The City of Burlington wants to hear from people who park downtown. It has opened a survey that runs from July 1 to December 31, 2026, asking residents to share ideas on making it easier to find and pay for parking.
The city is planning to replace its aging parking pay stations and directional signs. The goal is to make the system simpler for anyone visiting shops, restaurants, or offices in the core. You can find the survey on the city’s engagement website.
Parking in downtown Burlington costs $2 an hour after a rate increase in April 2024. That was the first change in 10 years. Paid parking on Saturdays also returned in April 2024 in Lots 1, 4, and 5 and at all on-street meters from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Business groups pushed for the Saturday fees, saying too many cars were sitting in spots all day and turning away customers.
The survey comes as many downtown business owners say there still isn’t enough parking. The Burlington Downtown Business Association reports that 92 percent of surveyed business owners believe the current supply doesn’t support business growth. Another 69 percent said employees can’t find parking within a block of work.
City council has also started looking at long-range fixes. A new parking structure east of Brant Street is under consideration, with early estimates pegging a 300-space garage at between $13.5 million and $30 million. In May 2026, council asked staff to study the scope and cost of speeding up public parking capacity, aiming to have a design ready by 2030.
The current pay system uses the HONK mobile app and on-street machines that take cash or credit card. The city also runs the Waterfront Parking Garage at 414 Locust Street, which holds 339 spaces. The wider Downtown Parking Plan was created through extensive public engagement beginning in late 2024 and approved by council in March 2026, tying into the city’s Integrated Mobility Plan.
Officials say the feedback from the new survey will guide which signs and payment upgrades get priority. Anyone who lives, works, or visits downtown Burlington is encouraged to share their views before the end of the year.
