Sacramento’s expanding paid parking meter locations. Here’s where
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sacramento will expand paid parking zones into districts 4, 5, and 6.
- Restaurateur worry mandatory parking could deter patrons.
- City aims to boost parking turnover and offset $62 million budget deficit by 2026.
Parking meter zones may soon pop up across west of the Sacramento River, north from the American River, and toward East Sacramento.
Parking meters will be extended throughout areas including downtown, midtown, Land Park, Curtis Park, and Oak Park. This expansion is one of several efforts by the city to increase enforced paid parking, which include raising fees downtown and new Sunday and holiday charges.
The City Council approved changes to its existing city parking code Tuesday night in an attempt to address projected budget deficits. The city closed a $62 million deficit in its current fiscal year, which began July 1.
Nick Ables, a manager at 4801 Origami Asian Grill on Folsom Blvd., said the expansion of parking meters could support his restaurant. He said Origami Asian Grill only has a small parking lot nearby with four spaces. On average, the restaurant sees more than 200 guests per night, he said.
“Parking is crazy out here,” Ables said. “Honestly, we get complaints all the time from all of our patrons coming in that they can’t find it, especially right where we are.”
However, while installing more designated parking zones could welcome business, he added that creating a mandatory parking fee could deter patrons. Currently, no parking spots near the restaurant require mandatory pay.
“As of right now, they’re not having to pay for parking, so I’m not sure how that would go for them,” Ables said.
The expanded parking meter zone is now a designated “central traffic district,” the city’s ordinance stated.
The city oversees approximately 6,391 paid street parking spaces in its central traffic district. There are over 25,000 parking spaces in Sacramento. Additionally, the city of Sacramento will get rid of parking control identification, the ordinance added.
Parking in Sacramento now costs $3, $4.50, or $6 on an hourly rate depending on a specific tier. Paying for parking in Old Sacramento, Tower, and Memorial Bridge will increase by $10 per the city’s new fee policy, according to previous Bee reporting. This change came as the city approved its $1.65 billion 2025-2026 budget in June.
The city’s ordinance stated parking meters are placed when “other curb management strategies are ineffective,” to provide parking to local businesses, tourists, and residents.
The new parking meter regulations will go into effect immediately, changing the city’s current code, according to the ordinance.
