Changes are coming to the downtown Lakeland parking scene — but not in the way you may think.

In yesterday's Lakeland City Commission meeting, commissioners unanimously voted to implement new parking rates. However, these new rates are solely for off-street metered spaces (think: lots and parking garages) and for monthly parking permits downtown.

Effective Oct. 1, off-street metered spaces will be charged at $1/hour with a $6 daily rate. On-street metered spaces, like those in front of your favorite shops + dining spots, will continue to have two hours of free parking before charging the $1/hour metered rate.

If you have a monthly permit for parking downtown, those will increase to $90 per month for the 2025 fiscal year and then to $100 in the 2026 fiscal year. If your parking permit has a fixed rate as part of your lease, those will remain the same until the lease expires or is terminated.

The city parking lot off South Tennessee Avenue will allow four hours of free public parking + reduced permit rates. Pro tip: The Squeeze shuttle service also picks up from here. | Photo by LALtoday

To help ease the transition to the increased rates, city traffic leaders have also implemented a reduced rate permit for the South Tennessee Avenue lot that will be $50/month. This lot will also offer four hours of free public parking to help downtown employees mitigate their parking costs.

Additionally, officials are implementing a "warning system" that will take an education-first approach with parking violations — first-time violators could have the chance to appeal their tickets before having to pay the $25 fee. Pro tip: Plan your parking strategy ahead of time with the help of our downtown parking guide.

Interested in hearing the full parking rate discussion? Skip to 51:00 in the meeting's recording.