Parking Meters 

Parking meters were installed in the City of Berkeley in response to the growing problem of parking congestion.  Over the years, parking meters have evolved from all-mechanical, to digital, to state-of-the-art smart meters we use today to assist businesses by limiting the amount of time a motorist may  park in a space, thus creating  turn-over of available curbside parking for short-term visitors and customers. Motorists seeking long-term parking (over 90-minutes, all-day, or commuter parking) can find more favorable pricing in the City’s Off-street parking garages and lots.

Currently City of Berkeley is using three types of meters, the Calé multi-space meter (EZ Park Pay Stations), the IPS single-space meter, and the Duncan Solution single-space meter, to monitor over 3700 parking spaces. All meters accept nickels, dimes, quarters.  The Calé Multi-space and IPS single-spaces meters also accept small one-dollar coins, credit and debit cards with Visa and MasterCard logos.

Parking Meter Revenue

The monies collected from on-street parking operations are used to support City services.  Currently, they are used to fund Parking Enforcement operations of the Berkeley Police Department.

Time Limit Enforcement

Time limits are strictly enforced and may not be extended by adding more money after the posted maximum time limit has expired. In other words, “feeding the meter” to extend time beyond the legal limit – is illegal per BMC  14.52.060.

Use these links for information on Other Local Parking Restrictions and California Vehicle Codes

Broken Meters
 If a meter is broken you are allowed to park at that meter for the posted time limit.   It is not legal to park in the space longer than meter time limit.  To report broken meters, call:  (510) 981-CITY (2489) and provide the meter number. 

 PARKING METER RATES  

    Standard Parking Rate

On October 13, 2009, the Berkeley City Council passed Resolution 7,109—N.S. establishing the current standard citywide meter rate at $1.50 per hour for on-street meters.   

    Premium Parking Zone Rate

On June 14, 2011, the City Council passed Resolution 7,182 – N.S. that established a premium parking zone within the Downtown Berkeley core, comprised of approximately 750 parking spaces. The premium zone boundaries are University Avenue to Bancroft Way, and Oxford Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Way.   

Resolution 7,183—N.S. approved by the Council set the premium parking zone rate at $1.75 per hour.  Here is a  printable copy of the  Parking Meter Zone Fact Sheet.  

Minimum Payment

 All Park EZ Pay Stations and IPS Single-space meters require a 12- minute transaction time to use these meters. Both meter types (Park EZ and IPS) accept coins, credit and debit cards.  The coin value increments are as follows: 

 Premium Parking Zone Map 


     Hours of Operation On-Street

Please check the parking meters for hours. In general, On-Street meters are in operation from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday including some holidays.   

The Park EZ Pay Stations and the new IPS Electronic Meters are in sleep mode from the end of the operating shift until the start of operating hours the following business day. A “pre-pay” mode is available two hours before metered time begins, allowing one to park and insert  a payment in the meter if hours of operation have not yet begun but the individual expects to be parked there after the meter does go into service. The meter will start charging time once the enforcement hours begin.

Surface Parking Lots

Meters in off-street parking lots are in operation beginning at 7:00 a.m. and can extend as late as 10:00 p.m.

 See the Meter Holiday Enforcement Schedule. 

METER TYPES

 1.  Multi-space Calé EZ Park Pay Stations

Implementation for meter replacement began in April 2005 at high volume parking locations. The first meters to be installed were multi-space Park EZ (Pay and Display) pay stations. To date, 223 pay stations have been installed city-wide, controlling over 1500 spaces. The multi space EZ Park Pay station pictured below is manufactured by Calé Parking America Inc.

EZ PARK Pay Station Receipt Ticket (Dispensing Machine Ticket, DMT)

Place on Driver-side dashboard

 2.  IPS Credit Card Enabled Single-Space Meters

Covering over 900 spaces in 5 of our 8 meter districts, the IPS meters were installed in August 2012, and allow drivers to conveniently pay with coins, and/or debit/credit cards. The number of IPS meters will be expanding throughout the city in future phases. 

The meters feature an illuminated display to view parking rates, hours, time limit and other important information.  Additionally,  a “pre-pay” mode is available two hours before metered time begins, allowing one to park and insert  a payment in the meter if hours of operation have not yet begun but the individual expects to be parked there after the meter does go into service. The meter will start charging time once the enforcement hours begin.

 3.  Duncan Solutions Single-Space Meters (Coin only)

 The City has approximately 1,100 Duncan Eagle Meters located throughout the City.  These meters are enforced Monday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM unless otherwise posted.  These meters accept quarters, dimes and nickels only. 

 Return to Top  

PARKING METER SIGNS AND DECALS  
 

Park EZ Pay Station

Whenever a City block has one or more pay stations, signs are posted at each end of the block to direct users to "Pay to Park” with arrows pointing towards the closest pay station. (Diagram 1a)  Green and white regulation signs advise of the zone limits for areas (Diagram 1b).  If an arrow is not present on the zone limit sign, the limit is enforced for the entire block.  Some locations use curb markings along with parking signs (Diagram 1c)

Park EZ Pay Station  Location Signs are posted above each pay station (Diagram 1d and 1e):

Informational Signs with enforcement rules

Restricted Parking Rules - Sample  at Farmers Market Location

IPS Single-Space, Credit-Card-Enabled Meter Parking rate and hours of operation information is displayed on screen at the head, or crown, of the meter as shown below (Diagram 4a).
	Diagram 4a

Both single space meter types display decals to indicate meter time limit restrictions and meter holidays. See Diagrams 4b and 4c below.
Duncan Single-space Meter (Coins Only)	Diagram 4b
	Diagram 4c

The City's Public Works Department has a Meter Maintenance Team consisting of a Supervisor and eight staff people who are responsible for the collection of revenues, as well as the maintenance and repair of the City’s on-street meters.  The Meter Maintenance Team is responsible for routinely replacing meter batteries, lubricating locks, maintaining meter identification numbers, replacing domes and removing graffiti from meters and poles.  

Whenever the Meter Maintenance Team finds a vehicle parked at a malfunctioning meter, they initiate repair and place the maximum time on the meter.  However, the maximum time you can park in a meter space (during the days and hours it is supposed to be in operation) is the maximum time allowed if the meter were functioning (e.g.1 hour; 2 hours).  Therefore, you could get a parking ticket later in the day after the meter is repaired, and after time has expired.

If you have any questions for the Meter Maintenance Team, please use our Online Service Center,  call  311, or (510)981-CITY (2489).