Are parking meters free on Sundays in San Diego?
Not everywhere anymore. Since late 2025, City meters in commercial areas of Downtown, Uptown, Pacific Beach and El Cajon Boulevard run on Sundays, and Port waterfront meters run daily. Elsewhere City meters are still Mon–Sat.
- Sunday meters
- 4 districts
- Standard rate
- $2.50/hr
- Card or app fee
- $0.35
- Meter holidays
- 11
Downtown, Uptown, PB, El Cajon Blvd commercial areas
City and Port street meters
City meters, since Nov. 1, 2025
City meters; other parking rules still apply
The short version
- In August–October 2025 the City started Sunday meters in commercial areas of Downtown, Uptown, Pacific Beach and El Cajon Boulevard.
- Pacific Beach meters now run until 10 p.m. and Mid-City meters until 8 p.m.; Downtown and Uptown hours were pushed back two hours.
- Port of San Diego waterfront meters, $2.50 an hour, are enforced every day including Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the Embarcadero.
- City meters are free on 11 holidays, including Veterans Day (Nov. 11), Thanksgiving (Nov. 26) and Christmas (Dec. 25).
- Paying by card or app at a City meter adds a $0.35 fee; coins avoid it.
For decades the San Diego answer was simple: meters run Monday through Saturday, so Sunday is free. That changed in 2025. Under parking reforms the City Council approved that June, the City extended meter hours and added Sunday enforcement in the commercial areas of four community parking districts, rolling out from Aug. 21 into the fall of 2025.
| Area | Sundays? | Meter hours now | Source note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Beach (commercial areas) | Yes | Until 10 p.m. (was 8 p.m.) | City release, Aug. 21, 2025 |
| Mid-City: El Cajon Boulevard | Yes | Until 8 p.m. | City release; Times of San Diego |
| Mid-City elsewhere (North Park, South Park, Normal Heights, City Heights, College Area) | No | Until 8 p.m. | Sunday meters are on El Cajon Blvd only |
| Downtown (commercial areas) | Yes | Two hours later than before, e.g. 6 p.m. → 8 p.m. | Rolled out by Oct. 1, 2025 |
| Uptown: Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Bankers Hill (commercial areas) | Yes | Two hours later than before | Rolled out by Oct. 1, 2025 |
| Other City meters | No | Most Mon–Sat, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. | City Meter Operations page |
Pacific Beach (commercial areas)
- Sundays?
- Yes
- Meter hours now
- Until 10 p.m. (was 8 p.m.)
- Source note
- City release, Aug. 21, 2025
Mid-City: El Cajon Boulevard
- Sundays?
- Yes
- Meter hours now
- Until 8 p.m.
- Source note
- City release; Times of San Diego
Mid-City elsewhere (North Park, South Park, Normal Heights, City Heights, College Area)
- Sundays?
- No
- Meter hours now
- Until 8 p.m.
- Source note
- Sunday meters are on El Cajon Blvd only
Downtown (commercial areas)
- Sundays?
- Yes
- Meter hours now
- Two hours later than before, e.g. 6 p.m. → 8 p.m.
- Source note
- Rolled out by Oct. 1, 2025
Uptown: Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Bankers Hill (commercial areas)
- Sundays?
- Yes
- Meter hours now
- Two hours later than before
- Source note
- Rolled out by Oct. 1, 2025
Other City meters
- Sundays?
- No
- Meter hours now
- Most Mon–Sat, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Source note
- City Meter Operations page
Exact Sunday start and end times for Downtown and Uptown weren't published in the City's release. The sticker on each meter is the rule. Checked Nov. 2, 2026.
The waterfront charges on Sundays too
Meters along the bay are run by the Port of San Diego, not the City, and the 2025 changes didn't touch them. The Port enforces its meters daily, excluding holidays, so Sunday at Seaport Village or Shelter Island is a paid day.
| Port area | Rate | Hours | Time limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Embarcadero (incl. Tuna Harbor, Ruocco Park) | $2.50/hr | 10 a.m.–8 p.m. | 3 hours |
| South Embarcadero, Marina Parks North and South | $2.50/hr | 10 a.m.–8 p.m. | 3 hours |
| Crescent Area (Laurel St. & Harbor Dr.) | $2.50/hr | 10 a.m.–8 p.m. | 4 hours |
| Shelter Island | $2.50/hr | 8 a.m.–6 p.m. | 3 hours |
| Spanish Landing Park | $2.50/hr | 6 a.m.–10:30 p.m. | 4 hours |
North Embarcadero (incl. Tuna Harbor, Ruocco Park)
- Rate
- $2.50/hr
- Hours
- 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Time limit
- 3 hours
South Embarcadero, Marina Parks North and South
- Rate
- $2.50/hr
- Hours
- 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Time limit
- 3 hours
Crescent Area (Laurel St. & Harbor Dr.)
