Parking Meters
The city uses parking meters as a way to free up spaces in high-traffic commercial areas. Parking meter prices and time limits vary based on demand in the area.
Many commercial areas of Berkeley, such as downtown and Solano Avenue, use parking meters as a way to free up spaces. Under the goBerkeley program, the City of Berkeley sets prices and time limits based on current and estimated future demand for parking in a given area. For example, on Shattuck Avenue, meter prices may vary from $1.50 to $4 per hour as you get closer to the downtown arts district. Time limits range as short as 30 minutes up to 8 hours.
"Premium" parking is marked with blue colored signs and has higher prices with shorter parking time limits, while "Value" parking has green signs and lower prices with longer parking time limits.
Payment instructions and hours of operation are posted at each meter or pay station. Check the meter for rates, hours of operation, time limits, and other important information.
Pay for your parking meter
You can pay for your parking meters with coins (nickels, dimes, or quarters), or credit or debit cards (Visa or Master Card). There is a 12-minute minimum transaction required on card purchases.
You can use the ParkMobile app (https://parkmobile.io) to pay for parking with your smartphone. If you prefer to not use the app, you can call 1-877-727-5718 to register and pay by phone.
Time limits are strictly enforced and may not be extended by adding more money after the posted maximum time limit has expired.
Hours of Operation
Always check the meter and posted signs to confirm hours of operation. In most locations, on-street meters require payment 9 am to 6 pm Monday through Saturday including some holidays.
The Elmwood Parking Lot requires payment Monday through Saturday, from 7 am to 6 pm.
Metered parking in the SmartSpace area requires payment Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 7 pm.
Pre-pay is available two hours before meter time starts and, in most locations, payment is not required after 6 pm.
Meters are not enforced on the following days:
- New Year's Day, January 1 (Holiday observed on Monday if it falls on Sunday)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Third Monday in January
- President's Day, Third Monday in February
- Memorial Day, Last Monday in May
- Juneteenth, typically observed on June 19
- Independence Day, July 4 (Holiday observed on Friday if it falls on a Sunday)
- Labor Day, First Monday in September
- Indigenous People's Day, Second Monday in October
- Veterans Day, November 11 (Holiday observed on Monday if it falls on Sunday)
- Thanksgiving Day, Fourth Thursday in November
- Christmas Day, December 25 (Holiday observed on Monday if it falls on Sunday)
To report a broken meter or pay station, call 311 or (510) 981-CITY (2489), and provide the meter or pay station number. If a meter or pay station is not accepting any form of payment, you may park without payment for up to the posted time limit.
If you have any questions for the Meter Maintenance Team, please call 311 or (510) 981-2489.
Meter Rate Adjustments
The goBerkeley program uses demand-responsive pricing to open up parking spaces on each block and reduce circling and double-parking. Using meter payment data to estimate parking occupancy, the City raises the rate by $0.25-$0.50 on blocks where average occupancy is above 85%, lowers the rate $0.25-$0.50 on zones where average occupancy is below 65%, and does not change the rate on blocks that hit the target occupancy between 65% and 85%. Rates may vary by block, by time of day, and weekday or weekend.
Rates are adjusted approximately 2-3 times per year. The “Related Documents” section of this page contains spreadsheets for each rate adjustment, showing every rate adjustment for every parking zone.
Pay Station Replacement Project
The City is replacing existing "pay-and-display" pay station with new "pay-by-plate" pay stations. The existing "pay-and-display" machines require you to display a ticket printed by the kiosk on your dashboard (or use ParkMobile for contactless payment). The new pay stations do not require you to display anything in or on your vehicle (your license plate is your permit).
New "pay-by-plate" pay stations are installed in the Southside, North Berkeley, Solano, and Euclid/Hearst areas first before they are installed elsewhere in the City. Remember, you can use the ParkMobile app and avoid using meters or pay stations altogether!
