Parking Is Getting More Expensive In Tucson July 1: Here’s What’s Changing

TUCSON, AZ — Downtown parking in Tucson is about to get more expensive. Council members gave final approval last month to a parking rate increase that officially takes effect next week.

Starting on July 1, meter parking will rise to $1.50 an hour, up from $1. Garage and surface lot rates will increase to $1.25 an hour, also up from $1. The Depot Garage's weekend and evening flat rate will go up by $1, and residential parking permits will cost $8 to $10 more per year.

The increase follows months of back-and-forth between the city and the public. Mayor and Council approved the updated rate proposal on May 5 through Resolution No. 24113, capping off a process that began in 2024 and included a delay earlier this year after residents and business owners pushed back on an earlier, more aggressive version of the plan.

That original proposal, which drew criticism at a public hearing, would have extended meter enforcement to Sundays and kept meters running until 10 p.m. Those changes are not part of the final plan.

Enforcement hours will remain unchanged, Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. downtown, with the Fourth Avenue district continuing on its own more limited schedule, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., until the Downtown Links Project wraps up.

Why the city says it needs the increase

City officials have pointed to a budget shortfall in Park Tucson, the division that runs the city's parking system. Park Tucson operates as a special revenue fund expected to cover its own costs, but it has been running in the red, and that deficit was projected to keep growing without changes.

The city says the new revenue will go toward reinvesting in parking facilities, sustaining day-to-day operations like cleaning, security and enforcement, and bringing Tucson's rates more in line with comparable cities, where parking has historically been priced higher than in Tucson.

What it will cost

Garage rates vary depending on the day and time. At Centro, City-State, Depot and Pennington Street garages, the hourly rate is $1.25, with evening and weekend flat rates kicking in at 5 p.m. Those flat rates range from $3 to $7 depending on the garage and the day of the week, with Thursday through Saturday evenings carrying the highest flat rates at most locations. The Library garage charges its $1.25 hourly rate Monday through Friday only.

Park Tucson's garages and metered zones cover much of downtown, including the Warehouse District, Arts District, Toole Avenue, the Depot Plaza area and the Fourth Avenue corridor.

Where to go with questions

Residents with questions about the new rates can contact Park Tucson at 520-791-5071 or visit parktucson.com. The office is located at 110 E. Pennington St., Suite 150.