Parking Guide for Parks

About parking in city parks 

Some parking lots in Portland Parks are pay-to-park. See the list below. Parking areas at all parks are open during park hours, unless posted otherwise. Look for signs. All city parking rules apply in parking areas and are enforced at all times, including holidays.

Parks with Pay to Park

How to Pay

The most convenient way to pay for parking is on the Parking Kitty app. Parking Kitty is easy to use!

• Pay with your phone
• Get alerts before your session expires
• Extend your session remotely
• Email receipts make it easy to keep track of expenses

Simply download the app on your smart device with the link below or visit the Parking Kitty Website to pay from a browser. 

• Download Parking Kitty (iOS)
• Download Parking Kitty (Android)
• Use Parking Kitty web version

Washington, Pittock, and Willamette Parks have pay stations. You can pay with coin, credit, or debit card. Note some meters in Washington Park do not take coins. Use the next meter or Parking Kitty. 

Parking for people with disabilities

If you have a regular disabled parking placard or disabled plates, you must pay to park for the time you need.

If you are in a wheelchair and have an Oregon Wheelchair User parking placard, or have an Oregon Wounded Warrior parking placard, you may park at no charge. Wheelchair user placards are light blue and have the words “Wheelchair User” clearly written on the front of the placard. Wounded Warrior placards have either a sticker or text clearly written on the placard. Out of state placards/plates must pay to park.

To learn more about Oregon's disabled parking programs visit Oregon DMV.

If you are a resident of a state that does not have wheelchair user placards, are a wheelchair user, and are visiting the city of Portland, visit PBOT's website for disabled user parking permits to learn more about city offered permits. 

Parking Validations

Guests may generate and manage parking validations for themselves or guests to their event in pay-to-park lots. This self service portal may be used for any Parking Kitty zone. 

Parking Validation How To

1. Sign up or login at passportinc.com/validation
2. Add or check funds to your account. ($50 is the minimum balance required)
3. Click on "Manage Validation" then select "New Validation"
4. Complete the required fields (See information below)
5. Click "Generate Validation Codes" in the left hand menu
6. Select your validation and enter the quantity. Click "Generate Validation Codes.
7. Share codes with guests. 

How to Create Validations Graphic

Step 4 definitions

• Validation Name: Name of your event.
• Discount amount: The parking value your code covers for each customer.
• Multi-use validation: If checked, the code will be availabe to multiple users.
• Stackable: If checked, this code can be used in the same session as another code.
• Active On: The start date and time of your event
• Expiration: Set a date for the code to expire. 

For more information on how to use validation codes in Parking Kitty Zones use the manual below. 

Download PDF filePassport Parking Merchant Validation 1.44 MB

Mobile Vending in Parks Parking Lots

Self-contained mobile vending operators who wish to sell merchandise or operate in parks' officially designated parking spaces may do in specified locations through Parking Kitty. For details on how to qualify and operate visit https://www.portland.gov/parks/mobilevending

I received a parking citation

Citations are issued under City Code 16.20.431 City of Portland Owned or Operated Property.

Once issued, you can pay your citation online or contest it through Multnomah County Circuit Court. 

You must do one of the following within 30 days of the date on the citation, or the citation will be delinquent. 

• Option 1: PAY YOUR CITATION 
  Pay online or via postal mail. To pay by mail, make your check or money order payable to State of Oregon. Write your citation number and auto license plate number on the check or money order, and mail to the address on the back of the citation. Do not mail cash. 
  Pay your citation online.
• Option 2: REQUEST A REDUCTION IN THE FINE
  Request a fine reduction by submitting an online Parking Fine Reduction Requestfor certain violations. Visit the court website and click on Online Parking Case Submission for details. The Parking Fine Reduction Request form is a waiver of your right to a court hearing and consent to any judgement rendered. Request a fine reduction online.
• Option 3: SUBMIT AN EXPLANATION OR SCHEDULE A COURT HEARING 
  To request that the court review the circumstances surrounding your citation, submit the Response To Parking Citation form, available on the court website. Or, to schedule a court hearing where you can present your case directly, insert in the yellow citation envelope a copy of the citation and a separate written request for a hearing. You may also appear in person at the Circuit Court to request a hearing. 

If you believe you received a citation due to an error, please fill out the PP&R Parking Citation Administrative Review Form. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who manages parking at city parks?
All parking in City parks is managed and maintained by the Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R). We’re happy to answer any questions you have about parking at city parks, feel free to e-mail us at parks-parking@portlandoregon.gov or give us a call at 311.

How do I enter my license plate?

Enter your license plate including the stacked characters [alphanumeric only, no special characters] on your phone or the touchscreen at a meter. See examples below:

License plate examples for pay-to-park

"000BBB"	"9P0000"	"CA00000"
"D40406"	"P000000"	"012345"

What if I type my plate number incorrectly?

It is very important to review all of your parking details before purchasing your time. Parking sessions cannot be adjusted once started. Should you start a session on the wrong license plate, you will need to immediately start another session with the correct license plate number. If Parking Enforcement Officers are not able to match the license plate on your vehicle with the transaction data, you will receive a citation.

Can I move spaces after I paid with Pay by Plate? 

Yes, as long as it is within the same zone. 

Where am I NOT allowed to park?
This is not an exhaustive list. Always check the signs where you park!

• Parking within parks is allowed only in designated parking areas.
• Don't park anywhere with a No Parking sign.
• Don't anywhere with yellow curb painting. No part of your vehicle should be in the yellow part.
• Don't park within 10 feet of a fire hydrant.
• Don't park in the travel lane (no double parking).
• Don't park in a bike lane.
• Don't park outside marked lines
• Don't park in a crosswalk. No part of your vehicle should be in the crosswalk.
• Don't park blocking an ADA curb ramp. No part of your vehicle should block any part of a curb ramp.
• Don’t park in a trailer parking only area, unless your vehicle is attached to a trailer.

Is parking free during holidays?
No, you must pay to park during holidays in city parks.

What if the meter malfunctioned?
If you believe a citation was issued due to a meter error, first check to:

• Ensure you paid for the correct license plate number.
• If you paid with Parking Kitty, ensure the zone number was entered properly.

If the zone and license plate are correct, and you believe the citation was written in error, please fill out the PP&R Parking Citation Administrative Review Form. 

How can I add more time to a session?
If your time expired, visit any meter in the park. Note that each purchase starts the time over, so you should wait until your current time is about to expire to purchase again. For an easier alternative, use Parking Kitty and add more time to your session at any time, from anywhere.

Can I get a refund?
As indicated on the meters, no refunds are provided. For questions about double charges, e-mail parks-parking@portlandoregon.gov or call 311.

Who is exempt from paying to park? 

• Any government vehicle, so identified by public registration plates, may park without meter fee for the maximum time limit allowable at any metered parking space.
• A vehicle with an official state-issued “Wheelchair User” plate, placard permit, or decal.
• A vehicle with an official “Wounded Warrior” placard may park without a fee.
• Any additional exemption will be listed on the individual location guidelines.
• Applicable permits distributed by PBOT.

Can I reserve parking?

• Reserving parking is allowed in exceptional circumstances. Reserving parking may be considered for:
  • special event visitors with special accommodation needs or limited mobility,
  • filming,
  • maintenance or construction activities,
• The City of Portland will recover all costs from the permittee and assess fees associated with reserved parking and park road closures.
• Reserving parking must be approved by Portland Parks and Recreation through a special use permit. Permits | Parks & Recreation | Portland.gov

Reports and Documents

Washington Park Transportation and Parking Administrative Rules