San Diego Opens 7 Balboa Park Lots Free to Verified Residents Starting March 2
City leaders moved to ease the rollout by widening free access for residents.
Overview
- Verified city residents can park free all day in seven lots — Pepper Grove, Federal, Upper Inspiration Point, Lower Inspiration Point, Marston Point, Palisades and Bea Evenson — while five Premium lots remain paid with half-price resident rates via the portal.
- An education-only period begins March 2 with no citations, written warnings start the week of March 9, and ticketing begins March 16.
- Parking enforcement will run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and drivers with disabled-person plates or placards may park free all day in any space or on park roads.
- Residency verification requires one uploaded document and a one-time $5 processing fee online, with approval valid for three years and free passes available now in the permit portal.
- Operations have been adjusted: Palisades and Bea Evenson were reclassified to Level 2 with kiosks reprogrammed, worker and volunteer access expanded, some morning shuttles ended, and updated signage and a Digital Navigator hotline (800-350-6945) are in place.