Downtown Parking

Downtown Parking Map revised 20230111

Click here for a Downtown Parking Space Map

Paid Parking

Paid parking hours are Daily from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

All patrons receive the first two hours of parking free after a parking session is started using one of the payment options. The rate is $2 per hour after the free two hours. Customers can pay or start their parking sessions using:

Parking is free on Pioneer Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. 

 *Cash enabled pay stations are conveniently located at: 11th St. and Park St, (near the horseshoe pits), 12th St. and Pine St. (on the southwest corner) and 13th St. and Park St. (on the southeast corner).

**When using the Pay by Text feature, parking payment links are sent via SMS by Flowbird (Start my Parking). Message and data rates may apply. One message per request. View Terms of Service here and Privacy Policy here. 

More info: 

Employee Parking Permit Program

The Paso Robles Downtown Employee Parking Permit Program provides downtown business owners and employees a low-cost option for parking in the downtown core. Permits are $5 per month, per vehicle. Permit parking is available in 4 public parking lots in the downtown core.

Downtown business owners and employees have 4 options available to purchase a Downtown Employee Permit:

Senior Parking Permit Program

Senior parking permits for 2023/2024 are sold out. Applications are not being accepted. 

2024/2025 senior parking permit applications will be available after March 1, 2024.

Approved Senior Parking Permits are valid from April 1st – March 31st. With the Senior Permit, seniors can park in any paid parking space Downtown without additional payment.

Senior permit requirements:

  • Must be 65 years of age or older with a valid driver’s license 
  • Must be a Paso Robles resident (within City limits)
  • Must be the registered owner of the vehicle
  • Must not be a Downtown employee or business owner
  • Limited to 500 permits annually
  • Limited to 1 permit per household (1 vehicle)
  • Completed applications must be turned in before April 30th

As a reminder, those with disabled placards do not need a senior permit and are exempt from paid parking regulations when their placard is displayed.

Quarterly Parking Occupancy Results

The City of Paso Robles collects data on a quarterly basis in the Downtown and Downtown core area. The quarterly cadence will capture seasonal trends, provide transparency, and allow for data-driven decisions. Data is collected for on-street and off-street locations during a 1 week period each quarter. Results are compared to the parking industry standard ideal parking occupancy rate of 85%.

About License Plate Recognition (LPR) Software: 

The LPR system does not identify any individual or access any person's personal information through its analysis of license plate characters. The data captured by the LPR unit itself is entirely anonymous. Officers can only identify the registered owner of a vehicle by querying a separate, secure state government database of vehicle license plate records, which is restricted, controlled, and audited. 

Additionally, the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) restricts access and prohibits the release of personal information from state motor vehicle records to ensure the privacy of citizens. 18 USC § 2721-2725.

For further information click here to view the Automated License Plate Recognition Policy Manual.

UPDATES

Parking lot signs

On Tuesday, November 6, 2018 City Council approved a request to add 100 more parking spaces to the Downtown Paso Robles Employee Parking Permit Pilot Program, see updated map above.

On Tuesday, October 16, 2018 City Council approved a 6-month pilot program designating reserved parking areas in five downtown parking lots for employees who purchase parking permits for $5/month. 

Downtown Employee Parking Permit Program Details

Downtown businesses or employees may reserve a parking permit by calling the City Manager's Office at 805.237.3888 or via email at info@prcity.com. 

September 15, 2018

The City of Paso Robles and downtown merchants have been working together to free up and/or create customer parking downtown in advance of the 2018 holiday shopping season. The next step is to get your input on an employee parking pilot program and an update to our parking ordinance.  We are asking ALL downtown businesses to participate on 10/11 and/or the following meetings: 

10/2/2018          Customer Parking Steering Committee (made up of reps from downtown retail and professional businesses, Park Cinemas, downtown residents, the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Paso Robles Main Street Association, Travel Paso and Hispanic Business Association)

10/2/2018          City Council meeting - Customer Parking consultant presentation of Steering Committee recommendations 

10/11/2018        Downtown Business meeting to discuss the proposed employee parking pilot program - 7PM in the City Council Chamber at 1000 Spring Street (presentation here) (pilot program details here)

10/15/2018          Customer Parking Ad Hoc Committee presentation to the Main Street Board of Directors

10/16/2018        City Council meeting – presenting employee parking pilot program

City Council Presentations

June 19, 2018  

At the June 19, 2018 Council meeting, City Council adopted the 2018 Paso Robles Parking Action Plan. The Parking Action Plan recommends short, mid, and long-term implementation steps to establish an effective and efficient parking program in Paso Robles. Recommendations address current, upcoming  and long-term parking challenges and needs of the community.

  1. 2018 Paso Robles Parking Action Plan (PDF)
  2. June 19, 2018 Presentation by Dixon Resources Unlimited (PDF)
  3. June 19, 2018 Staff Report (PDF)

April 17, 2018 

The first Downtown Parking community meeting was held April 16, 2018. Initial findings are outlined in the following document, presented to City Council at their April 17th regular meeting. 

  1. Paso Robles Parking Action Plan - Initial Findings (PDF)