To make parking easier, the City of San Luis Obispo will officially transition to PayByPhone as its sole mobile parking payment provider for street parking beginning August 31, 2025.
Anyone parking on a street in downtown San Luis Obispo starting August 31, 2025 will need to use PayByPhone to pay for parking if using their mobile device. Parking pay stations are also available on every block.
The City of San Luis Obispo is phasing out the use of other mobile parking payment apps and PayByPhone will be the only app accepted for mobile parking payments on downtown San Luis Obispo streets.
The City has been transitioning from multiple payment apps to just one since the start of 2025. This change follows a comprehensive evaluation process that included vendor proposals, community feedback and technical review by City staff. Residents and businesses overwhelmingly supported the move toward a single, streamlined app to improve usability and reduce confusion.
“We heard from the community that they wanted a simple, more consistent parking experience downtown, and offering one mobile payment app will help us do that. The good news is that this app is already widely used locally and will allow us to expand services,” said Donna King, Parking Program Manager.
The transition was approved by City Council in May 2024. A formal Request for Proposals followed, with evaluation by a review panel that included City staff and downtown stakeholders. PayByPhone was selected for its ease of use, regional presence and promotional capabilities for downtown businesses.
Download PayByPhone for downtown SLO street parking today!