The City of Boulder provides over 2,500 parking spaces in the downtown area alone and even more throughout our community centers and neighborhoods.
On-street pay stations are available throughout the downtown, University Hill and Boulder Junction areas. Most downtown, University Hill and Boulder Junction pay stations have a three-hour parking maximum.
Visiting for a quick errand? We offer 15 minutes free, once per day, per license plate parking at our on-street pay stations. Start a parking session by selecting 15 minutes free on the pay station or the ParkMobile app and entering your license plate.
If you'd like to park longer than 15 minutes, you will need to return to the meter or app and add additional time at the standard hourly price of $2.00-$3.50.
Using ParkMobile at applicable pay stations makes it easier than ever to skip the meter and pay with your phone. When using ParkMobile, you choose how long you want to park and pay for that amount of time.
Download the app on iOS and Android and create an account with ParkMobile. You can pay for parking or make a prepaid reservation. Parking receipts and expiration reminders are sent to your cell phone. The text alert allows you to extend your time within the maximum time limit for that spot.
Pay by Web: A lightweight mobile web experience lets you quickly pay for parking without downloading the full app.
Pay by Text: Text “PARK” to 77223 and you will be able to quickly start a parking session.
Google Pay with Google Maps: Pay with ParkMobile right in the Google Pay app. Plus, quick links from Google Maps make it easy to navigate and start a parking session.
Parking on city blocks costs different rates based on demand. This performance-based pricing is the result of an extensive study of Boulder's growing parking needs.
Map of downtown showing on-street parking rates, effective Jan. 2, 2026
Parking at Chautauqua: In the summer months on weekends and holidays, paid on-street parking is in effect in and near Chautauqua Park from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., while the free Park-to-Park Shuttle runs.
Meter Feeding: Meter feeding is prohibited. Vehicles parked at a meter for longer than the maximum time posted on the meter — even if the meter still has time on it — will receive a ticket. This supports turnover of parking spaces for customers, clients and visitors to downtown.
Overtime Parking: No overtime parking tickets will be issued within five minutes of valid receipt expiration time.
If you plan to park for more than 1 hour, your best bet is to head to one of the city's public parking garages.
Longer-term on-street pay stations (4 and 10 hours) are located at 8th and Pearl streets, and on 13th and 14th streets between Canyon Boulevard and Arapahoe Avenue.
Reserved accessible parking is provided in designated street spaces and downtown parking structures. These spaces are signed and marked, limiting use to vehicles displaying a valid handicap placard/license plate. The fine for parking in a reserved accessible space without a valid handicap placard/license plate is $112.
The City of Boulder uses a digital permitting process to make purchasing and renewing permits more convenient. This impacts those using residential guest and visitor permits, commuter permits, business employee NPPs, contractor NPPs, surface lot permits, Trinity Garage permits, Boulder Junction Garage permits, and other on-street parking permits. Permits to any of our BoulderPark garages powered by Metropolis are already digital and will not be impacted by this change.
Before beginning the process, you will need to add noreply@bouldercolorado.gov to your list of safe senders and/or to your email contacts. There is a high likelihood that renewal, confirmation or update emails will go to spam if you do not complete this step.
Visit the Online Parking Portal homepage.
Whether logging into the new portal with existing information or creating an account for the first time, please ensure your contact information is correct.
The portal has instructions and details on what is needed for the type of permit or waitlist you are applying for. The approval process varies slightly depending on the type of permit you are requesting. You will need to be approved before your purchase goes through.
You will receive an email from noreply@bouldercolorado.gov that will notify you if your permit request has been approved.
Once you've been approved, you will be able to log in and see your active digital permit(s) by clicking 'Permits.'
You can access and update your account information by clicking 'Account,' 'Contact Information,' then 'Edit.' To change your vehicle information, select 'Vehicles.'
Our team is available to assist with questions or any issues you may encounter via phone or email.
View our different permit options to decide which might work best for your parking needs. You can purchase, refill, or renew the following types of permits.
There are various permit options for downtown employees working in the Central Area General Improvement District (CAGID), including the Downtown Garage Permits, 20 Day Pass, Trinity Garage Parking Permit, and Surface Lot Permits.
The Neighborhood Parking Permit Program (NPP) includes resident, business employee, and commuter permits. The program has a separate process to purchase and renew resident, business employee, and commuter permits. View our list of accepted documents to ensure a smooth process.
These permits are available on a limited basis and are specific to one neighborhood parking zone/block. View an interactive map to see the blocks available for purchase. This map is updated daily. Permits may be purchased anytime outside of the renewal period and will be prorated accordingly based on the purchase date. You may also purchase multiple quarters for the current calendar year. Permits cost $40.50 per month and can be purchased through the city's online parking and access portal.
