ORLANDO, Fla. — Drivers parking on Orlando streets will soon notice a significant change as the city begins removing traditional parking meters and replacing them with a fully digital payment system.
The first phase of Orlando’s parking modernization initiative launched this week, marking the beginning of a citywide transition that officials say will make parking more convenient while improving operations and reducing maintenance costs.
Instead of paying at a physical meter, motorists will continue parking in the same on-street spaces but will pay using the ParkMobile app, by text message, or by calling a phone number listed on newly installed parking signs.
The transition will occur in phases throughout the summer as parking meters are removed across the city.
“Going digital allows us to offer more convenient payment options while improving accessibility and curb turnover,” the City of Orlando said in announcing the initiative.
The city has partnered with ParkMobile since 2015, giving drivers the option to pay electronically. Orlando first introduced meterless parking in Creative Village in 2019. The latest expansion makes digital payment the exclusive method for on-street paid parking as meters are phased out.
Drivers using the ParkMobile app can continue to extend parking sessions remotely and receive digital receipts. The city also said motorists can receive up to two hours of free parking by entering the code ParkDTO in the app where eligible.
Part of a growing national trend
Orlando joins a growing number of cities—including Atlanta, Miami, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Pittsburgh—that have shifted away from traditional parking meters in favor of digital payment platforms. Supporters say mobile payment systems reduce maintenance costs, eliminate aging infrastructure, and provide greater convenience for drivers. Critics, however, have raised concerns about accessibility for residents without smartphones or those less comfortable using digital technology.
To address those concerns, Orlando will continue offering multiple payment methods, including Pay by Text and a phone payment option in addition to the mobile app.
Rollout continues through the summer
The meter removal will occur in three phases:
- Phase 1: SoDo and the Orlando Health area
- Phase 2: South Eola neighborhood (east of Rosalind Avenue and south of Central Boulevard)
- Phase 3: Remaining downtown parking between Colonial Drive and Anderson Street, and Garland Avenue and Rosalind Avenue
Some parking meters will remain temporarily while new signage is installed.
A second phase of the modernization initiative is scheduled to begin October 1, 2026, when updated parking hours, pricing, and enforcement policies take effect.
