- Home
- Departments
- Police
- Parking
Parking
RSVP Parking
The Resident Shopper Vehicle Permit (RSVP) allows residents free parking up to the maximum allowable time limit at any of the City's parking meters, seven days a week, from 9 am to 6 pm.
The Resident Shopper Vehicle Permit (RSVP) is designed to make it convenient for Mill Valley and other Marin residents to shop, eat and visit downtown Mill Valley. The permit allows residents (zip codes 94941, 94920, 94925, and 94965) to park in any of the city's metered spaces without paying the meter, for the maximum allowable time limit (usually two hours).
Permits are valid from January 1st through December 31st of the current year. Beginning July 1st permits will be prorated to half price for the remainder of the permit period.
*Note* Permits are not valid until they are affixed to your vehicle*
All permits (RSVP and Residential) will be null and void if they are modified or altered in any way. If permits are modified or altered, you will be required to purchase a new permit at full price and may receive a parking citation.
EFFECTIVE 7/1/2022
All street parking meters will increase to $2.50 per hour on July 1, 2022. There will be three parking lots that will offer a discounted hourly rate for metered parking spaces to a $1.50 per hour. The following parking lots are discounted at $1.50 per hour:
- Municipal Parking Lot behind the unit block of Miller Avenue,
- Mill Creek Lot, also located on Miller Avenue just south of the Municipal Lot’s entrance
- City Hall Lot
Obtaining a Permit
Early purchase for 2023 begins on December 14, 2022.
We encourage everyone to purchase the RSVP online or complete the Resident Shopper Vehicle Permit (PDF) (if you are purchasing more than two permits), print it, and mail with a check or money order to:
Mill Valley Police Department
1 Hamilton Drive
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Make checks or money orders payable to the City of Mill Valley. If your mailing address is different than your residence address (P.O. Box, PMB, or other), you must mail your application along with proof of residency.
Permits may be purchased at the Mill Valley Police Department Monday through Thursday 8 am to 5 pm, Friday 8 am to 4 pm. If you have any questions please call 415-389-4100 during business hours. The current requirements of the permits are as follows:
Proof of residency and current vehicle registration are required to purchase a new or replacement permit. Acceptable forms of residency include a valid California driver's license, current utility bill (PG&E, cable, water, or garbage), or lease/mortgage statement. All documents, including registration, must show your name and current eligible address (All vehicles must be registered in California).
Fees
- For residents in the 94941 zip code
- Permits are $66 each for the 1st or 2nd vehicle and $86 each for the 3rd or 4th vehicle.
- PLEASE NOTE: After July 1st each year Resident Shopper Vehicle Permits for residents in the 94941 zip code reduce in price by 50%.
- For residents in the 94965, 94920, and 94925 zip codes
- Permits are $86 (up to four) for each vehicle.
- PLEASE NOTE: After July 1st each year Resident Shopper Vehicle Permits for residents in the 94965, 94920, and 94925 zip codes reduce in price by 50%.
- Replacement
- Permits are $10
To purchase a replacement permit (if you sell your vehicle within the permit year), remove your old permit, complete the fillable application above and mail or bring both to the police department. Replacement permits are non-transferable from vehicle to vehicle. You must return the old permit to the police department in order to receive the replacement permit.
Permits must be placed on the outside of your vehicle, either on the back bumper or the rear window on the driver's side of the vehicle.
2023 RSVP permits will be available for purchase beginning December 14, 2022.
Contesting a Ticket
If you have an RSVP and believe you received a parking citation in error, please see the following link.
Residential Parking Permits
In these zones, residents may park all day without restrictions with the Residential Parking Permit affixed to their vehicle. Only residents in specific zones are eligible for a permit. All other vehicles are limited to four hours of parking.
There are several areas in Mill Valley that have been designated by the City Council as Residential Parking Zones. Residents with an eligible address within these zones may purchase a Residential Parking Permit. This allows residents to park for up to 72 hours without restrictions as long as the permit is affixed to their vehicle. All other vehicles are limited to the posted time limit.
Permits are $30 per vehicle and are valid from February 1st of the current year through January 31st of the following year. Starting August 1st the permits will be prorated to half price for the remainder of the permit period.
Note: All vehicles are subject to CVC 22651(k) which states: Vehicles must not be parked on a public roadway for more than 72 hours without being moved 1/10 of a mile.
*Note* Permits are not valid until they are affixed to your vehicle*
Eligible Zones
Residential Parking Permits may only be obtained by residents who live in the following specified residential parking areas:
- Bayview Avenue: All street addresses
- Bernard Street: Street addresses 9 through 28
- East Blithedale Avenue: Only pertaining to street address 180
- El Paseo Lane: All street addresses
- Forrest Street: Street addresses 8 through 34
- Grove Street: Street Addresses 5 through 18
- Hill Street: Street addresses 2 through 60
- Laurelwood Avenue: Street addresses 18 through 41
- Lovell Avenue: Street addresses 4 through 86
- Madrona Street: Street addresses 35 through 46
- Miller Avenue: Between street addresses 42 through 52, 148 (in the Vogue Turnout; only 3 spaces), and new section between 107 through 306
- Millwood Street: Street addresses 5 through 29
- Parkwood Avenue: Street addresses 9 through 32
- Presidio Avenue: Street addresses 15 through 67
- Sunnyside Avenue: Street addresses 15 (units A,B, C, D), 83 through 87
- Throckmorton Avenue: Street addresses 191 through 257
- West Blithedale Avenue: Street addresses 1 through 45
Obtaining a Permit
To obtain a permit, please complete the fillable Residential Parking Permit Application (PDF) and submit it (in-person or by mail) to the Police Department along with current California registration and proof of residency.
