Renton extends free use of downtown parking garage

Published 7:30 am Friday, November 28, 2025

Visitors to downtown Renton will continue to have a free parking option at the City Center Parking Garage.

On Nov. 10, the Renton City Council extended the waiver of garage fees through Dec. 31, 2026, for the City Center Parking Garage for periods of up to 10 hours. An ordinance to waive the fees was first introduced in December 2020 and was first proposed to last until June 7, 2021.

“Allowing patrons to utilize the garage without charge (for free) is important to ensuring that it remains an available option that drivers will utilize either for multi-hour parking for longer downtown visits, or for quicker visits and times when on-street parking options are more limited,” the agenda bill reads. “With construction impacts to downtown on-street parking, the availability of free parking is an important tool for promoting downtown Renton.”

The estimated pre-Covid revenue was approximately $5,000 annually, according to the bill.

“Although the pandemic has ended, downtown businesses remain in recovery mode and actual usage of the garage remains low, coupled with city construction in the downtown that has impacted the availability of on-street parking,” the bill reads. “Providing sufficient, convenient, and free parking at the garage will assist in the recovery effort for downtown.”

The garage is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Overnight parking is not allowed.

The city of Renton also recently hired Pacific Security as the security provider for the garage for one year for a price of $263,868.62. The new one-year contract will provide full building security inside and outside of the downtown parking garage with coverage while the garage is open.

Renton facilities director Jeff Minisci previously said the primary issues reported in the parking deck have been drug use and vandalism.

“The city determined that additional security was necessary for the City Center Parking Garage due to ongoing public safety issues that deterred people from using the garage,” Minisci said.

Back in June 2025, Renton hired Schindler Elevator Corporation to repair the elevator in the garage that was damaged by arson in Oct. 2024 for a price of $82,182.32. Repairs to the elevator include complete interior, window, tile, electrical and camera replacement.

Minisci said a secure and well-maintained parking environment encourages greater use of the facility, which supports nearby businesses and strengthens the overall vitality of the downtown area. He said the visible security measures also help create “a more welcoming and accessible atmosphere.”