As Sandpoint’s new paid parking program prepares to launch July 1, city officials are pushing back on what they describe as inaccuracies circulating about how the system will work — and what it will cost residents.
The program was adopted in June 2025 and represents the city’s first structured approach to managing high-demand downtown and waterfront parking. With implementation now days away, officials want drivers to understand the specifics before the system goes live.
Most Downtown Parking Remains Free and Time-Unrestricted
One of the most persistent misunderstandings concerns how much of downtown Sandpoint will actually require check-in. According to city officials, roughly 75 percent of downtown street parking falls within 3-hour, 4-hour, or unlimited zones that carry no check-in requirement at all. Drivers using those spaces simply park and go, exactly as before.
Additionally, more than 200 free all-day parking spaces are available along the corridor between Lake Street and Poplar Street. The existing on-street time limits — 2-hour, 3-hour, and 4-hour zones — are not changing under the new program.
Where check-in is required, drivers in 2-hour zones receive their first two hours at no charge. They simply enter their license plate number at a kiosk or through a mobile app — a process city officials say takes no more than 30 seconds. The city has ensured that no parking space in a 2-hour zone is located more than 150 feet from the nearest kiosk, and each city block will have a minimum of two kiosks available.
Resident Permit Costs Less Than $2 Per Month
For residents who park in city lots regularly, annual permits are available at a modest price. Sandpoint city residents can purchase a permit for $20 per year — the equivalent of less than $2 per month — while Bonner County residents outside city limits may obtain one for $35 annually. Permit holders are exempt from the kiosk and app check-in requirement entirely when using City parking lots.
By comparison, downtown parking management is not a new concept for Sandpoint. Prior to 2016, the city charged employees $25 per month — or $300 per year — to park in the downtown lot. At $20 annually, the new resident permit represents a fraction of that historical rate.
No Vehicle Tracking Involved
City officials also addressed concerns about privacy, specifically whether the kiosk or mobile app system could be used to monitor residents’ movements.
“Neither the kiosk nor the mobile app technology allows the City or the company providing parking services to ‘track’ residents,” said Grimm, pushing back firmly on that claim.
The clarification comes as some residents have raised questions about data collection. Officials stress that entering a license plate to receive two free hours of parking does not create a movement record or surveillance mechanism of any kind.
Out-of-State Visitors a Key Driver of the Program
City data shows that well over half of the vehicles at the City Beach lot on summer weekends are registered out of state. That pattern is central to officials’ rationale for the program — the infrastructure supporting those amenities is paid for by Sandpoint taxpayers, while a large share of its heaviest users come from elsewhere.
Grimm described the broader intent of the program as one of equity. “This program creates a fairer balance by asking those who regularly use these public amenities to contribute modestly toward their upkeep,” Grimm said.
What Comes Next
The Sandpoint parking management program officially launches July 1. Residents and visitors are encouraged to download the mobile app or familiarize themselves with kiosk locations before the start date. City residents who have not yet purchased an annual permit can do so for $20, while Bonner County residents outside city limits may obtain one for $35. Those with questions about the program’s specifics — including exempt zones, kiosk locations, and permit registration — should contact the City of Sandpoint directly through the city’s official website.