The City of Fresno has approximately 2,200 parking meters in the downtown area. The current parking meter rate is 75 cents per hour.
Most meters are 2 hour meters, but there are also a number of meters with time limits of 30 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours and 10 hours. Meters in areas near Chukchansi Park and the Convention Center are enforced for extended periods during events. For more information about standard enforcement hours, and enforcement during events in the events area, see below.

Parking Meter Enforcement

Parking meters are enforced throughout Downtown Fresno from 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Weekends are free. However, in certain areas around Chukchansi Park and the Convention Center, during events, enforcement hours are extended. (see below)

Stadium & Convention Center Event Meter Enforcement

During events at Chukchansi Park and the Convention Center, meters in these "event" areas are enforced until 10:00 PM, seven days a week. Meters in these areas are labeled to indicate the additional hours of enforcement. Look for signs in the event areas that indicate when events are in progress. Also in these event areas, meters that are normally limited to two hours, automatically change to four hour meters after 6:00 PM, to allow people to use parking meters when attending events such as baseball games, which often last more than two hours.

Parking Meter Cards

The Parking Services department offers prepaid "smart" meter cards to avoid the hassle of making or carrying change while utilizing electronic meters. The meter card is a small electronic card similar to a debit card which is inserted into a meter to load time on the meter. If you don't use all the time you put on the meter, simply reinsert your card and the remaining time is refunded! Meter cards are available for purchase at the Parking Services Counter, located on the fourth floor of City Hall. The price of a meter card is $1.00 for activation and you may purchase time in $5.00 increments. Cards may be reloaded with more time as needed.

Parking Meter Card Use Instructions:

• Insert card into meter, as far as possible in direction show by the arrow on the card. Do not yet remove card.
• The card value is displayed 4 times. 15 minute increments will be displayed.
• Time may be purchased in 15 minute increments.
• Remove card when desired time is displayed.
• To get refunded for unused time, 1 minute must have lapsed before a refund can be applied to the meter card. Reinsert your card and the remaining refund value will be applied to your meter card.
• Card may be used only once per day to maximum time on any single meter.

NO REPLACEMENT OR REFUND FOR LOST, STOLEN, OR DAMAGED CARDS

For information about the Parking Meter Card program call 559.621.PARK