Parking

UPDATE IN PROGRESS: Please contact us at transportation@cityofpaloalto.org if you have any trouble finding the information you’re looking for.

Residential Preferential Parking Quicklinks

Residential Preferential Parking Districts: College Terrace, Crescent Park, Downtown, Evergreen Park-Mayfield, Old Palo Alto, and Southgate. Permit Portal. Step by Step Permit Purchasing Guide. Duncan Solutions (Permit Vendor) can be contacted at 866-210-2417.

IMPORTANT COVID-19 UPDATE: Enforcement of parking restrictions in select residential districts resumes October 15th (more info). Commercial restrictions will continue to be temporarily suspended, except for any parking concerns that present an immediate hazard.

Parking in Palo Alto

The City of Palo Alto offers convenient parking options to residents, employees, and visitors through on-street parking, off-street parking lots, and parking garages. To pay a citation, learn about our residential preferential or employee parking programs, where to park for any visit, parking related news & updates, please scroll down to the accordion section below to select for more information.

Uplift Local & Public Parking

Portions of University Avenue and California Avenue will continue to be closed to through traffic to support in-street dining and retail experiences as part of the Uplift Local program.

While local Downtown and Cal Ave. visitors & employees are encouraged to walk & bike, any visitors arriving by automobile are encouraged to Park Free at the City’s public garages and surface lots. Time restrictions, fees and permit requirements are currently waived. Staff request that local business staff and employees attempt to use the remoter parts of local garages to prioritize commercial curb space for pickup/dropoff, and loading/unloading.

Parking staff will be tracking parking occupancy in nearby Residential Preferential Parking (RPP) districts to ensure residential neighbors are not severely impacted by Uplift Local parking.  

Please Note: Restricted areas such as red curbs, spaces designated for persons with disabilities, and any other locations prohibited by law are always in effect. 

Pay a Citation

To pay a parking citation starting with "R", please visit https://www.dspayments.com/PaloAltoPlanning (RPP). For all other citations, please visit https://www.dspayments.com/PaloAlto (Police).

Residential Parking

Residential preferential parking districts, established by ordinance (Ordinance No. 5294), are intended to restore and enhance the quality of life in residential neighborhoods by reducing the impact of parking associated with nearby businesses and institutional uses. Learn more about the RPP programs in the following neighborhoods College Terrace, Crescent Park, Downtown, Evergreen Park-Mayfield, Old Palo Alto, and Southgate.

Employee Parking

Palo Alto Employers and employees may purchase permits to park on the street, or at any of the area off-street parking lots and garages. Learn more about Downtown employee parking and California Ave employee parking.

Visitor Parking

All day visitor parking permits are also available for all off-street parking lots and garages. Learn more about Palo Alto visitor parking.

Helpful Hints

On-street bike and parking lanes:

  • On a five feet wide bike lane, parking is prohibited at all times.
  • On a seven to eight feet wide bike and parking lane, parking is prohibited from 7 AM to 7 PM all day.
  • On a twelve feet wide bike and parking lane, parking is allowed at all times.
  • You may pay parking citations in person, by mail, and online.

 

Parking:

  • Parking is prohibited within 15 feet on either side of a fire hydrant as per California vehicle code.
  • Parking is prohibited in a wheelchair parking space and the access space next to it unless the parked vehicle displays the placard issued by the DMV.
  • Several motorcycle parking spaces are available in Downtown Business district where you may park for free for up to an entire day.
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