SF Residential Parking Permits, Explained (& an Easier Alternative)

You’ve circled the block in your San Francisco neighborhood three times, but you still can’t find a parking spot. Everything on the curb is taken, and even more frustrating, signs say two-hour parking except area permits. So, what does that mean?

Whether you should apply for an SF RPP depends on a few factors. In this article, we’ll go over those factors and whether one is right for you.

How San Francisco Residential Parking Permits Work

Put simply, an SF Residential Parking Permit (RPP) lets your car skip the posted time limit on blocks in your area (such as a two-hour limit). There are 32 areas designated within San Francisco proper, lettered A–Z, plus AA, BB, CC, DD, EE, and HV.

An SFMTA parking permit is intended for permanent residents whose car is registered and insured at an address within one of the above lettered areas. To apply for an RPP, you must have California registration and current insurance showing your name and the permit address. The yearly fee is $224 for a passenger vehicle. Up to four permits per household are allowed, except for areas AA, EE, and HV (up to two allowed per household).

However, there are additional categories for caregivers, business owners, and even visitors (including daily or weekly San Francisco parking permits). The RPP area map in SF shows exactly where areas are.

San Francisco Parking Permit Downsides

An RPP lets you park in your area, but it doesn’t guarantee you a spot since it’s tied to street parking. Meaning? You’ll still be cruising for parking. RPPs also don’t exempt you from the 72-hour rule in San Francisco, colored curbs, street cleaning, or most parking meters. If you’re hoping to avoid street cleaning tickets in SF, you’ll have to do more than just apply for a residential parking permit!

Plus, permits only apply in the area they’re tied to. They don’t protect you when driving to work, the gym, or across town. Parking for new residents in SF or renters not yet on the lease can get tricky because of the paperwork; temporary permits are available, but you’ll still need to jump through hoops in the meantime.

And what about guests? Daily parking permits run anywhere from $9 to $18, and a single San Francisco address is only allowed 20 per year. Weekly permits run from $69 to $161 depending on duration.

Why Booking Private Spots Ahead of Time Is Ultra Convenient

The bottom line is that parking permits don’t promise a parking spot, but reserving one in someone’s private driveway or garage does. EZSpot Hosts set custom schedules so that they can list their spot by the hour, day, or month depending on what works best for them. The more often their spot is available, the more extra cash they can make!

A San Francisco Residential Parking Permit is great for some residents, but not all. It isn’t a reserved spot, so it can’t compare to the ultimate convenience of renting parking in advance. Join our waitlist so that as soon as we launch in your area, you can book a private spot that works in any neighborhood, with no street cleaning tickets or 72-hour moves.

If you’ve got a private driveway or garage in San Francisco you’d like to share for extra income, become a Host on our peer-to-peer parking marketplace to help make movement a little easier in your neighborhood.