Parking Meter Rates to Increase on June 1

May 25, 2022 - Parking meter rates in Corvallis are set to increase on June 1 after more than 14 years without an adjustment. The increase will ensure that the parking program continues to function as intended and offers rates that are in alignment with similarly sized comparator cities.

(Read more: Parking Meter Rates Frequently Asked Questions)

Parking in Corvallis is managed by the City to balance the availability and convenience of public parking in neighborhoods and business districts throughout the community. The City maintains more than 600 parking meters, most in the downtown area, in the Library and Fire Station parking lots, and near the Oregon State University campus. Adjusting fee rates periodically allows the City to operate and maintain its parking program and infrastructure to ensure the availability of convenient metered parking in these areas of the community.

Starting June 1, the typical hourly rate for a metered parking spot will increase to $1 per hour. In addition, the fee for a parking citation will increase to $15 per violation.

Money collected through meter rates and citations stays in the Parking Fund, where it supports the parking system through regular enforcement and equipment maintenance. Parking Fund money doesn’t go to pay for police cars or fill potholes or replace streetlights.

In recent years, the historically low meter rates in Corvallis have left the Parking Fund unable to sustain operations or pay for new equipment. The new rates will help put the City on a more sustainable path to cover the costs associated with managing parking for the entire Corvallis community. The City provides a transparent accounting of the Parking Fund each year as part of the annual budget process.

Parking system management is handled by the Public Works Department, and parking enforcement is handled by the Corvallis Police Department. More information on parking meter rates in Corvallis is available online at www.corvallisoregon.gov/parkingrates.