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Parking Meters and Pay Stations
General Information, Rates, and Free Parking Days
Pay Stations: Quick Instructions
Pay Stations: General Info
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is committed to ensuring that on-street parking is managed to make the best use of limited curb space in Seattle's downtown and neighborhood business districts. One way of achieving this is by using paid parking devices such as pay stations. Currently, the City has about 10,400 paid parking spaces, located primarily in downtown Seattle and nearby neighborhood business districts. In 2004, the City began a three-year plan to replace the majority of the single-space parking meters with pay stations.
Purpose
Paid parking serves the following purposes:
1. They create short-term parking close to retail and other businesses (especially where time-limit signs do not encourage sufficient turnover).
2. They encourage an adequate amount of on-street parking availability for a variety of parking users, efficient use of off-street parking facilities, and enhanced use of transit and other transportation alternatives
3. They improve traffic circulation and economic viability of commercial areas by maximizing the number of patron visits by car.
4. They generate revenue for the City of Seattle. About $15.2 million was collected in 2002 for transportation, fire, police, social services and other government purposes.
Parking Meter and Pay Station Rates
All paid parking in effect in the city of Seattle, except in South Lake Union, is at the rate of $1.50 per hour. The rate structure is as follows:
- 2 minutes = $0.05
- 4 minutes = $0.10
- 10 minutes = $0.25
- 40 minutes = $1.00
- 60 minutes = $1.50
In South Lake Union, when SDOT starts installing pay stations in 2007, there will be 2-hour paid parking at $1.25 per hour and daily parking up to 10 hours at $0.75 per hour. More information is available here.
Hours of Operation
City parking meter and pay station hours are generally from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Saturday (parking at all City meters and pay stations is free on Sunday). There are some parking locations where the meters and pay stations start at 9:00 am. These are at locations where the parking is restricted during morning peak travel periods (No Parking 7:00 am - 9:00 am). If you are uncertain, look on the meter or pay station itself and it will have the meter/station hours and days of operation printed for that meter/station location.
Free Parking Days
All Sundays
January 1st
The third Monday in January
The third Monday in February
The last Monday in May
July 4th
The first Monday in September
November 11th
The fourth Thursday in November
December 25th
If you encounter a broken parking meter or pay station in the City of Seattle, call (206) 684-5260 24 hours a day to report the malfunctioning meter/station.
Can the length of time or type of paid parking or curb space use be changed in my area?
Property owners adjacent to paid parking spaces (meters or pay stations) can contact SDOT to explore the possibility of making changes to the to the curb space use. This can include considering making adjustments to the maximum length of the paid parking time, or installing, removing, or changing the type of load zone next to or near the property. The impact of any changes will be considered both in terms of the adjacent land uses and the larger transportation needs of the surrounding blocks and/or corridor.
What do I do if I try to park and find the parking meter or pay station is broken?
The Seattle Municipal Code (SMC 11.76.010) states that it is unlawful to park along or next to a paid parking space (meters or pay stations) at which the meter or pay station is not in operation. If you encounter a broken parking meter or pay station in the City of Seattle, call (206) 684-5260 to report it. SDOT regrets the inconvenience caused by broken meters or pay stations, and will repair them as soon as possible.
Parking Meter Hood Colors
The City of Seattle uses several types of meter hoods to manage parking meters which are described here:
 A blue hood means a service vehicle is using this space. Service vehicles on occasion need to park near to the location of a service call, and companies can obtain an annual permit for a fee that allows them to use a blue hood. For more information on obtaining a service vehicle permit call (206) 684-5086.
 A yellow hood means "No Parking from 7 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday - Saturday." This hood is used to create a Temporary No Parking Zone, and any vehicle parked in a space with a yellow hood during the hours indicated is at risk for a parking ticket. Vehicles may park in such a space in the evenings after 6 p.m. (or on Sunday) as long as they leave the space by 7 a.m. For more information call (206) 684-5086.
 A red hood means "Tow-Away Zone," and any vehicle parking in a space with a red hood is at risk for immediate ticketing, towing, and impound. To determine if your vehicle has been towed call (206) 684-5444 (Seattle Police Department). Typically red hoods are used by contractors during construction projects. For more information call (206) 684-5086.
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