City staff estimate the revised structure could generate up to $9 million annually to support maintenance of 42 city-owned parking facilities

Santa Monica will introduce a streamlined public parking rate system early next year, replacing a complex tiered structure with a simpler model that city officials say will lower costs for many Downtown visitors and boost revenue for essential services.

Beginning Jan. 12, 2026, the city’s nine-tier pricing system in Downtown parking structures will shift to three tiers, offering free parking for the first 30 minutes — down from the current 90 — with rates increasing at the three- and five-hour marks. Officials said most drivers who remain parked for three hours or longer will pay less than they do now, and maximum daily rates will either decrease o

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