Seattle to adjust paid street parking rates starting March 28

Various business districts and neighborhoods in Seattle will soon see adjusted on-street paid parking rates to manage local conditions and parking demand proactively.

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The goal, according to the Seattle Department of Transportation, is to ensure that approximately one to two spaces will be open and available on each block throughout the day, helping people to find parking near their destination.

Luckily, the adjustment doesn’t necessarily mean your favorite spot will see higher prices as on-street parking rates in Seattle overall are remaining at or below $2 per hour at 95% of locations and times of day. Of the 90 total different paid parking rates and times in Seattle, SDOT is making 37 adjustments.

Four locations will see a rate decrease of $0.50 an hour at some times of the day, including sections of the Chinatown-International District, the Waterfront, Pioneer Square, and South Lake Union. Many areas will continue to see low rates of $0.50 per hour at some point in the day. The highest hourly rate in Seattle after the March 28 adjustment will be $3 per hour.

Following the March adjustment, SDOT will be making two additional rate adjustments in 2022, currently planned for the summer and fall.

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The city collected and analyzed parking date from late-January 2022 and found that parking occupancy data for each paid area and time of day is between 70-85% capacity, which means there are usually one to two spaces available on each block. When the occupancy is below 70%, the rates are decreased. When it’s over 85%, the rate is increased.

Find more details on SDOT’s 2022 Paid Parking Rate Changes web page here.