Overview: Parking meters in La Mesa
Starting Jan. 1, 2026, parking meter rates will go up to $1.50 in the Downtown Village parking area, which presently ranges from 50 cents or 75 cents per hour. Parking permit fees are moving from a two-tiered system of $40 and $60 per quarter, to a single permit price of $80 per quarter.
Parking meter rates will double on Jan.1, 2026 to $1.50 in the downtown Village parking area. (Photo by Sophia Sleap/Times of San Diego) Credit: Sophia Sleap
The owner of Maxwell’s House of Books keeps a giant pile of coins in a bowl by his register. That way, he’s prepared for when customers need to dash out of his shop to top up their meters.
“People are constantly worried about feeding the meters. That’s why I’m already equipped,” Craig Maxwell said.
But when parking fees increase to $1.50 an hour starting Jan. 1, he’s concerned it will affect his business.
“It seems like their last consideration, their last priority — the city, that is — is the local merchants,” he said.
Maxwell heard about the parking fee increase after the La Mesa City Council unanimously voted last Tuesday to increase parking permit and meter fees.
Parking meter rates will go up to $1.50 in the downtown Village parking area, which presently ranges from 50 cents or 75 cents per hour. Parking permit fees are moving from a two-tiered system of $40 and $60 per quarter, to a single permit price of $80 per quarter.
Other business owners, however, weren’t too concerned about the price hike.
“They haven’t raised it all, so I think a raise is fair,” said Theresa Favro, owner of Amethyst Moon and board member of La Mesa Village Association. The parking meter fees have not been increased in 20 years.
The increased meter and permit rates are expected to generate an additional $308,000 in revenue to maintain and improve public parking facilities, streetscapes, and shared community spaces downtown.
Mayor Mark Arapostathis said in a statement: “This update supports the long-term sustainability of the Parking Fund, which helps keep our Village area clean, safe, and welcoming for residents, businesses, and visitors.”
The Community Parking Commission presented its recommendations to update the rates to the City Council in July after reviewing other regional parking rates and seeking community feedback through the La Mesa Village Association.
The bigger concern: Parking availability
Jacob Brittain, a recent graduate who lives in La Mesa, also wasn’t too concerned about the parking meter increase — as long as it’s cheaper than downtown San Diego.
“It will become a problem if it continues to increase every year, like in San Diego,” he said. “That’s when it becomes an issue to me.”
His main concern is how new apartment construction could affect parking in La Mesa.
An apartment complex with 64 units is currently under construction on Palm Avenue, with 29 on-site parking spaces. Across the street, an application is under review for a development with 110 units and 73 parking spaces.
Brittain said developers should be held accountable for providing enough parking for new units.
“They would increase long-term parking permits for residents in the new apartment complex, rather than hold developers accountable for providing parking or doing transit-oriented design,” Brittain said.
Maxwell and Favro were also concerned about the construction of new apartment complexes.
“We’re afraid that the parking down here is going to affect all of our businesses,” said Favro. “And then we’ll have to lay off staff, and there’ll be a huge snowball effect.”
City officials said the broader issue of parking availability will be addressed separately from the meter hike.
“This is our livelihood and to lose it because the developers are building these apartment buildings — they don’t care,” Favro said. “They’re making their profit and moving on, and here we’re left in the dust.”
When the new parking rates take effect, vehicles parked at metered spaces with expired time will be subject to citation.
Metered parking is enforced from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and will remain free on Sundays and holidays.
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