).

Meter revenues contribute to the City General Fund and may only be used as prescribed by Sacramento City Code section 10.40.130

Sacramento City Code 10.40

City code relating to meter regulation and payments in Sacramento

Meter locations

Parking meters are only authorized to be in Parking Meter Zones in specific traffic districts, as defined by Sacramento City Code section 10.40.010:

Central Traffic District
Fort Sutter Traffic District

With over 25,000 parking spaces in the Central City, only less than 6,400 are actually metered parking spaces.

Metered parking spaces may have single-space smart meters; multi-space meters in the form of green kiosks; or just signage posted with the meter zone (location) number indicating the code to enter on the ParkMobile payment app.

View the Parking Meter Map to view locations and meter types. Use the filter under the Space by Time Limit menu to choose the meter type or choose all meter types.

Meter types

Rates are reflected on each meter screen. The posted street signs with a digit in a circle followed by the "+" sign reflects how many hours a vehicle may park at Tier 1 (base meter rate). Meters reset when a vehicle leaves a space.

Single-space meters: individual meters posted at each parking space. Payment for the parking space is only accepted at the meter posted for that space. Acceptance of coin is dependent upon location. All single-space meters accept card (credit or debit) or mobile payment app.

Multi-space meters: green payment kiosks located on the blockside of the parking spaces. Payment for a parking space must be made at the multi-space meter for that block to be valid. These meters accept coins, card (credit or debit), or mobile payment app.

Meterless spaces: parking spaces without physical meters. Payment is accepted via mobile payment app or text-to-pay. Look for posted signage on that side of the block for zone/location number or QR code. Mobile payments are enforced by license plate readers.

Meter payment hours

Meter payments are required during parking operating hours. The meter screen will also reflect if meter payment is required. The Parking Operating Hours Map shows the start and end times when payment is required in each metered location.

Parking meter map

View all parking meter locations

Image depicting zones for parking operational hours

Parking operating hours

Hours when time zones and meters are enforced

Image of woman using a parking meter on the street with a video play button overlay

How to use smart meter

Video instructions on how to pay at single-space smart meters

Dowload ParkMobile app

Easy way to pay at meters and parking facilities across North America

Image of barricade along 10th Street for reserved parking

Meter & space reservations

For construction projects or special events with permits

Parking meter receipts

Receipts for single-space smart meter payments

Meter rates

Meters operate on a tiered rate system with rates dependent on the parking session time.

There are no time limits at meters programmed with tiered rates.
For long-term parking, it is recommended that drivers use off-street parking garages or lots, as those rates may be less expensive than paying the on-street meter rate.
Parking on the street is better suited for short-term parking to promote turnover, which supports residents, visitors, and businesses.

Tier 1: $3.00 each hour

Tier 2: $4.50 for one hour after Tier 1 ends

Tier 3: $6.00 each additional hour beyond Tier 2

Image of infographic showing tiered meter rate pricing

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Example of pricing at 1+, 2+, and 3+ meter zones

Paying the meter

Look for the meter that is associated with the parking space being occupied. Payments only apply to the space(s) associated with that specific meter.

At the meter: Initial payment made at the meter by coin or card will require physically returning to the meter to add (extend) parking time.
With mobile app: Initial payment using the mobile app will not require returning to the meter. Any time extensions must be performed remotely from the app. There is a $0.35 per transaction convenience fee charged by the mobile app provider. Any subsequent transactions to add time via the app may result in an additional $0.35 convenience fee. The meter light will not change. The app will provide confirmation and proof of payment.
Text-to-pay (limited locations): Scan the QR code posted on the Text-to-Pay signage. Follow the prompts to pay. No account registration is required to use this feature.

Warning about QR codes on signs: Please take caution when scanning QR codes on any publicly posted signs.

Signs with QR codes posted by the City of Sacramento do not use stickers. The QR code is imprinted directly on the sign.
If a QR code on a sign appears to be in a suspicious sticker form or altered, as those may be fradulent.
Potentially fraudulent QR codes may be reported to Sacramento City 311 by dialing 3-1-1 and reporting the location QR sign.
If unsure about a QR code, utilize another option to pay (Parkmobile or at the meter) if available.

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View meter screen for rates and meter number

Reporting meter issues

California Vehicle Code section 22508.5 identifies a parking meter as being inoperable if no form of payment can be accepted or the meter cannot register a payment in any form.

Meter issues, including meters that require servicing or repair, may be reported to the Sacramento City 311 via phone, email, or Sacramento City 311 app.

Vandalized versus inoperable meters

Meters that appear damagd, yet can still accept a form of payment and register time are "vandalized" and still require payment.