Proof of residency and current vehicle registration are required to purchase a new or replacement permit. Acceptable forms of residency include a valid California driver's license, current utility bill (PG&E, cable, water, or garbage), or lease/mortgage statement. All documents, including registration, must show your name and current eligible address.
Applications, copies of California registration, and proof of residency can be mailed to:
Mill Valley Police Department
Attn: Records
1 Hamilton Drive
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Acceptable payments by mail are check or money order only made payable to the City of Mill Valley (in-person cash is also acceptable).
To purchase a replacement permit (if you sell your vehicle within the permit year), remove your old permit, complete the fillable application above and submit (in-person or by mail) both to the police department. Replacement permits are $5 and permits are non-transferable from vehicle to vehicle. You must return the old permit to the police department in order to receive the replacement permit.
If submitting applications by mail, the permits will be mailed to your address after being processed.
Permits may be purchased in-person at the Mill Valley Police Department Monday through Thursday 8 am to 5 pm, Friday 8 am to 4 pm. For questions, please call 415-389-4100.
Note: Permits will not be effective until affixed to the left rear bumper of your vehicle.
Appeal
To appeal the decision of a denied permit, please complete the Residential Appeal Form and return it to the Mill Valley Police Department.
Parking Citations
Parking citations are paid through the Marin Parking Authority either by mail, telephone, or online. Learn more about contesting or correcting a citation.
Paying a Citation
Citations may be paid by mail, telephone, or online.
By Mail
- Marin Parking Authority
Citation Processing Center
P.O. Box 10479
Newport Beach, CA 92658
Please do not mail cash. All checks should be made out to the Marin Parking Authority.
Online
By Telephone
- Phone: 800-989-2058
Contesting a Citation
If you would like to contest your citation you may do so within 21 days of issuance by requesting an Administrative Review. You may request an Administrative Review of the citation by filing a written request online, or by mail to the Marin Parking Authority. You must provide the reason you feel the citation was issued in error and include copies of all applicable documentation relating to your appeal. Documents submitted will not be returned to the sender. Provide your complete mailing address as you will be notified of the result of your administrative review.
Correcting a Citation
In certain cases, citations are correctable, but you must provide proof that you have corrected the violation. You also must obtain an officer's signature attesting to the fact that you have corrected the violation. You may come to the Mill Valley Police Department 24/7 to obtain an officer's signature. Once a police officer signs off your citation please mail in the signed copy with a check for $10 made out to the Marin Parking Authority to the address listed above. The validation and $10 must be received within 21 calendar days of issuance. Do not mail in the $10 payment without the validation of the citation.
Example: License Plate and Registration Tab Violations (Section 5200-5204 or 4000(a) of the California Vehicle Code) require evidence of the violation correction and vehicle inspection before the penalty can be reduced.
Indigence
A person is "indigent" if they meet any of the following conditions:
- The person meets the income criteria set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 68632 of the Government Code.
- The person receives public benefits from any of the programs listed in subdivision (a) of Section 68632 of the Government Code.
Government Code Section 68632
Section (a):
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps)
- County Relief, General Relief (GR) or General Assistance (GA)
- Cash Assistance Program for Aged, Blind, and Disabled Legal Immigrants
- In-Home Supportive Service (IHSS)
- Medi-Cal
Section (b):
- An applicant whose monthly income is 125 % or less of the current poverty guidelines periodically in the Federal Register by the United States Department of Health and Human Service.
Proof of Indigence
The person may demonstrate that he or she is indigent by providing either of the following information, as applicable:
- Proof of income from a pay stub or another form of proof of earnings, such as a bank statement that shows the individual meets the income criteria set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 68632 of the Government Code.
- Proof of receipt of benefits under the programs described in subdivision (a) of Section 68632 of the Government Code. Proof of receipt will consist of a copy of the most recent Verification of benefits form, Notice of Action (Approval) Letter, or Award Letter
- If a person has no income or does not receive Public Assistance, a copy of their yearly earnings from the Social Security Department is required for proof.
Failure to Pay
Failure to pay the penalty or contest a citation within 21 calendar days of issuance may cause the penalty to increase and may cause the Department of Motor Vehicles to refuse registration of the vehicle until the penalty is paid.
Employee Parking Permits allow business owners and their employees to avoid getting tickets or regularly feeding the meter by parking in one of more than 110 designated employee parking spaces in downtown and on Miller Avenue.
This parking program is coordinated by the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce. Click here to learn more and to purchase a permit.
The Mill Valley Municipal Code (Section 10.04.189) regulates the parking of recreational vehicles on public streets in Mill Valley. A Mill Valley City resident may apply for a temporary parking permit on behalf of themselves or their guests.
To request a permit application, please email pd-info@cityofmillvalley.org.