Free street parking in Nice has been extended from one hour to two, effective Tuesday, September 1, according to Petites Affiches des Alpes Maritimes. The change applies across all 16 paid parking zones in the city, Monday through Saturday, and was presented by mayor Éric Ciotti on August 31, the day before it took effect.
Paid parking hours have also been trimmed by an hour, now ending at 7pm instead of 8pm, according to Nice Premium. The two free hours can be split across multiple stops during the day but cannot exceed two hours in total, and drivers must obtain a ticket from a meter or the PayByPhone app to qualify; the previous 15-minute grace period without a ticket no longer applies past the first hour.
Ciotti, who was elected on a platform that included the pledge, framed the move as a direct measure to support household spending power and local shops, according to ICI. The city expects to lose around €3 million in parking revenue as a result, the outlet reported. Marcel Vidal, president of the Nice retailers' federation, welcomed the change, telling ICI it would help local shoppers support businesses during a period of constrained household budgets. The measure applies to on-street parking only and does not extend to underground car parks.