What is a Parking Audit?
A parking audit is a systematic assessment of parking supply, demand, utilization, and operations at a specific location. It provides an objective, data-driven snapshot of how parking is performing—and where opportunities exist for improvement.
Unlike a parking study (which often focuses on long-term planning), an audit is typically more operational—examining current conditions, policies, and practices to identify concrete improvements that can be implemented relatively quickly.
Why Conduct a Parking Audit?
Organizations conduct parking audits for many reasons:
- Chronic complaints: "We never have enough parking" is a common complaint—but is it true? An audit provides objective data.
- Revenue concerns: Is the parking operation performing as well as it should financially?
- Pre-construction: Before building new parking, understand whether existing supply is fully utilized.
- Policy changes: Evaluating impacts of new pricing, permits, or access controls.
- Benchmarking: Comparing performance against industry standards or peer organizations.
Types of Parking Audits
Parking audits vary in scope and focus:
Utilization Audit
Measures occupancy, turnover, and duration of stay across locations and times
Financial Audit
Examines revenue collection, fee structures, and cost recovery
Operational Audit
Reviews staffing, maintenance, signage, and customer experience
Compliance Audit
Assesses ADA compliance, permit usage, and violation patterns
Technology Audit
Evaluates PARCS, guidance, payment systems, and data capabilities
Comprehensive Audit
Combines multiple audit types for a holistic assessment
What to Measure
A thorough parking audit captures multiple data points:
Supply Metrics
- Total inventory by type (garage, lot, on-street)
- Special-use spaces (ADA, EV, reserved, carpool)
- Location mapping and walking distances
Demand Metrics
- Peak occupancy rates by location and time
- Average duration of stay
- Turnover rates (vehicles per space per day)
- User type distribution (employees, visitors, customers)
Financial Metrics
- Revenue per space
- Collection efficiency
- Operating costs per space
- Citation revenue and compliance rates
Data Collection Methods
Several methods can be used to collect parking audit data:
- Manual counts: Field staff recording occupancy at regular intervals
- License plate recognition: Automated tracking of vehicles to measure duration and turnover
- Sensor data: Real-time occupancy from in-ground or overhead sensors
- Transaction data: Meter, pay station, and mobile payment records
- Surveys: User surveys for satisfaction, mode choice, and demand patterns
Analysis and Interpretation
Raw data must be transformed into actionable insights:
- Calculate effective capacity (accounting for losses from access lanes, damaged spaces, etc.)
- Identify peak demand periods and their predictability
- Map utilization spatially to find underused areas
- Benchmark against industry standards (e.g., 85% peak occupancy target)
- Correlate parking patterns with events, weather, and other factors
From Findings to Action
The most important part of any audit is translating findings into concrete recommendations:
- Quick wins: Low-cost, immediate improvements (signage, restriping, policy clarification)
- Operational changes: Adjustments to pricing, hours, enforcement, or allocation
- Technology investments: Guidance systems, better payment options, data platforms
- Demand management: Programs to shift demand (TDM, permits, shuttles)
- Capital projects: If justified, new construction or major renovations
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Single-day data: One snapshot can be misleading—collect data across multiple days and conditions
- Ignoring seasonality: Parking patterns vary significantly by season in many contexts
- Confirmation bias: Let data lead; don't seek data that confirms predetermined conclusions
- Missing stakeholder input: Quantitative data alone doesn't capture user frustrations and needs
- Shelf reports: An audit is only valuable if findings are implemented