Starting in spring, visitors to Harbor Cove Beach and other Ventura Harbor parking lots may soon have to pay for parking. A new plan, currently under review by the California Coastal Commission, proposes paid parking across all Harbor Village lots, three North Harbor lots, and the Surfers Knoll beach lot. In May, the city of Ventura approved a coastal development permit for paid parking, which is expected to be approved by the commission.
The proposed fees are $1 per hour or $10 for a full-day parking pass (for stays longer than four hours). Payment will be required from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends and holidays, with payment options available through walk-up kiosks or mobile apps.
Free parking will still be available in some areas, including:
- Spinnaker Drive street parking (approximately 211 spaces)
- Dolphin Lot at Ventura Isle Marina (152 spaces)
The paid lots will include:
- Harbor Village (1,056 spaces)
- Harbor Cove Beach (239 spaces)
- Surfers Knoll Beach (35 spaces)
Channel Islands National Park visitors can receive parking validation for their time at the Harbor Cove Beach lot. The proposed plan aims to reduce parking congestion and increase public access to beaches and the harbor, with a goal of maintaining an 85% occupancy rate. A 2021 parking study found that Ventura Harbor’s beach lots were at nearly full capacity on weekends and holidays.
