Pay or Permit Parking Expansion Project

At a Glance

SFMTA is proposing to replace visitor time limits with paid parking on Residential Permit Parking blocks in four neighborhoods in San Francisco. This regulation, called Pay or Permit Parking, makes it easier to find a place to park for both residents of and visitors to high-demand neighborhoods. Permitholders do not have to pay on top of the cost of the permit.

Project Overview

In 2018, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which oversees parking and all ground transportation in the City, added Pay or Permit Parking as a new regulation type to the longstanding Residential Parking Permit (RPP) program to better serve residents of and visitors to San Francisco’s neighborhoods. Cities have long known that charging for parking is the best tool for encouraging parking turnover and making it easier to find a place to park in commercial districts. Pay or Permit Parking combines the benefits of residential parking restrictions with the benefits of paid parking: making it easier for residents and visitors to park on blocks in high-density, high-demand residential areas near major attractions, while preserving the residential permit system and generating revenue to support transit service.

Here’s how it works. On blocks with Pay or Permit Parking, RPP permitholders for the area on the sign don't have to pay to park at the nearby paystation on the block; they park for an unlimited time without paying by the hour, as they would in a traditional RPP area. Visitors parking in the area pay for the time they'd like to park their vehicle at a paystation or with a mobile device, rather than being required to leave the area before the time limit. 

Removing time limits allows guests to stay in the area for longer than two hours if they need to.  At the same time, the payment requirement ensures that people stay only as long as they need and then make their space available to the next person who can use it.  The parking on most RPP blocks close to commercial corridors is primarily occupied by non-residents, many of whom stay longer than the posted time limit.

The SFMTA first implemented Pay or Permit Parking in late 2022 in portions of the Hayes Valley neighborhood, where it has been successful in managing parking demand and improve parking availability. More residents are able to park on blocks near their homes and even though visitor parking is no longer time-limited, visitors stay for a shorter amount of time under Pay or Permit Parking. SFMTA staff are continually monitoring conditions in the area and preparing a formal evaluation of Pay or Permit Parking in Hayes Valley for release later this year.

Pay or Permit Parking Benefits

Benefits for Residents: By better managing visitor parking, Pay or Permit Parking makes it more likely that residents can find a space quickly and can park close to home. The increased availability means that there’s less congestion and pollution from vehicles circling for a space.

Benefits for Businesses: Pay or Permit Parking supports thriving business districts by making it easier for customers to find a place to park on streets near busy commercial corridors, where parking spaces are often difficult to find. Employees and customers alike can enjoy the added flexibility of not having to move their car every two hours to avoid a ticket.

Benefits for Visitors: Avoiding a parking ticket on a time-limited block means having to run out every two hours. Pay or Permit Parking reduces hassle by allowing visitors to pay to park for as long as needed. With the added flexibility and the increased ease in finding a place to park, visitors can spend more time dining, shopping, or hanging out with friends. Guests of residents can also enjoy the same guest permit privileges available today.

Pay or Permit Expansion Project Neighborhoods and Timeline

In 2023, SFMTA received a $1.5 million Local Parking Management Capital and Implementation Grant that pays for installing over 260 paystations to extend this regulation into more areas. As part of the grant, MTC will study the congestion and air quality impacts of the regulation. The neighborhoods currently being studied for inclusion in this project are: 

• The Marina 
• Cow Hollow/The Greater Union Street Area
• Lower Haight
• Other Hayes Valley blocks not included in the original project 

These neighborhoods were selected due to their high parking occupancy, high percentage of non-permitholders parked at the curb, and proximity to high-demand commercial corridors. The SFMTA may study other neighborhoods based on community interest. The SFMTA hosted an open house in October 2024 in the Lower Haight/Hayes Valley area and an open house in the Marina/Cow Hollow area in December 2024. Outreach will continue into early 2025 and staff will evolve and refine the proposal based on feedback received.