City of Oakland to change Sunday parking meter operations
Published on December 15, 2025
Change aims to improve parking availability and traffic flow during high-use times
Oakland, Calif. — December 15, 2025 — City of Oakland parking meters will soon be enforced citywide on Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. as part of a larger effort to improve parking access and better support the business community. The change goes into effect Jan. 4 starting with a 30-day warning period.
Free Sunday parking has historical ties to outdated blue laws, which prohibited business activities on Sundays to promote rest and religious observance. Today, Sundays are among the busiest days for businesses such as restaurants, shops and entertainment venues. Updating meter hours helps ensure parking is available when demand is the highest, including weekends.
Parking metering promotes turnover, which helps ensure that high-demand areas have available spaces for visitors — ideally one or two spaces per block. Without metering, drivers often leave their vehicles for an extended period of time, limiting access to high-demand areas for other people.
“This change will improve parking availability for everyone and provide better access to the spaces that make Oakland great,” said Josh Rowan, Director of Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT). “Our business community will also benefit from Sunday metering because it encourages parking turnover, allowing more customers to visit these establishments.”
During the 30-day warning period, registered vehicle owners will receive a mailed warning for their first violation. Any repeat violations during this period will result in a citation. After the warning period ends, all violations will result in a citation, including first offenses.
The additional revenue from increased parking meter operations will go toward the City’s general fund, which supports public safety, keeping streets clean, youth services and more.
In 2013, the Oakland City Council adopted parking principles for the City's commercial districts, committing to actively manage parking to support Oakland's economy and business community. Since then, OakDOT has implemented several initiatives to fulfill that promise.
For example, OakDOT extended parking enforcement from late afternoon into evening hours when parking activity often peaks, especially on weekends. This extended enforcement promotes parking availability and turnover, ensuring more customers can access Oakland businesses.
In 2023, the City also launched a successful Sunday metering pilot program around Lake Merritt, which attracts thousands of people on weekends who visit the area and nearby businesses. Meters around the lake now operate from noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays, improving parking availability in this high-traffic area. Actively managing parking means meter rates and hours are changed to achieve about 85% occupancy or one free space for every ten spaces that are parked.
About the Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT)
OakDOT is responsible for envisioning, planning, building, operating and maintaining a transportation system for the City of Oakland and assures safe, equitable, and sustainable access and mobility for residents, businesses and visitors. OakDOT’s Strategic Plan guides the department’s work, and is structured around four pillars: Equity, Safety, Sound Infrastructure, and Responsible Governance.