Parking Meters

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation operates approximately 40,000 metered parking spaces for public use. Parking meters encourage turnover, allowing more people access to high-demand parking spaces.

Throughout the City, LADOT operates approximately 37,000 on-street metered spaces in 71 Parking Meter Zones and an additional 3,000 spaces in 60 off-street lots and garages. Parking meters are generally located in retail areas, where they encourage the turnover of vehicles in high-demand parking spaces, thus creating more available parking for customers.

Parking meters also fight traffic congestion and pollution when their rates match parking demands. When parking rates are underpriced, spaces are almost always full, and drivers spend a long time hunting for a nearby space, adding to travel times, congestion, and pollution. LADOT is currently evaluating meter rates and hours of operation Citywide to ensure that parking meters are effective and best serve their communities.

LADOT is pursuing new parking technology to improve reliability and convenience for the City’s parking patrons. New Park & Pay Stations are replacing traditional parking meters in 10 on-street areas and 30 City parking lots. Upgrades to single-space meters are further updating the City's parking meter inventory. State-of-the-art, single-space Card & Coin Parking Meters are replacing traditional parking meters on many of Los Angeles' City streets.

The Park & Pay Stations are easy to use: just enter the space number found next to your parking space, insert your choice of payment, and go on your way without having to return a ticket to your vehicle. Pay stations accept coins, credit and debit cards, and even cell phone payments using mPark. Questions about Park and Pay? If so, please review our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Department's new single-space meters work similarly: The Card & Coin Parking Meters positioned at individual spaces accept coins like traditional parking meters, but they also accept credit card payments and have a LCD screen that displays the meter's operational hours and time limits. The Department is currently evaluating these new technologies and would appreciate your comments.

The Department strives to maintain all parking meters in excellent working order, but faces the growing challenges of vandalism and aging meters. Please report a malfunctioning parking meter immediately when you observe one by calling the Meter Hotline at (877) 215-3958. You can also report an inoperable meter online. If you believe you received a parking citation at a malfunctioning parking meter and would like to contest the citation, please call the Parking Violations Bureau at (866) 561-9742.