These permits are available on a limited basis and are specific to one neighborhood parking zone/block for businesses located in NPP zones and are limited to three permits per business. Business permits cost $79 per year and can be purchased through the city's online parking and access portal. Please note that these permits are available for businesses located in NPP zones, not in commercial districts.
Mobile Vendor Permits are eligible for mobile businesses that service customers within currently established NPP zones. Businesses must operate within Boulder County and be able to provide proof of mobile services provided. Mobile vendor permits cost $77.25 per year and can be purchased through the city's online parking and access portal.
How it Works: Garage permits allow long-term parking for downtown employees, paid monthly, at an assigned location. After registering for a Metropolis account, you’ll simply drive in and out of the parking garage.
Availability: Permits are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Cost: Permits are $175/month and will be prorated based on the date of purchase.
Eligibility: Applicants must work downtown in the Central Area General Improvement District (CAGID). Applicants will need to provide employer contact information to be eligible.
How it Works: This is a good option for parking longer than six hours per day at BoulderPark Garages powered by Metropolis. After registering for a Metropolis account, you’ll be sent a QR code that will validate your visit. Scan the code after arriving at the garage and before departing for an easy drive-out experience.
Availability: The 20-Day Pass is available at all five of our downtown BoulderPark Garages powered by Metropolis.
Cost: The initial setup costs $200. $200 goes towards 20 days of parking ($10/day). You may reload your pass with more days at any time. A minimum of 10 days is required when adding days to your pass.
Eligibility: Pass holders must be full-time employees of the Central Area General Improvement District (CAGID) and will need to provide employer contact information to be eligible.
How it Works: This garage is located at 2200 Broadway between Pine Street and Mapleton Ave.
Availability: Parking is not available on Sundays at this location.
Cost: Trinity Parking Garage permits cost $100 per month.
Eligibility: Applicants must work downtown in the Central Area General Improvement District (CAGID). Applicants will need to provide employer contact information to be eligible.
How it Works: Allows long-term parking for district employees, paid quarterly, at an assigned location. There are three downtown surface lots, located at 1336 Canyon, 174 14th St., and 1775 14th St, near the Pearl Street Mall.
Availability: There is a waitlist.
Cost: These permits cost $105 per month. View a map and additional information about Surface Lots.
Eligibility: Applicants must work downtown in the Central Area General Improvement District (CAGID).
The easiest way to manage your permits is through our online customer portal. You can also call us at 303-413-7300.
Lots with waitlists include: 1336 Canyon Lot, 1745 14th Lot, and 1775 14th Lot. If you are looking for a permit for one of these sold-out surface lots, you can apply to be added to one of our waitlists via our City of Boulder Online Parking Portal.
City of Boulder parking enforcement officers patrol Boulder's downtown streets, University Hill, Boulder Junction and in Boulder neighborhoods from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. In and around popular Chautauqua Park, officers enforce parking ordinances during the summer months on weekends and holidays, as part of the Chautauqua Access Management Plan and free Park-to-Park shuttle operating schedule.
Illegal parking complaints are enforced citywide. Common violations:
You must pay or arrange to dispute your parking ticket within 14 calendar days from the violation date set forth on your ticket.
The payment site requires a citation number in order to match with a ticket. Please contact the court to have staff look up the citation number.
Our offices can be reached via phone at 303-441-1841. Our offices are open Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We are also closed until 1 p.m. on the third Friday of each month.
The email address for questions is bouldermunicipalcourt@bouldercolorado.gov.
Include any documentation that supports your reason for appeal. Documentation allows us to fully evaluate your request. Appeals submitted without sufficient documentation may be denied.
Submit an appeal by logging in or creating an account through the City of Boulder Parking Portal. You can attach documentation to your online appeal.
Due to the high volume of appeals we receive, it may take up to 14 days to complete our review and provide a decision. Once your appeal has been resolved, we'll notify you by email. To help ensure you receive our message, check your inbox as well as your spam or junk folder.
No late fees will be added to the citation while it is under appeal.
Thank you for your patience while we review your parking appeal.
If you have questions, contact Boulder Municipal Court via phone at: 303-441-4212.
The maintenance and meter technician staff on-duty schedule is Monday – Sunday from 6 a.m. to 9. p.m.
If you are reporting an illegally parked vehicle please provide the location, violation, vehicle description, license plate number, and a good contact number to reach you at.
