by Kate
As a longtime resident and beach-goer of Fort Lauderdale, I have watched countless parking meters being erected at what were once free parking zones. Nowadays, free parking on Fort Lauderdale’s beachfront is virtually unheard of and the spots there are, are few and far between. That is, unless you are smart enough (or don’t have too many outstanding parking tickets) to obtain a Resident Beach Parking Card (RBPC).
This very inexpensive card will prove to be the most valuable card you will carry, next to your glorious Florida driver’s license in which your photo, if taken at a South Florida DMV, probably looks like a criminal mug shot. Don’t let the two-page RBPC agreement scare you away; for just six dollars and a little proof of residency, the card is yours. You must have a current driver’s license, vehicle registration, a current utility bill, and a valid 12-month lease or proof of ownership of property within Fort Lauderdale. The card works like cash when you insert it into the parking meter, covering the cost of your parking in three select beachfront lots.
The three lots are:
- Fort Lauderdale Beach Park – 700 Seabreeze Blvd
- East Lot Birch/Las Olas Intracoastal
- North Beach – A1A north of Sunrise Blvd
Granted this card will not save you from the ruthless meter maids if misused, it will however, save you a few bucks here and there so you can have that one extra drink from Blondie’s that you really just couldn’t afford.
The RBPC can be applied for in-person at the Fort Lauderdale Parking and Fleet Services Department (290 NE 3rd Ave) OR online at: http://ci.ftlaud.fl.us/parking/resident_beach_parking_card.htm.
