A parking lot filled with vehicles in Madison, Wisconsin
Parking
Stefanie Cox, Parking Division Director

Multi-Space Meters

  1. Park Vehicle

    Park in a space marked with a numbered sign. Note your space number and the time limit of your parking space.

  2. Locate Pay Station

    Pay stations can be identified by the green and white “Pay Here” sign. There will be at least one per area controlled by a multi-space meter.

  3. Follow Prompts on Display

    Follow the prompts on the multi-space meter display to enter the space number. Pay for your parking with Visa, MasterCard, or coins. Select the duration of your stay using the blue buttons, up to the maximum time limit for your space. If you pay for the maximum allowable time in your parking space, your receipt will print automatically and your transaction will be complete.

  4. Complete Transaction

    Once the time on the display matches the time you wish to park, press the green button to complete the transaction. The multi-space metered pay stations do not make change. Once the green button has been pressed no more time can be added to your parking session.

  5. Take Receipt

    The multi-space metered pay station will now print out your receipt. The receipt will indicate at what time your parking was purchased and at what time it will expire. Please keep your receipt. There is no need to return to your vehicle at this time. Multi-space receipts do not need to be displayed on your vehicle.

Map of on-street pay stations and meters

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the Multi-space meters take credit cards?

Yes, credit cards are accepted (Visa, MasterCard and Discover only), as are debit cards.

Is my credit card data safe if I use it at one of the multi-space meter pay stations?

All credit card data accessed by the machine is encrypted so that it can not be read by anyone, including city personnel. No credit card information is stored at the pay station. All transactions are approved by banks in real-time.

Machines are now equipped with tap-to-pay to provide additional security when using a card.

How do I check to see how much time is left on my parking space?

The time at which your parking will expire is printed on your parking receipt for your reference.

If you paid using the Park Smarter™ mobile application, your details of that transaction, including remaining time, will be available through that app.

How do I add more time to my space?

Vehicles are not allowed to remain parked in any space beyond the time limit. Once the time limit is reached, the vehicle must be moved. Vehicles parked longer than the posted time limit are subject to citation. Note whether you have parked in a peak-hour tow-away zone. This information will be displayed both on the space number sign and on the closest pay station.

Do I have to put my receipt on my dash?

No, you do not. Once you have purchased parking and taken your receipt you are free to be on your way.

How does the city enforce Multi-space meters?

Enforcement officers are equipped with a hand-held device that shows which parking spaces have been purchased and which have not. If a vehicle is parked in an expired space a citation will be issued. All metered spaces are enforced 8:00 am – 6:00 pm, Monday – Saturday. View a list of unenforced City Holidays.

What happens if the Multi-space meter does not work?

If one pay station is not functioning, you may pay for your parking at any other pay station. Infrequently, a pay station will not accept credit or debit card payment, but will accept coin payment. Under these circumstances you will need to pay with coins or pay at another pay station. Report a malfunctioning pay station.

Was this page helpful to you?

Street Parking