New Parking Rates are coming to Santa Monica The city of Santa Monica is implementing new public parking rates effective Jan. 12, 2026, designed to make pricing easier to understand and encourage Downtown visitors to stay longer and pay less. Downtown parking structures will go from a nine-tier pricing model to a simplified three-tier model. The first 30 minutes are free, and costs increase at the three and five hour marks. Most visitors who park for 2 hours or more will pay less than they do no