Earn from your church parking lot
Most church lots are full a few hours a week and empty the rest. Renting out those empty hours to commuters, shoppers, and event-goers can help fund ministry, without changing how the lot works on Sunday.
Why church lots make good rentals
Church parking lots are often large, well located, and empty when demand nearby is highest. A church a few blocks from downtown, a hospital, a college, or a stadium is sitting on spaces that drivers already pay for elsewhere.
Churches in the UK have rented out their car parks through booking apps for years. In the US, more congregations are doing the same as giving tightens and buildings get more expensive to maintain. Parking income is one of the few sources that asks nothing of members.
Decide which hours to rent
Start by listing when your congregation needs the lot, then rent everything else.
- Keep free: worship services, funerals, weddings, weekday ministries, and anything with your own visitors.
- Rent: weekday business hours if you're near offices or a hospital, evenings if you're near restaurants or venues, and event days if you're near a stadium.
Put the paid hours on your sign, like "Paid parking Mon to Fri, 7am to 6pm." Anyone parking outside those hours parks free, and you only enforce during them.
Get approval before you start
Three conversations to have first
- Your board. Your vestry, session, council, or trustees will want to approve renting church property. Some denominations also require approval from a diocese or regional body.
- Your insurer. Tell them the lot will be open to the public for paid parking and ask whether your liability coverage needs to change.
- Your accountant. Ask whether parking income affects your tax-exempt status or property tax exemption. Rules vary by state, and rental income can be treated differently from donations.
Also check with your city whether charging for parking needs a permit where you are.
Three ways a church can rent its lot
Monthly permits for nearby workers
Offices, clinics, and shops nearby often have more staff than spaces. Selling monthly permits gives the church steady income that doesn't depend on daily traffic, and permit holders park only on weekdays.
Hourly public parking
Drivers scan your sign and pay for the time they need. This suits churches near downtowns, hospitals, and campuses. See how much to charge for parking to set your rates.
Event parking
If you're near a stadium, arena, or fairground, a flat rate per car on event days can bring in more in one night than a month of weekdays. The event parking guide covers how to run it with volunteers.
How a church runs paid parking with Parkulo
Parkulo is free for lot owners, so there's no monthly bill for the church to approve. Payments go straight to the church's bank account through Stripe, and you keep your full rate.
- One sign. Drivers scan the QR code or text the Lot ID and pay from their phone. There's no machine to buy and no cash to count.
- Access for staff and volunteers. Add assistants who can manage the lot without seeing billing, and give a volunteer or your tow company a login to check plates.
- Clear records. Export every session and payment to CSV for your treasurer and your annual report.
For a full picture of what a lot can earn, see how to make money from a parking lot.
Keep members and neighbors on your side
- Tell the congregation first. Explain what the income will fund and when the lot stays free.
- Reserve spaces for staff. Mark a few spaces for clergy and staff so weekday ministry isn't squeezed out.
- Make the sign easy to read. Paid hours, rates, and the QR code should be visible from a car at the entrance.
- Enforce gently at first. A warning for a first-time driver builds goodwill. See how to stop unauthorized parking for when to escalate.
Frequently asked questions
Start charging for parking today
Parkulo is free for lot owners. Set your rates, print one sign, and drivers pay from their phone. You keep your full rate.