Parking Fees Coming to Pacifica State Beach

Beachgoers who drive to Pacifica State Beach will soon have to open their wallets if they want to park their cars in nearby lots.

Starting Aug. 16 daily parking fees go into effect at the north and south beach lots on Highway 1 and at the Crespi parking lot at the corner of Highway 1 and Crespi Drive. The fee per vehicle will be $3 for up to four hours, or $6 for all day parking.

Recreational vehicles and buses will pay the same fee as smaller vehicles but will be required to park in the south lot where there are designated spaces them. 

For frequent visitors an annual parking pass will be available for $50. The passes will be sold starting July 22 at the Pacifica Parks, Beaches and Recreation Office, 1810 Francisco Blvd., or online at the department’s website.

The fees were approved in April by the Pacifica City Council as a way to generate income for the city and help pay for beach restorations and maintenance.

Self-service digital pay stations will be set up to accept payments and issue printed receipts which must be placed face-up in clear view on the dashboard of parked cars. Those with annual passes must permanently affix it to the lower left corner of the vehicle windshield.

Motorists who have disabled placards also need to pay the daily parking fee because the free parking feature for placards does not apply to off-street metered parking.  

Parking enforcement staff will check vehicles for parking fee receipts or passes from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Vehicles that do not have a visible parking fee receipt or pass will be subject to a citation which will be mailed to the vehicle’s registered owner.

Visitors staying 30 minutes or less will also need to get a parking receipt to display, but will not be charged for it. They should park in specially-marked 30-minute stalls.

Beach parking is not allowed in the nearby Community Center lot at 580 Crespi Drive. That lot also serves visitors to the nearby skate park.

More information, including a frequently-asked-question list, is available by visiting the City of Pacifica website.