Seaside Heights will have uniform parking fees going forward under an ordinance introduced Tuesday by the borough council.
The governing body introduced a modification of its parking ordinance that will see fees increased in some portions of the borough to align all of the prices for metered street parking.
Seaside Heights has historically charged different amounts at metered spaces depending on which “zone” in town the space was located. Fees previously ranged between $1 and $2 per hour, with the spaces closest to the ocean costing the most. The large municipal lot near Casino Pier also was priced at $2 per hour.
“In a nutshell, this increases the parking throughout town from $2 to $3 per hour, and that will be the price for all zones,” said Borough Administrator Christopher Vaz.
Just as has been the case with beach badges, the cost of hiring personnel for the summer season has been a major factor leading to the price change, Vaz said. In recent years, the borough has replaced both its older electronic meters and coin-operated meters with “smart meters” that allow motorists to use credit cards or a smartphone app to purchase and add parking time.
Municipal parking is free October 31 until April 1, on which the fees begin to apply for the summer season.