City-Owned Parking Facilities

Downtown San Mateo has five city-owned parking garages and two parking lots available to all patrons. In all facilities, parking is FREE on Sundays, City-designated holidays, and after 6 p.m. every day. Our garages and lots are closed from 2 - 5 a.m. each day of the week.

Want to quickly find an open parking space and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Look for the real-time parking occupancy signs at the entrances of any of our downtown garages, see the floor with available spaces, and drive directly to it. By limiting your circling for a parking space, you’re helping the planet and keeping San Mateo healthy for all.

Visit the Downtown On-Street Parking page for all parking and payment instructions.

Select a parking icon on the map or scroll through the list of parking facilities below the map to find parking information for a facility. All parking facilities offer mobile payment using the PaybyPhone app. Monthly parking permits, including low-income permits, can be purchased from the Downtown Parking Permit webpage. 

Parking Facility Information and Amenities

Central Garage

There are multiple entrances to Central Garage. Street level entrances are located on San Mateo Drive, Ellsworth Avenue, and South B Street between Third and Fourth avenues. Upper level entrances are located on San Mateo Drive between Third and Fourth avenues and on Fourth Avenue between Ellsworth Avenue and South B Street. Parking costs $1.25 per hour. Three-hour and 10-hour spaces are available. This parking garage offers:

  • Monthly Parking Permits
  • Mobile Payment: Download the Pay by Phone app or pay online to use a credit card. 
    • Use Location #90902 for 1st floor (3-hour max)
    • Use Location #90903 for 2nd, Mezzanine, and roof floors (10-hour max)
  • Electric Vehicle Chargers*
    • Four level 2 chargers are available for $0.26 per kwh
      • Located on the street level between South B Street and Ellsworth Avenue (between Third and Fourth avenues)
      • Chargers are part of the ChargePoint network

*Vehicles using electric vehicle chargers must pay hourly parking fees

Main Street Garage

The entrance is located on Transit Center Way between Main Street and Railroad Avenue. Parking costs $1.25 per hour. Three-hour and 10-hour spaces are available. This parking garage offers: 

  • Monthly Parking Permits
  • Mobile payment: Download the Pay by Phone app or pay online to use a credit card. 
    • Use Location #90904 for Basement and 1st floor (3-hour max)
    • Use Location #90905 for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors (10-hour max)
  • Electric Vehicle Chargers*
    • Thirteen level 2 chargers are available for $0.26 per kwh
      • Located on the Basement Floor 
      • Chargers are part of the Powerflex network

*Vehicles using electric vehicle chargers must pay hourly parking fees 

Second and El Camino Garage

The entrance is located on Second Avenue at El Camino Real. Parking costs $0.75 per hour. Three-hour and 10-hour spaces are available. This parking garage offers:

  • Monthly Parking Permits
  • Mobile payment: Download the Pay by Phone app or pay online to use a credit card. 
    • Use Location #90911 for Ground floor (3-hour max)
    • Use Location #90912 for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors (10-hour max)
  • Electric Vehicle Chargers*
    • Fourteen level 2 chargers are available for $0.26 per kwh
      • Located on the Ground Floor 
      • Chargers are part of the Powerflex network

                   *Vehicles using electric vehicle chargers must pay hourly parking fees

South Railroad Avenue (Fifth to Ninth avenues, NOT Ravioli House)

Parking spaces on South Railroad Avenue between Fifth to Ninth Avenues costs $0.25 per hour. This parking area offers:

Tennis Court Garage (Fifth and Central Park)

The entrance is located on Fifth Avenue between El Camino Real and San Mateo Drive. Parking costs $0.75 per hour. Three hour parking is available Monday through Friday and a ten hour parking on Saturdays. This parking garage offers: 

Transit Center Garage (First and Main)

The entrance is located off of South B Street near Baldwin Avenue and First Avenue between South B Street and Railroad Avenue. Parking costs $0.75 per hour. Vehicles may park for up to 10 hours. This parking garage offers:

  • Monthly Parking Permits
  • Mobile payment: Download the Pay by Phone app or pay online to use a credit card. 
    • Use Location #90909 (10-hour max)
  • Bicycle Lockers           
    • Purchase a BikeLink card to activate a locker
    • Located to the left of the entrance to the basement level and adjacent to Rise Woodfire Pizza and Rotisserie
  • Bicycle Repair Station
    • Located to the left of the surface parking lot entrance
  • Motorcycle Parking (Free)
    • Located in the basement level close to the ramp, against wall facing North
  • Electric Vehicle Chargers* 
    • Two DC fast chargers that accommodate both CHAdeMO and SAE are available
    • Two level 2 chargers are available
    • Both chargers are part of the nrg EVgo network and their standard network fees apply
    • Located along the driveway off First Avenue, parallel to the Caltrain platform

*Vehicles using electric vehicle chargers must pay hourly parking fees

Fourth and B Street Lot

The entrance is located on Fourth Avenue between South B Street and Railroad Avenue. Parking costs $0.75 per hour. Vehicles may park for up to three hours. This parking lot offers: 

  • Mobile payment: Download the Pay by Phone app or pay online to use a credit card. 
    • Use Location #90913 (3-hour max)

Fifth and B Street Lot

The entrance is located on South B Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues and on Fifth Avenue between South B Street and Railroad Avenue. Parking costs $0.75 per hour. Vehicles may park for up to three hours. This parking lot offers: 

  • Mobile payment: Download the Pay by Phone app or pay online to use a credit card. 
    • Use Location #90914 (3-hour max)