City Rolls Out New Pay-By-Plate Parking System

The City of Pasadena has begun installing new pay-by-plate parking pay stations throughout the city.

The Department of Transportation will eventually replace all existing pay-and-display pay stations and single space meters citywide as part of an effort to standardize parking meter technology.

The Department of Transportation issued a Request for Proposals for pay-by-plate parking pay stations in December 2022, seeking to provide parking meters for the new Playhouse Meter District and to standardize parking meter technology citywide.

After reviewing the proposals, Cale America, doing business as Flowbird, was ranked as the best qualified proposer to meet the city’s requirements for new parking pay stations. City Council awarded the contract to Flowbird in June 2024.

The new parking pay stations will replace all existing single space meters. Existing pay-and-display pay stations will either be converted to pay-by-plate technology with new hardware or replaced outright with brand new units.

These new pay stations do not require parkers to return to their vehicle to display a permit. Instead, the parker enters their license plate into the pay station and no permit is required. The Flowbird Home Screen displays the City of Pasadena logo, date and time, and offers options to pay by card or with coins. Information shown includes “$1.25 per hour, 2 hours maximum, 1 hour card minimum, enforced 7 a.m.-5 p.m.” Three touch screen buttons at the bottom provide options for language, info, and check time.

Parkers can verify their license plate before payment using the License Plate Entry Screen, which displays the alphabet and prompts users to “Enter License Plate Number.” Both coin and credit card payment options are available. Receipts for the parking session are available with the push of a button.

The department encourages anyone who has questions or needs more information to contact the Parking Division at parking@cityofpasadena.net, or by calling (626) 744-7665.