How is the parking fee calculated?

The price of parking in France depends on whether it is on-street parking (meters) or off-street parking (car parks). It also depends on whether the spaces are covered by a public service contract or fall under a private law regime.

On-street parking fees are always set by the local authority and voted by the municipal council. The operating company is not involved in the process at all even though occasionally it receives part of the takings as remuneration for its work.

Car park fees are set freely by the owner or operator when the facility is entirely private.
When the car park is included in a public service contract (concession or service concession), the contract generally specifies a fee ceiling and gives the guidelines to be applied for setting parking fees (by the hour or by shorter periods, preferential rates for certain user categories such as residents or businesses, etc.). The contract may also stipulate that parking fees must be approved by the public authority.

Within the limits set by the contract, the operating company fixes the fees based on supply and demand, as well as on the mission awarded to it: if the fee is too low, there will be long queues to get into the car park, which will block traffic; if the fee is too high, it will dissuade drivers from using the car park and could jeopardise the operation’s financial equilibrium. Parking fees are thus designed to meet customer expectations, but also to finance the car park and regulate its usage based on the objectives set by the public authority.