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San Diego council approves paid parking, passes for Balboa Park to take effect Jan. 5, 2026
Summary
The City Council approved a staff plan to begin paid parking in Balboa Park on Jan. 5, 2026, including resident and nonresident annual passes and new special-event fees. Council and community speakers debated affordability for volunteers, county residents and nonprofits before the 6–3 vote.
The San Diego City Council voted 6–3 on Nov. 18 to adopt a staff plan to implement paid parking in Balboa Park, including new monthly, quarterly and annual passes and a special-event fee structure, with the program slated to begin Jan. 5, 2026.
City parks program manager Conrad Ware summarized the package in a staff presentation, saying the plan would pair tiered daily rates with discounts for verified residents and an online verification portal. "We are proposing that the new fees become effective 01/05/2026," he said, and described a resident annual pass set at $150 and a nonresident annual pass at $300, noting the passes would be tied to license plates and not valid on zoo-managed lots.
The proposal includes a one-time $5 resident verification fee (valid three years) administered through a vendor, and a special-event formula and flat-rate templates for run/walk…
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