How to Rent Out Your Parking Spot
💰 $0 to start
⏱ First dollar: 1–6 weeks
🚗 Your empty spot, paid monthly
Updated
The 30-second version
You list a driveway, garage spot or deeded space on an app like Neighbor, Spacer or SpotHero, and a commuter or neighbor pays you monthly to park there. Neighbor puts a typical spot at $50–$300 a month; dense-city spots run higher, with NYC averaging around $500. Event parking near stadiums can bring $50–$100 per car per game, but it is also where cities require permits. The real work is confirming you are allowed to rent the spot at all.
You list a driveway, garage spot or deeded space on an app like Neighbor, Spacer or SpotHero, and a commuter or neighbor pays you monthly to park there. Neighbor puts a typical spot at $50–$300 a month; dense-city spots run higher, with NYC averaging around $500. Event parking near stadiums can bring $50–$100 per car per game, but it is also where cities require permits. The real work is confirming you are allowed to rent the spot at all.
Startup cost
$0
Typical monthly
$50–$300 per spot
First dollar in
1–6 weeks
No video for this one. We couldn’t find a recent video about renting out a parking spot with real numbers. Most are about storage space or are years old, so we skipped it.
✓What you actually need to start
- A spot you have the right to rent: you own it, or you have written permission from your landlord, HOA or condo board
- A paved or improved surface. Houston, for example, bans parking on unpaved front and side yards in designated single-family areas, with fines up to $150 a day
- Photos, measurements and clear access rules (hours, gate codes, where exactly to park)
- A bank account for payouts. Listing is free on Neighbor and Spacer
- For game-day or event parking: whatever permit your city requires. Inglewood, CA requires a commercial parking permit plus a business license; Walpole, MA charges $7 per spot for a stadium lot license
- A call to your own insurer. Platform protection has limits: Neighbor's $1M Host Guarantee only covers losses over $1,000 and excludes damage involving vehicles you own or use
This guide is about parking. If you want to rent out a garage or shed for people's stuff, see our storage rental guide.
👣The steps
Confirm you're allowedRead your lease, HOA rules or condo bylaws before you list. Tenants generally can't rent out a spot separately, and NYC co-ops almost always ban renting to outsiders.
Price off real listingsLook at Spacer and SpotHero monthly listings near you. Monthly parking in Boston averages about $255 on SpotHero, while Houston averages around $160 on Spacer. Price a driveway below nearby garages.
Pick the right appNeighbor and Spacer let you set the price and list for free. SpotHero takes independent sellers through an application, sets the price for you, and favors spots available 24/7.
List it preciselyGive the exact size, surface, covered or not, and access hours. If you have room for two cars, say so. A clear photo of the spot from the street helps renters find it.
Set rules in writingUse the platform's booking terms and add your own rules: one vehicle, no repairs, no blocking the sidewalk. Ask renters to keep their own insurance.
Track it for taxesSave every payout statement. Parking rent is taxable income even if you never get a 1099-K, and it usually goes on Schedule E.
💵The money, honestly
| Spot type | Typical rate | Gross per year |
|---|---|---|
| Driveway or lot spot, cheaper metro (Denver, Houston) | $113–$190/mo | ~$1,350–$2,300 |
| Spot in Chicago, LA or Boston | $200–$300/mo avg, $400+ prime | ~$2,400–$3,600 |
| NYC or San Francisco garage spot | $350–$750/mo | ~$4,200–$9,000 |
| Event parking near a stadium | $50–$100 per car, per event | One Atlanta host: ~$200 from 4 bookings |
Monthly rates come from Spacer's 2025–2026 host guide and city pages. Event prices come from 2026 World Cup coverage in Inglewood, Arlington, Walpole and Atlanta. These are list prices, not guaranteed bookings, and empty months earn $0.
What comes out: Neighbor takes 4.9% + $0.30 from each monthly payout, so a $150 booking pays you about $142. Spacer charges the renter instead of you. SpotHero doesn't publish its cut. Then income tax, and for event lots any city permit fees.
⚠ The reality check
- The ceiling is one spot's worth of rent. Neighbor's own range is $50–$300 a month. That's a nice bill paid, not an income.
- The big money is event parking, and that's where the permit rules are. Inglewood warned residents they need a commercial parking permit and a business license. Foxborough doesn't allow residential lots at all.
- SpotHero is hands-off in both directions. You can't accept or decline reservations, Your Spot Rented sets the price, and a spot that keeps being unavailable can get delisted.
- Renters and condo owners often can't do this. Leases and condo or co-op bylaws are the usual blocker. The city rarely goes looking, but a neighbor complaint or the building manager will find you.
❔Questions people actually ask
How much can I make renting out my parking spot?Neighbor says $50–$300 a month for most spots. Spacer's city data shows around $200 a month in Chicago, about $350 in San Francisco and around $500 in NYC, with Midtown garages up to $750.
Is it legal to rent out my driveway?Usually yes for a single-family home you own, as a quiet monthly rental. Event parking with lots of turnover often needs a city permit, and leases, HOAs and condo boards can ban it outright.
Do I pay taxes on parking spot income?Yes. Under the federal rule, platforms only send a 1099-K once you pass $20,000 and more than 200 transactions in a year (some states set lower limits), but the IRS says to report all of it anyway. It usually goes on Schedule E, or Schedule C if you provide substantial services.
The GigWiz verdict
✓ Good if
- You own a driveway, garage or deeded spot near transit, downtown, a campus or a stadium
- You want a little monthly income that takes about an hour to set up
✕ Skip it if
- You rent your home or live in a co-op and don't have written permission
- You're counting on game-day parking without checking your city's permit rules
The numbers
Startup cost$0
Typical monthly$50–$300 per spot
First dollar in1–6 weeks
DifficultyEasy, if you're allowed
⚠ The catch
The spot is easy money only if it's legally yours to rent. Check the lease, HOA and city rules before you list.
Sources: Neighbor: Rent out your parking space; Neighbor Help: Host processing fee; Neighbor Terms of Service (Host Guarantee); Spacer: How to rent out your parking space; Spacer FAQ; SpotHero Independent Seller FAQ; NBC Los Angeles: Inglewood World Cup parking warning; IRS: Understanding your Form 1099-K.