Ontario, CA Local Taxes & Fees: Parking Tax (2026)
Key Facts
- Nominal tax rate
- 100% of parking rent
- Occupant cap, daily
- $1.75 per vehicle per day
- Occupant cap, monthly
- 12.5% of monthly charge
- Operator registration deadline
- 15 days after starting business
- Monthly filing deadline
- 20th of following month
- Delinquency penalty
- 10% plus 1%/month interest
- False return violation
- misdemeanor (Sec. 3-8.19)
Summary
Ontario taxes every paid parking occupancy at 100% of the rent charged, but caps the tax an occupant actually owes at $1.75 per vehicle per day, or 12.5% of the monthly rate for monthly parking. Operators collect it and remit it to the Finance Director.
There is hereby imposed a tax of one hundred percent (100%) of the rent for every occupancy of parking space in a parking station in the City; provided, however, that no occupant shall pay tax exceeding the sum of one dollar and seventy five cents ($1.75) per vehicle per day, or twelve point five percent (12.5%) of the monthly charge where the charge is made on a monthly basis, for occupying any parking station pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-32: Current through Ordinance 3338, passed 7-21-2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. 5% of the monthly charge for monthly parking. The occupant is the party legally liable (Sec. 02), though a receipt from a registered operator relieves the occupant of further liability once collected. Every operator running a parking station in the city must register with the Finance Director within 15 days of engaging in business (Sec. 04) and receives a nonassignable certificate of authority that must be posted where occupants can see it. Operators must keep records, receipts and invoices in whatever form the Finance Director requires (Sec.
05), and the Finance Director can examine those books and require supplemental reports at any time (Secs. 07). Monthly tax reports and payment are due by the 20th day of the month following collection (Sec. 08). The Finance Director may grant a one-month filing extension for good cause, but interest accrues at 1% per month on the extended amount (Sec. 09). All collected taxes and penalties are deposited into the City's General Fund (Sec. 21).
Violations & Fines
Late or deficient payments draw a 10% delinquency penalty plus interest at 1% per month on the unpaid tax (Secs. 3-8.13, 3-8.15). If a return is never filed, the Finance Director estimates the gross receipts owed and adds a 10% penalty to that estimate (Sec. 3-8.16). An operator who refuses to register, refuses to file a required return, or files a false or fraudulent return is guilty of a misdemeanor (Sec. 3-8.19). A person dissatisfied with a Finance Director determination may appeal under Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Code (Sec. 3-8.18).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much parking tax does Ontario actually charge?
Who has to register as a parking station operator in Ontario?
What happens if an Ontario parking operator files a false tax return?
Can a parking tax determination be appealed in Ontario?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ontario
California rules heatmap·Compare Ontario to another location·View the California local taxes & fees overview
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Parking Tax in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle parking tax.