Downtown Parking Program

CCDC recognizes the importance of parking to a successful downtown. Downtown currently has approximately 65,000 parking spaces in a mixture of public and private structures and surface lots as well as on-street parking.

In 1997 CCDC was appointed by the San Diego City Council as the Downtown Community Parking District Advisory Board. As the Downtown Community Parking District Advisory Board, CCDC's primary role is to manage the parking district and address parking supply and mobility issues, and facilitate improvements and activities that increase the availability of supply, and effective use of parking for residents, visitors, and employees within the adopted Community Parking District. Some of the ways in which the Downtown Community Parking District can address the supply and mobility issues are to:

• Increase the parking supply;
• Manage the existing parking inventories;
• Provide mobility information (i.e. signage and marketing);
• Promote alternative forms of transportation.

Downtown Parking Map [PDF 350KB]

Comprehensive Parking Plan Update

In 1997, as part of the formation of the Community Parking District, CCDC produced the 1997 Comprehensive Parking Plan. In 2007 as part of the implementation of the Community Plan, CCDC launched the update to the Downtown Comprehensive Parking Plan to guide the long-term parking strategies and programs. All aspects of parking will be considered, including on-street parking, public and private structures, and parking management. The New Comprehensive Parking Plan will emerge from an open planning process that addresses Downtown San Diego's unique urban environment.

Downtown Pilot Parking Programs

Currently there are two Pilot Parking Meter programs underway. One pilot program is assessing the effectiveness of varying meter rates and time limits, while the other pilot program is evaluating the use of new parking meter technology.

Parking Meter Debit Cards

Rechargeable parking meter debit cards are available for purchase in $10 and $45 preloaded amounts at the many locations listed on the "Parking Meter Debit Card Sale Locations" list below*. The cards can be used at any parking meter in the City of San Diego including the Port District's parking meters with bright yellow poles in the Harbor Drive area. Coins are still accepted at all meters. If you return before your time is up, you can just re-insert your card and the meter will refund your payment down to 6 minutes (except at the new technology meter). *Please note: CCDC's Downtown Information Center has relocated to 193 Horton Plaza (above Longs Drugs). Parking meter debit cards are sold and reloaded at this location on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. For questions, please call 619-235-2222.

Parking Meter Debit Card Sale Locations [PDF 20KB]

For more information on this innovative parking program, please visit http://www.sandiego.gov/parkingmanagement/enforcement/cards.shtml.