How San Diego residents can contact City Hall about Balboa Park paid parking fees
Paid parking is now in effect across Balboa Park
Paid parking began in Balboa Park on Jan. 5, 2026, introducing metered curb parking and paid lots with prices that vary by location and residency verification. On-street parking meters inside the park and on select nearby streets charge $2.50 per hour, up to $10 per day, and are enforced daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with exceptions on major holidays.
Parking lots are grouped into three tiers. In the closest “Level 1” lots, verified City of San Diego residents pay $5 for up to four hours or $8 for a full day, while nonresidents pay $10 for up to four hours or $16 for a full day. “Level 2” lots are $5 per day for verified residents and $10 per day for nonresidents. The “Level 3” Lower Inspiration Point lot offers the first three hours free, then $5 per day for verified residents or $10 per day for nonresidents.
Discounts depend on resident verification and advance steps
To receive the resident discount in parking lots, drivers must register and complete residency verification through the City’s Balboa Park payment portal. The system is license-plate based and requires proof of residency. The City also offers virtual parking passes for frequent visitors: $30 monthly, $60 quarterly, and $150 annually for verified residents; $40 monthly, $120 quarterly, and $300 annually for nonresidents.
Some exemptions and free options remain. Disabled placard or Disabled Person plate holders can park at meters in and near the park without charge and without time limits, and can use marked accessible spaces in lots without paying lot fees. The City also provides a free parking option for up to three hours in the Lower Inspiration Point lot, with a free shuttle serving the park.
Ways locals can send City Hall a message
Use board and commission public comment tools: The Balboa Park Committee accepts public input, including through an online public-comment webform as an alternative to attending in person. The committee meets on the first Thursday of each month at 4 p.m. at the Balboa Park Club.
Provide City Council testimony: Residents can submit written comment or speak during public comment at City Council meetings when parking, Balboa Park operations, budgets, or fee schedules are on the agenda.
Contact the district office representing Balboa Park: Constituents can communicate directly with the City Council office for the district that includes Balboa Park, as well as the Mayor’s office, to document concerns about affordability, access, enforcement hours, and how revenues are spent within the park.
What officials have said the fees are intended to fund
City policy directs that revenue generated by paid parking within Balboa Park be used in Balboa Park for improvements and maintenance. The adopted framework ties parking charges to a broader set of city fee changes approved during budget balancing, while preserving discounted rates for verified city residents and keeping specific free-parking and accessibility provisions in place.
Residents submitting feedback can strengthen their message by specifying how often they visit the park, which lots or roads they use, whether they qualify for resident verification, and what changes they want considered (such as additional free hours, modified enforcement times, or expanded low-cost pass options).