Low-Income Parking Permit Program

Our Downtown Parking Permit Program offers low-cost monthly parking permits to better support low-income worker parking needs in the Downtown area. Qualified low-income individuals can purchase a parking permit for $40 per month to park all day in a Downtown City-owned parking facility. Applicants are required to submit an online application and provide income verification through submission of a proof of income document. The City Council adopted a low-cost parking permit option at the Oct.18, 2021 Council meeting.

Low-income parking permits are valid for all-day parking in a Downtown City-owned parking facility. Permit holders are not guaranteed a parking space; Parking is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Permits are valid Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and may not be used for overnight parking or for storing a vehicle long-term in a parking facility. By purchasing a permit, the permit holder agrees to follow the San Mateo Parking Permit Rules and Regulations.

Eligibility and Required Documents

Proof of income documentation, in addition to an online application, is required to be eligible for a low-income parking permit. Proof of income documents must be dated within a year of the date applying for a low-income parking permit.

After submitting an online application, a proof of income document must be emailed to smparkingprogram@cityofsanmateo.org to receive a low-income parking permit. The email must note the applicant's name, application number, and the total number of people in the applicant's household. Acceptable proof of income documents include:

Notice of Action letter from the applicant's county of residence for Medi-Cal or Medi-Cal card with a valid issue or expiration date
WIC (Women, Infants & Children) verification with date or WIC App Snapshot of home screen plus appointment or food balance sheet
Eligibility letter from the applicant's county of residence for CalWorks
Eligibility letter from the applicant's county of residence for General Assistance
1095B Tax Document

If the above documents are not available, the following will be accepted and approved based on current San Mateo County income limits:

Two months of recent, consecutive paystubs for all working household members.

Apply for a Low-Income Parking Permit

I have a ParkMobile permit account.

Go to the Downtown Parking Permit Program webpage and select the orange "Log-in/Register" button to sign in to your permit account. Once signed in, select “Apply for Permit” from the left-hand menu and follow the prompts to apply for a low-income permit. Once the application is submitted, you must email a proof of income document to smparkingprogram@cityofsanmateo.org to receive a low-income permit. The email must note the applicant's name, application number, and the total number of people in the applicant's household.

I do NOT have a ParkMobile permit account.

A permit account is required to apply for a parking permit. Follow this Step-by-Step guide to create a permit account and apply for a parking permit. Once the application is summitted, you must email a proof of income document to smparkingprogram@cityofsanmateo.org to receive a low-income permit.

Please Note: In addition to submitting an online application, an acceptable proof of income document must be submitted to smparkingprogram@cityofsanmateo.org to receive a low-income permit. The email must note the applicant's name, application number, and the total number of people in the applicant's household.

For assistance with permit accounts, call ParkMobile at 1-855-768-4152.
Para información en Español, llamar (650) 522-7298.

Frequently Asked Questions

Visit the Downtown Parking Permit Program webpage for a complete list of frequently asked questions about our permit program.

How much does a low-cost parking permit cost?

Low-income parking permits are $40 per month and are valid for parking all day in the Downtown City-owned parking facility of the permittee's choice if availability allows. The Downtown Parking Permit Program webpage shows which parking garages offer permits.

Where do permit holders park?

Permits are valid at 10-hour parking spaces only. A list of 10-hour parking locations are posted on the Downtown Parking Permit Program webpage. Permittees will select their parking garage during the application process.