Street Parking

Street parking in Sausalito includes metered spaces, free time-limited spaces, residential permit areas, and spaces controlled by posted curb or regulatory restrictions. Rules can change from one block to another. Before leaving your vehicle, check the meter display, nearby signs, curb color, pavement markings, and any temporary notices.

Important: The Resident Parking Benefit and commuter or employee parking discounts are valid only at designated municipal parking lots. They do not provide free or discounted parking at on-street meters, free time-limited spaces, or residential parking permit areas. Drivers using street parking must pay the posted meter rate or comply with the posted time limit and permit requirements.

Street Parking Quick Reference

Parking type	What to expect	What drivers must do
Metered parking	Primarily downtown; payment required 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily; three-hour maximum	Pay the posted rate and leave by the maximum time shown
Free time-limited parking	Unpainted or green curb spaces may have posted limits	Read signs and move the vehicle before the posted limit expires
Residential permit areas	Areas B, C, and H generally allow two hours without the applicable area permit during posted hours	Display the correct area permit to remain beyond the posted limit or during permit-only hours
Restricted curb spaces	Red, yellow, white, blue, and green curbs have specific uses	Follow the curb restriction and all nearby signs

Metered Street Parking

• Metered spaces are located primarily in downtown Sausalito.
• Meter payment is required every day from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• The maximum parking time is generally three hours during the meter enforcement period.
• Parking is generally free at meters from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m., but all other posted restrictions remain in effect.
• The current rate, maximum time, and available payment methods are displayed on the meter. Posted information at the parking location controls.

Paying for additional time does not allow a vehicle to remain beyond the posted maximum time limit. When the maximum time expires, the vehicle must leave the restricted area unless signs at the location state otherwise.

How to Pay at a Street Meter

Street meters accept the payment methods shown on the meter display. Depending on the meter, available methods may include coins, a credit or debit card, or Text-to-Pay.

1. Park legally and review the signs and meter display.
2. Select an available payment method.
3. Purchase the amount of time needed without exceeding the posted maximum.
4. Confirm the expiration time before leaving the vehicle.

Text to Pay

1. Text PAY to 77447.
2. Enter the zone number shown on the meter when prompted.
3. Open the payment link sent to the mobile phone.
4. Follow the prompts and confirm that payment was successfully completed.

A $0.45 convenience fee applies to a Text-to-Pay transaction. Do not leave the vehicle until the transaction is confirmed.

Prepaying Before Enforcement Begins

Drivers who arrive before 9:00 a.m. may generally prepay at the meter. The display may include the time remaining before enforcement begins as well as the paid parking time. Confirm the final expiration time shown on the meter before leaving the vehicle.

Street Meter Rates

Street meter rates change by season and location. Rates may also change for special events or periods of high parking demand. The amount shown on the meter at the time of parking controls.

Peak Demand Rates May 1 Through September 30

Street meter area	Payment hours	Hourly rate
Downtown Core	9 a.m.-6 p.m.	$6.00
Downtown Periphery within 250 feet of the Downtown Core	9 a.m.-6 p.m.	$4.50
Non-downtown Commercial	9 a.m.-6 p.m.	$3.00

Off Peak Rates October 1 Through April 30

Street meter area	Payment hours	Hourly rate
Downtown Core	9 a.m.-6 p.m.	$2.50
Downtown Periphery within 250 feet of the Downtown Core	9 a.m.-6 p.m.	$2.50
Non-downtown Commercial	9 a.m.-6 p.m.	$2.50

Broken or Jammed Meters

A meter is considered operational if at least one displayed payment method is working. If the meter accepts coins but not cards, or cards but not coins, payment is still required using the available method.

• If the meter does not accept any displayed payment method or its screen is not functioning, the vehicle may remain without payment only up to the posted time limit.
• A broken meter does not suspend the posted maximum time or other parking restrictions.
• Report a broken or jammed meter to Sausalito Parking Services at (415) 289-4116 or email parking@sausalito.gov Note the street location and meter number, if visible.

Free and Time Limited Street Parking

Some street spaces do not require payment but are subject to a posted time limit. These spaces may be located along an unpainted curb or a green curb. A space without a meter is not automatically unrestricted.

• Read all signs applying to the block or parking space.
• Observe the posted enforcement days and hours.
• Move the vehicle before the posted time limit expires.
• A resident benefit, commuter discount, or employee discount does not extend to street parking time limit zones.

Residential Parking Permit Areas

Sausalito has three residential parking permit areas: B, C, and H. Each permit is valid only in the area for which it was issued. These area permits are separate from the Resident Parking Benefit used in Municipal Parking Lots 1-4.

• Vehicles without the applicable area permit may generally park for up to two hours during the posted daytime enforcement period.
• Area B becomes permit-only after 6:30 p.m. where posted.
• Area C becomes permit-only after 6:00 p.m. where posted.
• Area H vehicles must display the applicable permit to remain beyond the posted two-hour limit.
• Always follow the signs on the block because enforcement hours and permit-only restrictions vary by location.

For eligibility, permit prices, applications, maps, and guest permit information, visit the Area Parking Permits page.

Parking Program Limitations

Resident Parking Benefit: The cardless Resident Parking Benefit provides eligible residents with up to three hours of free parking in Municipal Parking Lots 1-4. It cannot be used at an on-street meter, in a free time-limited space, or as an Area B, C, or H parking permit.

Commuter and employee programs: Daily commuter discounts, employee discounts, Special Zone codes, and assigned pay-station PINs are valid only at designated municipal parking lots. They cannot be used for on-street parking or to extend a timed or residential-zone parking limit.

Colored Curbs

Curb color	General restriction
Red	No stopping, standing, or parking
Yellow	Commercial loading and unloading only, subject to posted restrictions
White	Passenger loading and unloading only
Green	Short-term parking for the posted time limit
Blue	Parking only for vehicles displaying a valid disabled-person placard or qualifying license plate

 

Curb restrictions apply as posted. Faded or missing paint does not cancel a restriction established by signs or other regulatory markings.

Disabled Person Parking

A vehicle properly displaying a valid disabled-person placard, disabled-person license plate, or qualifying disabled-veteran license plate may park at a street meter without payment, remain beyond a posted time limit, and park in a residential permit area without an area permit. Current out-of-state and out-of-country disability placards and plates are also honored.

A disability placard or plate does not authorize parking along a red, yellow, or white curb; in a No Parking, No Stopping, Tow-Away, or loading zone; in a driveway, crosswalk, sidewalk, or access aisle; or anywhere the vehicle creates a safety hazard or obstruction. The Citywide 72-hour parking restriction still applies.

Important Street Parking Rules

• Posted signs, meter displays, curb markings, and temporary restrictions at the parking location take precedence over general website information.
• Vehicles may not remain parked on a public street or other public property for more than 72 consecutive hours.
• Do not block a driveway, sidewalk, crosswalk, fire hydrant, bicycle lane, traffic lane, or access aisle.
• Temporary No Parking signs may reserve spaces for construction, moving activities, special events, or public works. Observe the effective dates and times shown.
• Parking payment does not authorize a vehicle to violate a posted time limit or another restriction.

For additional rules, visit the General Parking Regulations page. For space reservations and temporary restrictions, visit the Temporary No Parking Signs page.

Questions and Assistance

For questions about street meters, residential parking areas, payment options, or parking regulations, contact:

Sausalito Parking Services
29 Caledonia Street
Sausalito, CA 94965
Phone: (415) 289-4116
Email: parking@sausalito.gov