§ 12-1005. Use of Parking Meters.
(1) When a vehicle is parked in a parking meter space the operator shall immediately pay the designated fee using a parking meter, unless there is parking meter time remaining on the meter at the parking meter space. Any vehicle can use the balance of time on the parking meter until such time expires and additional payments are required. Failure to pay such fee for a vehicle at a parking meter whose time has expired shall constitute a violation of this Chapter. 137
(2) Except in areas otherwise provided for in this Section or expressly provided for by special ordinances, the designated fee to be deposited in all parking meters shall be up to one dollar ($1.00) for one (1) hour of parking. 138
(3) (a) The designated fee for one hour of parking in the following area shall be up to three dollars and fifty cents ($3.50) per hour, as determined by the Department: in the Center City area bounded by Spring Garden street, Bainbridge street, the Schuylkill River and the Delaware River, except for in the Center City Core area, described in subsection (4) below; 139
(b) The designated fee for one hour of parking in the following area shall be (i) on or after January 1, 2009, up to one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) per hour; (ii) on or after January 1, 2010, up to two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) per hour, as determined by the Department: in the University City area bounded by the Schuylkill River on the east, University avenue/Woodland avenue on the south, Fortieth street on the west, and by a line along Filbert street, between Fortieth street and Thirty-fourth street, along Thirty-fourth street to Arch street, along Arch street, between Thirty-fourth street and the Schuylkill River, on the north. 140
(4) The designated fee for one hour of parking in the Center City Core area, meaning the area bounded by Arch Street, 4th Street, Locust Street and 20th Street, shall be up to four dollars ($4.00) per hour, as determined by the Department. 141
(5) The Philadelphia Parking Authority may administer a mobile payment system to collect parking meter fees provided for in this section. If the mobile payment system permits additional time to be added beyond the posted time limit, the required fee for the next time limit period shall be two times the fee for the initial period and three times the fee for the initial period if a second period of additional time is purchased. In each case the additional time permitted shall be up to the posted time limit. The system shall not accept payment for additional time beyond three times the initial time limit. A processing fee of forty cents ($0.40) may be charged for each transaction. After July 1, 2025, the Department may set the mobile payment system processing fee by regulation. 142
(6) The provisions of subsection 12-1005(5) notwithstanding, all payments at the on-street payment device such as a parking meter or parking meter kiosk, shall be at all times those set forth in subsections 12-1005(2), (3) and (4). 143
Notes
137 | Amended, 1992 Ordinances, p. 737; amended, Bill No. 190463 (approved June 26, 2019).
138 | Amended, 1961 Ordinances, p. 1002; amended, 1969 Ordinances, p. 816; amended, 1990 Ordinances, p. 211; amended, Bill No. 080857 (approved December 16, 2008), effective January 15, 2009; amended, Bill No. 140207 (approved June 4, 2014).
139 | Amended, Bill No. 080857 (approved December 16, 2008), effective January 15, 2009; amended, Bill No. 140207 (approved June 4, 2014). Enrolled bill read "...up to two (2) dollars and fifty cents (.50) per hour...."; revised by Code editor. Amended, Bill No. 250200 (approved June 13, 2025).
140 | Added, 1990 Ordinances, p. 211; amended, Bill No. 080857 (approved December 16, 2008), effective January 15, 2009; amended, Bill No. 140207 (approved June 4, 2014). Enrolled bill read "...up to two (2) dollars and fifty cents (.50) per hour...."; revised by Code editor.
141 | Added, Bill No. 080857 (approved December 16, 2008), effective January 15, 2009; amended, Bill No. 250200 (approved June 13, 2025).
142 | Added, Bill No. 150354 (approved June 2, 2015); amended, Bill No. 190463 (approved June 26, 2019); amended, Bill No. 250200 (approved June 13, 2025).
143 | Added, Bill No. 150354 (approved June 2, 2015).
