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Close-up of a San Francisco parking meter, featuring a slot for the SFMTA's new parking card as well as the traditional coin slot

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In response to the growing problem of parking congestion, Carlton Cole Magee invented the first parking meter in 1932.  The first parking meter in San Francisco was installed at Bush and Polk on August 21, 1947.  Since that time parking meters have evolved from the original all mechanical metes to the state of the art electronic meters we use today and have  assisted neighborhood merchants by limiting the time a motorist can park in a spot thus causing turn over and available parking for their customers.

Presently the SFMTA is using two types or meters, the MacKay E-purse Single Space and the Duncan Reino Multi-Space, to monitor approximately 24,000 spaces.  These meters use a quartz timer to; keep accurate time and  accept nickel, dimes, quarters, the small dollar coin and prepaid cards as payment.

If a meter is broken you are allowed to park at that meter for the posted time limit. Meter feeding (adding coins to extend the time beyond the legal limit) is prohibited.

To report broken meters call : 415.920.4090

Explore:

Shortcut to this page:

  • www.sfmta.com/meters

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Copyright © 2000-2008 SFMTA. All rights reserved. Updated July 30, 2008