- Rate
- $2.50/hr
- Hours
- 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Time limit
- 4 hours
Shelter Island
- Rate
- $2.50/hr
- Hours
- 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Time limit
- 3 hours
Spanish Landing Park
- Rate
- $2.50/hr
- Hours
- 6 a.m.–10:30 p.m.
- Time limit
- 4 hours
From the Port of San Diego's meters page. Checked Nov. 2, 2026.
The holidays when City meters are free
On these days the City doesn't enforce meters, yellow commercial zones, short green zones or one-to-two-hour time limits. Every other rule (red curbs, street sweeping signs, tow zones) still applies.
| Holiday | Next date |
|---|---|
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov. 11, 2026 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov. 26, 2026 |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec. 25, 2026 |
| New Year's Day | Fri, Jan. 1, 2027 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan. 18, 2027 |
| Presidents' Day | Mon, Feb. 15, 2027 |
| City holiday (March 31) | Wed, Mar. 31, 2027 |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 31, 2027 |
| Juneteenth | Sat, June 19, 2027 |
| Independence Day | Sun, July 4, 2027 |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sept. 6, 2027 |
Veterans Day
Wed, Nov. 11, 2026
Thanksgiving Day
Thu, Nov. 26, 2026
Christmas Day
Fri, Dec. 25, 2026
New Year's Day
Fri, Jan. 1, 2027
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Mon, Jan. 18, 2027
Presidents' Day
Mon, Feb. 15, 2027
City holiday (March 31)
Wed, Mar. 31, 2027
Memorial Day
Mon, May 31, 2027
Juneteenth
Sat, June 19, 2027
Independence Day
Sun, July 4, 2027
Labor Day
Mon, Sept. 6, 2027
Holiday rules from the City's Parking Enforcement Holidays page; dates calculated from those rules. On Memorial Day, July 4 and Labor Day weekends, the City still patrols beach communities for other violations.
Other things that cost or save you money
- Standard City meter rate is $2.50 an hour, per FOX 5's August 2025 coverage of the reforms.
- Since Nov. 1, 2025, paying a City meter by card, the Park Smarter app or Text to Pay adds a $0.35 vendor fee. Coins don't.
- Near Petco Park, a Special Event Parking Zone charges $10 an hour during Padres games and big events (since Sept. 1, 2025). See what Petco Park parking really costs.
- Cars with a disabled placard or plate still park free at City meters.
- Broken meter? Move to another one and report it to Meter Operations at 619-744-1705.
Got a ticket anyway? Here's how to contest a San Diego parking ticket, and don't forget the street sweeping rules.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on November 2, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Prices, fees, hours and rules change, often at the start of a year or season. Confirm with the official source linked below before you rely on a number.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
KEEP READING
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
- PrimaryExtended Parking Meter Hours to Be Implemented in Business Districts Across City of San Diego
City of San Diego · 2025-08-21; checked 2026-11-02
Sunday meters in PB, El Cajon Blvd, Downtown and Uptown commercial areas; two-hour extensions; Port meters unaffected; disabled placards free.
- PrimaryParking Meter Operations
City of San Diego · checked 2026-11-02
Mon–Sat 8–6 baseline; payment methods; $0.35 card/app fee since Nov. 1, 2025; broken-meter line.
- PrimaryParking Enforcement Holidays
City of San Diego · checked 2026-11-02
11 holidays; what is and isn't enforced; beach-community patrols on summer holiday weekends.
Port of San Diego · checked 2026-11-02
Daily enforcement; $2.50/hr; hours and time limits by area; 10 Port holidays.
Times of San Diego · 2025-08-21
PB to 10 p.m. Sundays; El Cajon Blvd to 8 p.m.; citations start 24 hours after signage, no warnings.
FOX 5 San Diego · 2025-08-27
Downtown/Uptown rollout by Oct. 1; $2.50/hr standard rate; $10/hr Petco event zone from Sept. 1.
Axios San Diego · 2025-08-26
Mid-City neighborhoods covered; Sunday enforcement on El Cajon Blvd only.
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