If a meter is fully inoperable or missing, please move to another metered space with an operable meter. If no other space is available or there are no other alternative places to park. The vehicle may stay in the space and the following actions should be taken immediately:

Take note of meter number: This is in the form of the PKGS number on the meter screen, the zone/location number on the green Parkmobile sticker on the body of the meter, or on any posted Parkmobile sign on the street pole.
Report the meter number to Sacramento City 311: This will log the meter in the system in the event of a citation and also notifies the City Meter Shop that repair is needed.
Before departing your vehicle: Take a picture of the blank meter screen or a picture of your vehicle next to the missing meter spot to keep as proof that the meter was inoperable or missing in the event you are issued a parking citation.

Contact Sacramento City 311

By phone: (916) 808-5011 or dial 3-1-1 if calling from within Sacramento city limits.

Sacramento City 311 App

Download the app to request service or report issues

Sacramento City 311 Online

Portal to request service or report issues online

Meter Status	Meter Payment
Meter fully functioning and all payment options are available	Meter payment required
Meter coin door is damaged or meter cannot accept coin	Meter payment required with card or payment app
Meter card acceptor not functioning or is damaged	Meter payment required with coin or payment app
Meter cannot accept any form of payment due to damage or meter is missing	Inoperable meter. Report meter to Sacramento City 311. Use the PKGS number at the bottom of the screen. Move to another space if available.
Meter screen is blank or not working	Inoperable meter. Report the meter to Sacramento City 311. Report the digits on the green Parkmobile app sticker as meter number. Move to another space if available.

Long-term meters

The majority of meters are considered "short-term" meters because they accomodate parking for only a few hours. These meters have tiered meter rates that charge an hourly rate.

To support employees who must rely on street parking to attend to their jobs, the City of Sacramento offers "long-term" metered parking at a discount over the short-term meter rate. These special meters only charge a max flat rate of $7 or $10 for any parking session beyond 3 hours. The parking session will then expire when operating hours end at that metered location.

Drivers may park for less than 3 hours at a long-term meter. However, if the planned parking session will be 3 hours or less, please utilize a short-term meter to allow those who need long-term parking a space on the street.

Long-term meter map

All long-term locations denoted by orange circle with "L"

Image of infographic showing long-term meter rate pricing

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Short-term rate is charged until flat max rate is entered

How long-term meters work

Long-term meters still allow short-term parking at the Tier 1 base meter rate. This accommodates those who need short-term parking.

Enter the amount of parking time at the meter or on the mobile payment app. Choose the MAX option to go straight to the max rate.
Base hourly rate will apply until the third hour when the meter will "jump" to the long-term flat rate of $7 or $10.
Follow the screen prompts to complete payment.
No other payments will be required for the remainder of the parking session and expires when parking operating hours expire for that meter.
Vehicles may park at the meter overnight. Parking charges will resume at 8 a.m. the next morning.

For safety reasons, please do not display the receipt on the vehicle dashboard. Please keep the receipt with you in the event it is needed for business purposes or to contest a citation issued for non-payment.

Special Event Meter Rates

When an event at Golden 1 Center expects to exceed 10,000 attendees, then meters will activate a special event flat rate within a three-block radius of Golden 1 Center. Meters will be activated with this rate two hours prior to the event start time.

Activation of special event rates in garages or lots (off-street) are independent of special event rates at street meters (on-street). Parking reservations purchased online may offer a discount over meter rates and drive-up rates at garages and lots.

Parking reservations

Reserve parking online at discounted rates in select garages and parking lots

Parkmobile app

Mobile payment app. Valid at locations nationwide

How special event meter rates work

Special event meter mode still allows short-term parking at the Tier 1 base meter rate. This accommodates those who need short-term parking.

Enter the amount of parking time at the meter or on the mobile payment app.
Base hourly rate (Tier 1) will apply until special event flat rate applies at Tier 2.
At Tier 2, the difference between payments applied in Tier 1 will credit towards the max special event rate. to total no more than $25.
No other payments will be required for the remainder of the parking session, depending on the time of day when event ends.
Vehicles may park at the meter overnight. Parking charges will resume at 8 a.m. the next morning.

*Except at 1+ meter zones where Tier 1 and Tier 2 will apply before special event rate applies

If initial payment was made at the meter, then extensions of time must also be paid at the physical meter. Initial payments made through the mobile app may only be extended through a mobile app.

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Payments at each tier will apply to the total flat rate

Parking Operating Hours

ON THIS PAGE

Parking Meters

Meter locations

Meter types

Meter payment hours

Meter rates

Paying the meter

Reporting meter issues

Vandalized versus inoperable meters

Contact Sacramento City 311

Long-term meters

How long-term meters work

Special Event Meter Rates

How special event meter rates work

More