If you are planning an evening trip to Pasadena City Hall—whether to get involved in local government or just to admire the gorgeous Mediterranean Revival architecture—you might be wondering about the parking situation.

The good news? It is a lot easier (and cheaper) than you might expect!

Here is everything you need to know about navigating the parking meters around the perimeter of City Hall, straight from the City of Pasadena’s Department of Transportation.

If you are heading to a meeting after work, you are in luck. Parking on the streets immediately surrounding the perimeter of City Hall is completely free after 5:00 PM.

This provides visitors with over 100 free parking spaces, making it incredibly convenient to pull right up to the building. This free-parking zone includes the prime spots along Holly Street, specifically between Marengo Avenue and Garfield Avenue.

This isn’t just a lucky break; it is by design. The city purposefully lifts the parking fees at 5:00 PM in this immediate area to encourage civic engagement. It allows the public to easily attend City Council, Committee, and Commission meetings without the hassle or expense of feeding a meter for on-street parking.

While the immediate perimeter is free after 5:00 PM, you still need to be careful where you leave your car.

As a pro-tip from Joaquin T. Siques, Director of Transportation: Always read the posted signs. As you walk or park slightly further away from City Hall, the parking rules change. Some of those neighboring streets still require payment until 6:00 PM. Taking three seconds to double-check the meter can save you from an annoying parking ticket!