Editor’s note: This story has been updated with more lots and an extension on the suspension of street sweeping enforcement. Read it here

Long Beach beginning today will offer free parking permits for residents in impacted neighborhoods and increased parking meter courtesy times—moves intended to help blunt the effects of requiring the majority of residents to stay at home to stem the spread of coronavirus.

“We are looking at every way we can to make the inconveniences of this health emergency easier for residents,” Mayor Robert Garcia said in a statement. “The patterns of our daily lives will be different for the foreseeable future, and it’s our hope that these parking measures will make one aspect of that less stressful.”

Now through through April 30, residents living in parking impacted neighborhoods can apply for a free parking permit for one of the following locations:

Beach Lots

    • Granada, 5100 E. Ocean Blvd.
    • Junipero, 2100 E. Ocean Blvd.
    • Belmont, 0 Belmont Shore Pier

Garages

    • City Place Garage A, 50 W. Sixth St.
    • City Place Garage B, 50 E. Fifth St.
    • City Place Garage C, 50 E. Third St.
    • Pike Garage, 65 Cedar Ave.
    • Aquarium Garage, 99 Aquarium Way
    • Terrace Theater Garage, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.

Residents can email [email protected] to receive an application. Passes will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The city has also added 15 minutes of free parking to all on-street meters to accommodate the increase in food pick-ups from local restaurants. The meters will still be in effect to allow for turnover of spaces serving essential businesses.

To claim the free 15 minutes of parking, press the green button on the parking meter.

Street sweeping enforcement will be delayed for one additional week to allow time for residents to apply for the new programs, officials said.

Normal street sweeping operations and enforcement will resume March 30.

For questions, call 562-570-8055.