Several Initiatives Coming to Downtown Public Parking Starting in May
Published on April 09, 2025
Several leaders from the City of Sioux Falls, Downtown Sioux Falls (DTSF), and the Sioux Falls City Council detailed a few public parking initiatives for downtown that will start at the beginning of May. These include the capability to pay for parking using a credit card anywhere downtown, the enforcement of the extended vehicle ordinance, and the addition of hours of enforcement on Saturdays.
Starting May 1, drivers can pay for metered parking anywhere downtown from their mobile phones. Each meter will have a code depending on its location. Drivers will text the one-word code to 25023 and be sent a link to a secure webpage to pay for parking using their credit card. A $0.45 convenience fee to use this mobile option is transparently shown during the online transaction. Drivers will still have the choice to pay for meters using coins as well.
“The capability to pay for parking from your phone is a simple, convenient option that users have been inquiring about for years,” said Matt Nelson, Public Parking Manager for the City of Sioux Falls. “As downtown continues to evolve, it’s important our public parking system grows with it.”
In the fall of 2024, Councilor Jennifer Sigette sponsored an ordinance that requires vehicles to leave 10 feet of clearance between the back of their car and the center yellow line. The Sioux Falls City Council approved the ordinance that will go into effect May 1. The ordinance only affects 142 on-street parking spaces between Ninth and 13th Streets on Phillips Avenue. Weather dependent, a white line will be painted along the back of the parallel parking stalls in the affected area on Phillips Avenue Sunday night to prepare for the enforcement of the ordinance. Signage will be posted on each meter informing drivers not to park on Phillips Avenue from Ninth to 13th Streets after 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 13 to allow the painting to occur.
“Implementing this ordinance is simply to keep Phillips Avenue safe. With over 4,000 public parking spaces downtown, this ordinance only affects a very small portion of on-street parking spaces in a busy part of our downtown,” said Councilor Sigette. “Downtown is such a special part of our community. It’s critical we take steps to ensure its continued vibrancy.”
Following encouragement from DTSF, hours of enforcement at parking meters will be extended to include Saturdays. This means metered parking will be enforced from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday starting May 1. Parking in ramps and lots will remain free after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends.
“These public parking changes that will be implemented May 1 support turnover at the meters, which ultimately increases foot traffic and sales for our small businesses,” said Brandon Hanson, CEO of Downtown Sioux Falls. “The data shows each parking spot has the potential to provide an additional $20,000 in annual revenue for small businesses if they’re turned over more than five times in a day. These changes support the economic development of our community while enhancing the user experience to park [downtown.”
For more information and a map of public parking throughout downtown Sioux Falls, visit siouxfalls.gov/parking. Examples of signage that will be posted on the meters for the new initiatives are below.
