Your lot isn't equally busy all the time. Monday at 2 PM looks nothing like Saturday at 10 PM. So why would you charge the same rate, or enforce at all, during periods when you have empty spaces?
Custom operating hours let you enforce parking fees only during high-demand periods. Outside those hours, parking is free for everyone. You maximize revenue when spaces are scarce and build goodwill when they're not.
Charge Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Evenings and weekends are free. Perfect for office buildings where parking demand drops to near-zero after hours.
Enforce during lunch rush (11 AM to 2 PM) and evening hours (5 to 10 PM), leave mornings and late nights free. Common for restaurant and retail lots.
Only charge during games, concerts, or festivals. The rest of the time, your lot operates as free parking. Works well near stadiums, venues, or seasonal attractions.
Charge Friday through Saturday nights when demand peaks, leave Sunday through Thursday free. Popular for entertainment districts.
Enforce during busy seasons (summer tourism, holiday shopping), turn off during slow months. Adapts to your actual traffic patterns.
Tell people when enforcement is active:
Don't make people guess. Transparent hours reduce confusion and complaints.
Review your lot's usage for 2 to 4 weeks. Identify when you're actually busy. Set enforcement hours to match those periods. Monitor results and adjust.
You don't need to charge every hour of every day to generate meaningful revenue. You just need to charge during the hours that count.