How to Obtain a Main Street Employee 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:

  • Main St. Employee 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.

Main Street Employee Parking permits are issued to employees of businesses located along Main Street south of Pico Boulevard, including businesses on cross streets up to Neilson Way to the west of Main Street and up to 3rd Street to the east of Main Street. The business must have a valid City of Santa Monica business license for its employees to qualify for permits. 

Main Street Employee Parking permits allow you to park in the following lots during and after hours of operation, as long as you are at work:

  • Lot 4S - 2030 Ocean Avenue 
  • Lot 5S - 2600 Barnard Way 
  • Permits are not valid in the two-hour short-term parking areas of these lots

Click here for a map.

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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Information on how to purchase a Main Street Employee Parking permit can be found below.

  1. Gather Your Documents

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    TO PURCHASE A MAIN STREET EMPLOYEE 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.

    o   If you are not the registered owner of the vehicle, we will accept the insurance card with your name and registered owner of the vehicle.

    •      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 Main Street Employee Parking permit.

  2. Office Location and Hours of Operation

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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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