Starting Monday, Sept. 16, the city of Gainesville will start enforcing new downtown parking rates.

The Gainesville City Commission approved the new rates in March with new parking stations and signs being posted in August as the city gave visitors a month-long adjustment period before starting the enforcement.

According to a city of Gainesville press release, “the new rates are designed to stimulate turnover of high-demand spaces in the heart of downtown as well as encourage drivers to find less expensive and long-term parking spaces farther away.”

The downtown parking remains free on City-observed holidays and weekends – except for spaces in the SW Parking Garage at 105 SW 3rd St.

New weekday rates include:

• $0.50/hour with a 2-hour time limit for on-street spaces in the center of downtown, weekdays
• $0.25/hour – or free – with no time limit outside the downtown core, weekdays
• $0.50/hour – or free – with no time limit for off-street lot parking, weekdays
• SW parking garage: $0.50/hour with no time limit. Permits available at monthly ($40) or quarterly ($100) rates
• Employees of downtown businesses may purchase a discounted monthly permit for the SW Parking Garage at $20/mo.

The city has installed five solar-powered pay stations downtown and a sixth solar-powered station is located in the municipal parking garage. Each pay station will accept both credit cards and coins for parking in downtown parking zones. Drivers also can pay for parking via the PassportParking® app, online or by calling 352-290-3700. 

Go to gainesvillefl.gov/parking for an interactive map and additional information.