San Diego Residents Get Free Parking at Balboa Park Lots

New pass program offers free all-day parking in select lots, with discounts for residents in premium areas.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The city of San Diego is rolling back its plan to charge residents for parking in Balboa Park after facing widespread pushback. Starting Monday, San Diego residents can park for free all day at seven of the 12 lots in the park, while five premium lots will have discounted rates for residents. The city also scaled back paid parking hours and made accommodations for drivers with disabilities.

Why it matters

The changes to Balboa Park's parking program aim to address concerns from residents and local leaders about the initial rollout of paid parking. The city had planned to use parking revenue to help balance its budget, but the negative feedback led to a scaling back of the program.

The details

Under the new system, San Diego residents can register online to receive a free parking pass that allows them to park all day in seven of the 12 Balboa Park lots. Five premium lots will still have a fee, but residents will pay half-price. The city also reduced the paid parking hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., down from the initial 8 p.m. end time. Drivers with disabled placards or license plates can park for free in any available spot.

  • The new parking program takes effect on Monday, February 28, 2026.
  • Parking enforcement officers will begin issuing warnings the week of March 9, 2026 and start ticketing on March 16, 2026.

The players

City of San Diego

The local government that oversees Balboa Park and implemented the paid parking program, which has now been scaled back in response to resident feedback.

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What’s next

City officials said there will be a grace period before enforcement starts, giving visitors "time to register and become acquainted with the new system."

The takeaway

The changes to Balboa Park's parking program aim to balance the needs of residents and visitors, providing free parking for city residents while still generating some revenue from non-residents. However, some feel the program should be free for all, regardless of residency.