Lexington council moves forward with increase to LexPark garage rates
.jpg "The Victorian Square Parking Garage on West Short Street.")
Downtown Lexington drivers can expect to see an increased cost to park in city garages starting in September.
The Urban County Council advanced a slight price hike for LexPark’s garage rates in Tuesday’s work session.
LexPark operates four garages and all street parking in Lexington’s core. While it is an independent agency, a 2023 state law requires council to approve any rate increases it proposes.
The council will have a final vote on the increase on May 14.
Currently, drivers are charged $1 per 18 minutes, which comes out to $4 per hour with a daily maximum charge of $12. The agency now wants to charge drivers $3 for the first 30 minutes and $4 for each subsequent hour, up to a maximum daily charge of $19. It would be the first rate increase for garages since 2019, LexPark executive director Laura Boison told the council.
New rates would take effect on Sept. 1 of 2026 at the Helix, Courthouse, and Victorian Square garages. The rate would take effect on Jan. 1, 2027 at the Transit Center garage.
That rate would still be below the market average rate of $4.25 per hour and a maximum charge of $22, she said.
The increase comes from rising costs to maintain the garages, which have an average age of 41 years, LexPark executive director Lauren Boison told the council. Necessary technology equipment and boosts in security staff also have led to the proposed increase.
LexPark increased its street parking rates and enforcement hours in late 2022, although a deal struck with the city scaled those increases back slightly and preserved free street parking on the weekends. Last year the agency raised its fines for parking safety violations, such as parking in front of a fire hydrant or on the sidewalk.
Boisen said with the council’s approval to increase the garage rates, she hopes to not ask for another rate increase for at least another three years.
This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 6:00 AM.
