How to Obtain a Day Lot Parking Permit

Attention: On October 28, 2025, City Council approved a new parking rate resolution and a new credit card convenience fee resolution to be implemented on January 12, 2026.

The parking rate resolution creates a new rate structure for the City with notable items below:

  • Day Lot Parking Permits rates will be updated as follows:
    • Annual: $186
    • 6-Month Semiannual: $126
    • Monthly: $32
  • A processing fee of 2.95% for all in person credit/ debit card transactions.
  • A processing fee of $2.50 fee for all online transactions.
  • All cash or check purchases will not include a fee.

Day Lot Parking permits are issued only to employees of businesses located on the Santa Monica Pier or along Santa Monica State Beach. The business must have a valid City of Santa Monica business license for its employees to qualify for permits. 

The Day Lot Parking permit allows you to park in Lot 1N during hours of operation (6 am to 2 am daily, all year round).  Permit cannot be used in commercial, recreational vehicles or out-of-state vehicles.  Please click here for a map.

Day Lot Parking permits for the upcoming calendar year go on sale mid-November. The second semi-annual permits (for July 1 to December 31) go on sale the first business day in May.  Monthly Day Lot permits can be purchased up to three months into the future.

Our hours of operation are 8:00 to 11:30 am and 1:00 to 4:30 pm, Monday thru Thursday and every other Friday.

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Instructions on how to apply in-person are below.

  1. Gather your documents

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    TO PURCHASE A DAY LOT PARKING PERMIT, YOU MUST PROVIDE:

    • Valid California Driver’s License
    • Valid California Vehicle Registration reflecting your name - no temporary registrations, documentation, commercial, company-owned vehicles, oversized vehicles that exceed a width of 8 feet, a height of 8 feet, or a length of 20 feet, or RVs allowed.
    • Current Pay Stub or Personalized Business Card from a business as defined above.

    o   New employees may provide a Signed Company Letterhead by a manager to purchase a one-time, current monthly Day Lot Parking permit.

  2. Where are we located?

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    The Parking Operations Office is located at 1444 4th Street, in the Go SaMo Center.  Our counters are open 8:00 to 11:30 am and 1:00 to 4:30 pm, Monday thru Thursday and every other Friday.

    Please note, all forms must be in your name. We do not accept proxies.

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