At Asheville City Council’s Tuesday, March 26 meeting, several fee adjustments were approved for FY 2024-2025 — one of them being rate changes for parking downtown.
Why the changes? The additional revenue from the fee adjustments will chip away at the $11.3 million needed for parking garage improvements and the $1 million needed each year for maintenance and improving accessibility.
Here are the new rates you’ll see come Monday, July 1:
- Rates for metered on-street parking will rise from $1.50 to $2.50 per hour — but it will stay free after 6 p.m.
- For parking garages, special event parking will now be a flat rate of $9.
- The daily maximum to park in a garage will be lowered from $20 to $15. Currently, the first hour is free no matter how long you’re parked, but with the approved change, the first hour will be free if you’re parked for 60 minutes or less.
Pro tip: If you work downtown and make 80% of the area median income (less than $22.88 per hour or $3,967 per month), you can apply for Buncombe County’s Affordable Parking Program. Apply to park in spaces at the Coxe Avenue or College Street garages for a discounted rate of $40 per month.