On November 5, 2025 the City of Tucson Mayor and Council gave notice of their intent(PDF, 774KB) to increase parking rates and extend parking meter enforcement hours in 2026.
A Public Hearing on the proposed increases will be held on January 21, 2026 at or after 5:30 p.m. at the Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council at the Mayor and Council Chambers located at City Hall, 255 W. Alameda Street, Tucson, Arizona.
Should Mayor and Council adopt the proposed parking rate adjustments at the Public Hearing on January 21, 2026, the following changes would take affect later this year.
Beginning March 1, 2026, updated parking rates will take effect for hourly garages, surface lots, and residential annual permits.
Starting July 1, 2026, rate adjustments will also apply to monthly permits for garages and surface lots, as well as non-residential annual permits. On this date, extended hours and increased meter rates will also go into effect.
The following table includes a detailed schedule of the proposed rate changes by parking type.
Why increase parking rates and parking meter enforcement hours?
Park Tucson is updating parking rates and meter enforcement hours to better meet the needs of our growing community and ensure long-term sustainability of our parking and mobility systems.
These adjustments are being made to:
- Sustain operations: Current revenues do not fully cover the costs of operating and maintaining the parking system, including cleaning, security, enforcement, special events, parking education and promotion, and neighborhood parking programs. The updated fees will allow Park Tucson to recover these essential costs and continue providing quality service.
- Reinvest in parking facilities: Revenue will go toward improving parking services, security, and maintenance—creating a safer and more customer-friendly experience.
- Improve on-street parking availability: A significant share of on-street parking in the urban core occurs in the evenings and weekends when on-street parking is free and without time limits. This results in low turnover leaving many high-demand areas fully parked. Increasing parking meter rates and enforcement hours encourages higher turnover and directs customers seeking longer-term parking towards one of the many garages or lots available in the downtown area.
- Support enhanced mobility options: Additional revenues will help fund improvements to services like the Sun Link Streetcar, expanding access to convenient, reliable transportation in the downtown area.
- Align with comparable markets: Current rates are below those in similar cities, and the update will bring Tucson more in line with peer communities.
Overall, these changes will help ensure that Tucson’s parking and mobility systems remain safe, reliable, and well-maintained for years to come.
What will the new parking meter hours and rates be?
Beginning July 1, 2026, parking meters will be enforced Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., including holidays.
The rate will increase to $1.50/hr
This increase is in line with comparable market rates.
Will there be a change to metered parking time limits?
No. Parking meters are located throughout the business districts in the Sun Link Streetcar corridor and range from 15-minute to 6-hour time limits. Time limits are indicated on both nearby signs and the meter's LED display.
There will be no change to time limits when the new rates and enforcement hours begin.
How can I pay a parking meter?
There are several parking meter payment options. Most parking meters are "smart" meters that accept payments by mobile app, coins, credit, debit, or Park Smartcard. All Park Tucson parking meters can be paid with the GoTucson Parking mobile app.
How will the public be notified about the changes?
Park Tucson will notify the public in advance of the changes to parking rates and meter enforcement hours on our website, through our social media channels, and by issuing press releases for local media coverage.
All signs in parking garages, surface lots, and on-street parking areas will be replaced to reflect the new rates and enforcement hours.
Parking Meters will be reprogramed to reflect the new parking rates.
Residential, non-residential, and monthly garage and surface lot parking permit holders will be notified of the increases prior to the renewal period for their respective permit type.