San Diego residents will soon have free access to parking at seven of the twelve lots within Balboa Park, starting Monday, March 2, 2026. The change, announced nearly a month ago by Mayor Todd Gloria, aims to improve accessibility to the park for city residents.
The seven general parking lots offering free all-day parking to verified San Diego residents are Pepper Grove, Federal, Upper Inspiration Point, Lower Inspiration Point, Marston Point, Palisades, and Bea Evenson, all located on Levels 2 and 3. While these lots will be free for residents, the remaining five “Premium” lots will still require payment, though verified city residents will receive a 50% discount when purchasing parking online.
To take advantage of the free parking, residents must register their vehicle’s license plate at sandiego.ThePermitPortal.com. The city requires applicants to upload a document proving residency, such as a driver’s license, utility bill, property tax bill, or rental agreement. A one-time $5 registration fee applies to all users, covering processing costs for the vendor and not collected by the city itself. The resident verification process may take up to two business days, depending on application volume.
City residents who have previously purchased parking passes do not need to re-verify their residency, but must log in to the portal and select a free pass, which will be available instantly. The free pass is valid for three years.
Parking enforcement will be in effect from 8 a.m. To 6 p.m., a change from the previous 8 p.m. Finish time. Drivers with a disabled-person license plate or placard will continue to be able to park for free at any available spot within the park’s lots and on park roads, regardless of ADA designation.
A grace period will be implemented to allow residents time to register and familiarize themselves with the new system. Parking enforcement officers will begin issuing warnings the week of March 9, with ticketing commencing on March 16.
Residents and non-residents alike can still purchase daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual passes online. Premium parking lots, including Space Theater, Casa de Balboa, Alcazar, Organ Pavilion, and South Carousel, remain available for purchase. Verified residents can also purchase discounted daily rates for Premium lots online, with plans to offer discounted daily passes at the meter kiosks in the near future.
Free parking remains available for employees and volunteers working in Balboa Park in the General Level 2 and 3 lots and along Balboa Drive. Parking fees along streets surrounding the park remain unchanged, and all visitors, including city residents, must pay posted rates at street meters.
For assistance with the permit portal registration, San Diego residents can visit or call the Digital Navigator Program at select San Diego branch libraries and recreation centers. Live translation services are available for non-English speakers. Questions about the payment portal can be directed to the Digital Navigator Program at 1-800-350-6945. Other inquiries, including refund requests, can be submitted through sandiego.gov/ContactParking.
Visitors residing outside the city of San Diego, including those within San Diego County, can still park for free at Lower Inspiration Point for up to three hours by inputting their license plate number at the parking meter kiosk. A free shuttle is available to transport visitors from the lot to the center of Balboa Park.