We strongly encourage customers to schedule an appointment. Appointments cut down on your wait time, help avoid repeat trips, and facilitate a more efficient process. Additionally, most services can be completed via phone, email or through the City of Boulder online parking portal.
In-person services are necessary for Special Activity Permits, No Parking signs and services where staff signatures are required.
Parking & Access Services is closed on federal holidays. Parking on these days is free at city garages downtown, parking lots and on-street (*except in/near Chautauqua Park during the summer months when the free Park-to-Park shuttle is running).
The City of Boulder’s Parking & Access Services team recognizes the need to continually evaluate and improve upon our current systems. The city transitioned to digital parking permits on 2024 to further streamline the parking permit system.
This change will improve efficiency, allowing us to provide quicker support to our customers, as well as increase our environmental sustainability. Customers will immediately receive a digital permit upon payment without having to wait for it to arrive in the mail or come pick it up in our office.
There are several changes to the permitting process with the transition to a digital-only system. These are intended to increase convenience for our customers and enhance staff efficiency. Updates to the permitting process include:
On-street parking permits became digital-only beginning Monday, Nov. 4, 2024.
The switch to digital permits only impacts those using residential (including guest and visitor) permits, commuter permits, business employee NPPs, contractor NPPs, surface lot permits, Trinity Garage permits, Boulder Junction Garage permits, and other on-street parking permits. Customers that have a garage permit through Metropolis will not be impacted. Those parking without a permit will not be impacted.
Permits to any of our BoulderPark garages powered by Metropolis are already digital and will not be impacted by this change.
Your permit is still valid for the term of purchase; however, it will be digital. On or shortly after Nov. 4, please login to the new portal using the ‘forgot password’ link and confirm that your vehicle information is correct for your digital permit.
Digital permits, including existing permits, are available for purchase and renewal in our customer service portal. After applying for a permit and receiving approval, you will see the permit added to your online account. Once the transition to the new digital software is complete, you will be able to manage the permit virtually.
You will no longer be required to visually display any kind of permit on your vehicle. Permits will be tied to your vehicle's license plate and managed digitally.
No, you do not need a cell phone to purchase a digital permit. You can access permits from any web-enabled device by visiting the customer portal. You can also make an appointment with our Parking & Access team in person or apply via email or phone – you also do not need a computer to purchase a digital permit.
The renewal period for several of our permits is changing.
Residential permits will be valid for one calendar year from the purchase date. Residential permits will also have an easier renewal process for the second year. Customers will only need to attest that their information has not changed rather than needing to reapply with all their documentation.
Surface lots and commuter permit renewals are changing from quarterly to monthly. However, customers can pre-pay for these permits up to the end of the calendar year. If you purchase a permit in January, you can purchase for all 12 months at the same time.
Additionally, commuter permits will no longer be offered on a first-come, first-served basis at the end of each quarter. Instead, these permits will become available as soon as they expire. Customers should check the second week of every month for permits that become available.
When you register, you sign up to pay by credit card or PayPal using our secure site. Payments are usually posted the same day, so you can login to your Parkmobile account and see your parking transactions on your Parkmobile page.
It depends on where you are parking. A toll-free number is posted at every site, or download the app and it will save you time.
It depends on the parking restrictions in the area in which you've parked. Your parking transaction will continue until you deactivate it or until the maximum time runs out.
Contact Parkmobile right away. Give them the details and they’ll help you sort it out.
When you use the mobile app or call to start the parking session, you key in a zone number. Parkmobile’s system recognizes your cell phone number, connects it to your license plate number and activates your parking in that zone. The parking officer verifies your parking session by matching the license plate to the zone number.
Parkmobile cannot stop parkers from parking in the wrong place or taking up two spaces or any other violations that may apply. Avoid tickets and towing by activating your parking session, and don’t overstay the posted time limit. Please read the posted signage in each area to be certain the Parkmobile is in effect at the time you are parking.
Our new on-street parking pay stations no longer require you to display a paper receipt. All you need is your license plate number. Paying by phone means you don't need to walk to a pay station to pay or enter your license plate. As long as you use the pay by phone system correctly, you should not be fined. See the question above regarding parking officers.
The Parkmobile system is PCI DSS level 1 compliant and your Parkmobile personal page is SSl 256 encrypted.
Normal hourly parking charges apply plus a $.45 convenience charge per every transaction you make.
No additional charge for the service. (Check your cell phone plan. Some cell phone providers may charge you to receive text messages.)
You can go online to your Parkmobile personal page anytime to make changes to your account, review parking charges, print parking transactions or export data to another format.
Look for the green Parkmobile signs!
