Portland parking fees will apply to more Central Eastside spaces as the city updates street signs in November and December 2026. The Portland Bureau of Transportation says 11% of spaces in its study area will receive new rules. The changes affect customers, employees and residents, while a separate event-parking proposal remains under review near Moda Center.
Key Takeaways
- PBOT plans to change signage for 11% of spaces in its Central Eastside study area, but not all will become paid parking.
- Installation is scheduled for November and December 2026, with different rules depending on the block.
- The existing Central Eastside meter rate is $2.20 per hour where the designated meter rules apply.
- A separate proposal would raise event parking on selected Eliot blocks from $5.40 to $8 an hour.
Some Central Eastside spaces currently used for free, time-limited visits will become paid parking under changes PBOT announced October 14. Others will be designated for disability parking or employee permits, with two-hour visitor access at selected locations. The bureau has not specified how many spaces fall into each group.
The 11% figure describes spaces receiving new signage, not the percentage becoming paid. The announcement also does not establish an $8 rate across Portland’s Eastside. That higher price is under consideration for a separate event-parking area.
New Parking Rules Will Affect 11% of Central Eastside Spaces
The Central Eastside Industrial District includes industrial workplaces alongside restaurants, stores and homes. PBOT says different uses create competing demands for curbside space, especially when employees need longer stays and customers make shorter visits.
PBOT reviewed parking occupancy and existing signs before announcing the changes. It also worked with the Central Eastside Transportation and Parking Advisory Committee and conducted door-to-door business outreach during the summers of 2025 and 2026.
The bureau said its approach depends on land use. In commercial areas, PBOT explained, “the priority user is the visitor/customer.” Near industrial properties, employee permits are one way to manage demand without requiring the same restrictions on every block.
Some newly signed spaces will require payment. Others will allow permitted employees to park while giving visitors two hours without a permit. PBOT also plans additional disability parking spaces, although its announcement does not provide a final number.
An interactive city map identifies the affected blocks and can be searched by address. PBOT expects signs to be installed throughout November and December, rather than on one districtwide start date. Drivers will need to follow the posted rules for the specific space.
Portland Parking Fees Remain $2.20 at Existing Eastside Meters
PBOT’s current parking guide lists the Central Eastside meter rate at $2.20 per hour. The designated meter district covers Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Grand Avenue and streets between them, from Interstate 84 south to Clay Street. Standard paid hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
The October announcement changes categories of parking spaces, not the posted hourly rate for every meter. A driver accustomed to a free spot may need to pay once that block receives new signs. PBOT has not published a separate rate for each newly converted space.
The city also lists a 25-cent transaction fee, along with additional charges depending on payment method and applicable rules. Pay stations and Parking Kitty display the amount due. Payment does not override time limits, and some free spaces still have two-hour or other posted restrictions.
For the 2026-27 permit year, Zone G and Zone N resident and business permits are listed at $405 each. Qualifying residents may receive a $110 discounted annual permit. PBOT manages applications digitally using license plate numbers, and permit eligibility and availability depend on the zone.
The city’s broader Portland transportation funding challenges provide context for discussions about road fees. PBOT’s October announcement, however, attributes the Central Eastside sign changes to parking analysis and business outreach, not to a new districtwide hourly-rate increase.
A Separate $8 Moda Center Event Rate Remains a Proposal
Near Moda Center, PBOT has proposed raising event parking from $5.40 to $8 per hour on selected high-demand streets in the Eliot neighborhood’s Zone V permit area. The increase would be limited to identified blocks while the Lloyd Event District is active. It would not apply across the Central Eastside or the entire Lloyd district.
A March 2026 city study recorded peak parking occupancy of 96% in Zone V. PBOT cited the findings when proposing higher event rates to manage demand from arena and convention visitors. Zone V permit holders would continue parking without paying the hourly event charge, and their permits would not change under the proposal.
The Lloyd Event District activates when events at Moda Center, Veterans Memorial Coliseum or the Oregon Convention Center are expected to attract more than 10,000 people, including overlapping events. PBOT’s posted calendar lists Saturday, October 17, as an evening activation from 5 to 10 p.m., although the schedule is subject to change.
The event parking discussion is separate from the Rose Quarter highway repairs that disrupted southbound Interstate 5 this fall. The proposed event rate responds to demand for neighborhood street parking rather than highway construction.
The Public Works Committee referred the proposal to City Council on October 13. As of October 16, the city’s published records showed no final approval of the $8 charge. Motorists can check PBOT’s event calendar, street signs, pay stations and Parking Kitty to confirm which rates and hours apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will all Central Eastside parking become paid?
No. PBOT says 11% of spaces in its study area will receive new signs, covering a mix of paid, permit and disability parking. The agency has not said all those spaces will become meters.
How much are Portland parking fees in the Central Eastside?
Portland parking fees at existing Central Eastside meters are listed at $2.20 per hour, generally from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Drivers should follow the sign and payment instructions at each location.
When will the new signs appear?
PBOT plans to install the Central Eastside signs during November and December 2026. No single changeover date has been announced for every block.
Is $8 event parking already in effect near Moda Center?
No. As of October 16, the $8 hourly charge was a proposal for selected Zone V blocks during active event-parking periods. Existing posted rules remain in effect unless the city approves and implements a change.
