Which San Diego neighborhoods need a residential parking permit, and what does it cost?
Five areas: Hillcrest, the SDSU College Area, Logan Heights, around Mesa College and El Cortez downtown. A permit is $11.50 a year per car, up to four per address. Mission Beach and Golden Hill aren't permit areas.
- Annual permit
- $11.50
- 2-week temp
- $9
- Per address
- Up to 4
- Permit areas
- 5
Per vehicle
Visitors
5 in the Mesa College area
City of San Diego
The short version
- The City has five residential permit parking areas: Hillcrest (A), SDSU/College Area (B), Logan Heights (D), Mesa College (E) and El Cortez downtown (F).
- Enforcement runs weekdays during the day (Saturdays too in area F), year-round except City holidays.
- Permits cost $11.50 per vehicle per year; a two-week temporary permit is $9; all fees are non-refundable.
- Each address can have up to four permits (five in area E), such as three decals plus a visitor placard.
- You need proof of residency and must clear unpaid parking citations first.
Residential permit parking in San Diego is rarer, and far cheaper, than in most big cities. Only five neighborhoods have it, and a year's permit costs less than one parking ticket.
The five permit areas
| Area | Neighborhood | Enforced |
|---|---|---|
| A | Hillcrest | Mon–Fri, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. |
| B | SDSU / College Area | Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. |
| D | Logan Heights | Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. |
| E | Mesa College | Mon–Fri, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. |
| F | El Cortez / Downtown | Mon–Sat, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. |
City of San Diego Residential Permit Parking, checked October 6, 2026. Signs on each block are the final word.
How to get one
- 01
Check that your block is in a district
Look for the permit signs on your street or check the City's area maps.
- 02
Gather proof of residency
Vehicle registration at your address, or two documents such as a utility bill and a lease or deed.
- 03
Clear any unpaid tickets
Outstanding citations block a permit.
- 04
Apply online
Renew up to a month before the permit year ends.
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.
- PrimaryResidential permit parking
City of San Diego · Checked October 6, 2026
Areas, hours, fees, limits, eligibility