Parking Meter Rate FAQs

Corvallis raised its parking meter rates and citation fees on June 1, 2022, after nearly 15 years without increasing these fees. This page addresses some common questions related to this fee adjustment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the City run a parking program, anyway? I should be able to park where I want.

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. Public parking is not intended for long-term vehicle storage, nor does any business, neighborhood, or household “own” the public parking spots in front of their property. The Corvallis community is also interested in minimizing vehicle trips to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Adjusting the pricing for public parking meters in Corvallis is one of the tools that can help achieve those goals.

Category: Parking
Where does the money I pay in meter fees and citations go?

All fees collected from parking customers stays in the Parking Fund and is used to maintain, operate, and regulate parking facilities. Parking Fund money doesn’t go to pay for police cars or fill potholes or replace streetlights. Rates are adjusted as needed to ensure that the system is used consistent with adopted goals and practices and to ensure that the fees collected 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.

Category: Parking
Why are parking meter rates being raised?

Meter rates haven’t been raised since 2008, while costs to maintain the system have increased. The Parking Fund can no longer sustain needed operations without borrowing from the General Fund, which is not sustainable.

Category: Parking
How do meter rates in Corvallis compare to those of other cities?

We completed a parking audit recently and meter rates were compared with Eugene, Hood River, Missoula MT, Salem, and Spokane WA. Corvallis’s current typical hourly rate is $0.50, the new typical hourly rate will be $1.00, and the hourly rate of the comparator cities averages $1.23. We are still below many of our comparator cities in terms of hourly prices.

Category: Parking
Why are citation fees being increased?

Fees for meter and overtime violations (also known as parking tickets) have not been raised since 2003. Similar to meter rates, these fees no longer pay to cover the costs associated with managing public parking for all users, both residents and visitors.

Category: Parking
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