San Diego Committee Approves Permanent Free Beach Parking for Residents

The San Diego City Council Rules Committee unanimously approved an ordinance on Wednesday to maintain free parking at more than 50 city-owned beach and Mission Bay parking lots for city residents in perpetuity. Co-authored by Joe LaCava and Raul Campillo, the measure prohibits the city from charging parking fees at these locations, though it excludes existing meters and does not limit the city's ability to cite violations.

The proposal was shaped by a failed paid-parking experiment at Balboa Park that began in January, which museums reported caused attendance to drop by one-third. While the city voted in June to end those fees, the resulting revenue loss contributed to budget shortfalls that led to library cuts and the temporary closure of Mission Bay bathrooms. To avoid the cost of a public ballot measure, LaCava opted for an ordinance, which he estimates saves taxpayers nearly $1 million.

During the committee process, members removed a proposed 10-year sunset clause to make the free parking permanent. The committee also narrowed the scope of the exemption to apply only to San Diego residents. However, LaCava noted that the California Coastal Commission generally prohibits charging different parking rates based on residency, which may complicate the implementation of a resident-only free program. The ordinance now moves to the full nine-member City Council for final approval.