Smart Parking Orange
Smart Parking Orange: A Smarter Way to Manage Parking
If you live in Orange, you’ve probably dealt with parking permits. Whether it’s a neighborhood hangtag, guest pass, or just trying to make sure you’re parked legally near your own home.
And let’s be honest… the current system feels outdated.
We’re still relying on physical hangtags that can be lost, damaged, or passed between vehicles. Enforcement takes longer than it should. And residents are stuck dealing with a system that hasn’t kept up with the way people actually live today.
That’s why I’m proposing a simple, practical upgrade:
Smart Parking Orange
A modern, digital parking permit system that replaces physical hangtags with license plate-based permits, using technology the City already has.
We Already Do This—Just Not Everywhere
Here’s the key point most people don’t realize:
The City of Orange already uses digital enforcement today in our downtown commercial corridor for paid parking.
So this isn’t some new, untested idea.
It’s about expanding a system that already works into our residential neighborhoods so we can bring the same level of efficiency and consistency citywide.
No More Hangtags. No More Hassle.
Under Smart Parking Orange:
Your license plate becomes your permit
Everything is managed online
Changes happen instantly
That means:
No more lost or damaged hangtags
No more waiting for replacements
No more confusion about whether you’re compliant
It’s simple. It’s modern. And it just works.
Protecting What Residents Already Have
Today, many neighborhoods allow multiple permits per household, often based on the number of bedrooms.
That structure exists for a reason: to make sure residents can actually park near their homes.
Smart Parking Orange keeps that system in place.
Households still receive their standard issued permits
Those permits remain affordable and resident-focused
Let me be clear:
If you’re using the permits your household is already entitled to, nothing changes for you.
Where the System Becomes Fairer
The improvement comes when we look beyond the issued permits.
Right now, there’s very little control when properties exceed what was originally intended, leading to overcrowded streets and limited parking for neighbors.
With a digital system, we can introduce a smarter approach:
The issued number of permits stays protected
Additional permits beyond that level follow a scaled pricing model
Why this matters:
Keeps residential streets from being overburdened
Prioritizes actual residents over excess vehicle storage
Creates a system that reflects real-world demand
Better Efficiency Without Growing Government
One of my core priorities is efficiency.
Right now, money is being spent printing, tracking, and replacing physical permits, manual work that doesn’t add value for residents.
By moving to digital permits, we:
Reduce administrative workload
Eliminate unnecessary costs
Improve service without expanding government
That’s how we make City Hall work smarter.
Rooted in Transparency, Efficiency, and Accountability
This initiative reflects exactly what I believe local government should be focused on:
Transparency
Residents can clearly understand:
How many permits are issued
How the system works
And what they’re paying for
No confusion. No gray areas.
Efficiency
We use technology we already have, like the same digital enforcement system used downtown to eliminate waste and streamline operations.
Accountability
Permits are tied directly to vehicles, reducing misuse and ensuring the rules are applied consistently and fairly.
A Practical Rollout
This isn’t something we rush.
We start with a pilot program, gather feedback, and make sure it works for residents before expanding citywide.
The goal is simple:
Get it right, then scale it.
Moving Orange Forward
“Smart Parking Orange” is the kind of common-sense improvement that shouldn’t be controversial.
It doesn’t require new bureaucracy.
It doesn’t require new systems.
It simply uses what we already have—better.
And that’s the approach I’ll bring to City Hall:
Practical solutions
Smarter government
And policies that actually work for residents
*DRAFT LETTER TO STAFF*
Jarad Hildenbrand
City of Orange
300 E. Chapman Avenue
Orange, CA 92866
Dear City Manager,
I am requesting that staff evaluate and develop an implementation plan to transition the City’s residential parking permit system from physical hangtags to a digital, license plate-based model, referred to as “Smart Parking Orange.” The City already utilizes digital enforcement in the downtown commercial corridor through its existing systems, and this effort would expand that proven approach into residential neighborhoods to improve efficiency, consistency, and ease of use for residents.
As part of this effort, I ask that staff assess operational feasibility using the City’s current DataTicket platform, identify potential cost savings and administrative efficiencies, and outline how residents would register and manage permits online. The review should also maintain the current structure of issued permits—such as those based on household characteristics—while exploring a fair, scalable framework for any additional permits requested beyond that issued amount, ensuring residential parking availability is preserved.
This initiative is grounded in the principles of transparency, efficiency, and accountability, providing residents with a clear, modern system, reducing administrative burden, and ensuring permits are tied directly to vehicles to prevent misuse. I request that staff return with findings, including a recommended pilot program and implementation timeline, within 90 days.