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Downtown Parking Office
1221 Anacapa Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 564-5656 Tel.

Mailing Address
City of Santa Barbara
P.O. Box 1990
Santa Barbara, CA 93102-1990

Downtown Parking Counter Walk-in Hours
Monday through Thursday
8:30 AM to 4:00 PM (PT)

Office Hours

Monday through Thursday
8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (PT)

Alternate Fridays
8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (PT)
Calendar of Closed Fridays

Contact Us

Meghan Salas, Parking Resources Specialist
MSalas@SantaBarbaraCA.Gov

Title

Adding Residential Permit Parking Restrictions

Body

On-street permit parking in Santa Barbara is governed by Chapter 10.46 of the City’s Municipal Code. Permit parking restrictions may only be posted on streets located within a designated Permit Parking Area (PPA). There are currently nine designated PPAs in the City – one in the West Beach area, one on the Mesa, one in the Las Positas/Modoc area, and six in the Downtown area. Read Chapter 10.46 of the City’s Municipal Code here

The Resident Permit Parking (RPP) program is entirely resident-driven. Residents of a neighborhood must work together to initiate the implementation of parking restrictions on their block and demonstrate their desire for the City to regulate parking on their streets. 

Sections

Adding Resident Exempt Restrictions within Existing Parking Permit Area

1
Determine Block Face(s)

Residents of a neighborhood work together to determine which block face(s) they would like signed with resident exempt parking restrictions.

2
Petition

Residents must demonstrate their interest in permit parking by submitting a petition signed by residents of 70% of the dwelling units on both sides of the proposed block to the City’s Downtown Parking program.  City staff will verify that the petition meets the 70% requirement.

3
Parking Study

Staff will conduct a parking study on the proposed block to determine whether RPP restrictions are an effective solution.   

  • Parking occupancy during peak hours exceeds 80%;
  • Occupancy exceeds 75% for periods exceeding 8 continuous hours; and
  • Parking congestion exists for a minimum of 5 contiguous blocks.

 

New Permit Parking Area

1
Determine Boundaries

Residents of a neighborhood work together to define the boundaries of the proposed new or expanded PPA.

2
Petition

Residents must demonstrate their interest in permit parking by submitting a petition signed by residents of 70% of the dwelling units in the proposed new PPA to the City’s Downtown Parking program.  City staff will verify that the petition meets the 70% requirement.  

3
City Council

Staff will request City Council permission to initiate the process of establishing or expanding a PPA.

4
Outreach

The City will conduct one or more public meetings to provide information to residents and take public comment.

5
Parking Study

Staff will conduct a parking study in the proposed new PPA. 

  • Parking occupancy during peak hours exceeds 80%;
  • Occupancy exceeds 75% for periods exceeding 8 continuous hours; and
  • Parking congestion exists for a minimum of 5 contiguous blocks.
6
City Council

Staff will deliver their findings and recommendations to Council.  Council will take public comment on the matter and decide whether or not to establish or expand the proposed PPA.

7
Establish Parking Permit Area

Once a PPA has been established, residents of the PPA may petition the city to have permit parking restrictions posted on their block(s).