Cape May Extends Paid Parking Season Through December with New Fees
The Cape May City Council is pushing forward a major change to local parking rules that would extend the paid parking season by three months, increasing costs and hours across the city. If approved, residents and visitors will face paid parking from April 1 to December 31 in almost all parking zones starting this summer.
This ordinance, introduced May 5, aims to raise parking fees and expand the timeframe when paid meters are in effect, impacting tourists and locals heading to Cape May’s popular hotspots. A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for May 19 at 5 p.m. in the City Hall auditorium, where officials will consider final adoption.
New Fees and Extended Hours Impact Most Parking Zones
The key change is the extension of the paid parking season beyond the current October 31 cutoff, now running through the busy holiday months until year’s end in most zones. Parking fees will increase to $2 per hour uniformly in the green, orange, and blue zones, while hours of operation will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for these areas—except for the blue zone where paid parking will run only until 5 p.m.
The yellow zone, located nearest the Washington Street Mall, will see the highest hourly rate at $3, with paid parking extended until 10 p.m. Notably, the current three-hour parking limit in this zone will be removed for the summer to encourage longer visits, with the City Council set to review the impact post-season to decide if limits should return.
In the red zone, fees will also be fixed at $2 per hour, but parking will be payable from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with the extended season running April 1 to December 31. The ordinance leaves rules for city parking lots unchanged.
What Visitors Need to Know Right Now
The expanded paid parking season means visitors planning trips this fall and winter to Cape May must pay close attention to designated parking zones. Drivers must identify their parking space color zone via the city’s parking map, which is available online. Payments are accepted only through coin-operated meters or the ParkMobile app, a digital convenience for visitors who want to avoid coins.
Cape May City Council: “The amended parking ordinance balances local business access with managing increased parking demands during the extended season.”
Next Steps: Public Hearing and Council Vote
City Council members will hold a public hearing on May 19 before deciding to implement the new ordinance for the 2026 season. If passed, Cape May could join a growing trend of municipalities responding to higher visitor volumes and inflation-driven costs by extending paid parking periods and raising fees, with impacts rippling through tourism and local traffic management.
Colorado residents planning coastal vacations should monitor such updates as more cities adjust parking enforcement seasonally, affecting travel budgets and plans. The City of Cape May’s move could signal a shift in how popular destinations manage public parking year-round.
For more details and to review the parking zones map, visitors and locals can visit Cape May’s official website. Address questions to local reporter Vince Conti via [email protected].
