The City of Sarasota will implement a gateless parking system at its Palm Avenue, State Street, and St. Armands garages starting June 17. This change aims to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow by eliminating traditional parking gates.
According to the City of Sarasota website, under the new system, cameras will capture license plate information, and drivers must pay for parking within 15 minutes of entering a garage to avoid a citation. Payment options will include coins, credit cards, and digital apps. The Passport app will be the exclusive mobile option for garage payments, while ParkMobile will remain available for both garages and street parking.
Parking rates will stay the same: the first hour is free, the second hour costs $2, and each additional hour is $1. A flat $5 rate will apply during special events. Parking remains free on Sundays and public holidays.
The camera-based enforcement will be activated later in the year. Enforcement hours will run from 7:30 a.m. to closing time, which varies by garage between midnight and 2 a.m. During the transition period, existing physical gates will be raised as the new system is introduced.
