Garages and parking spaces in Sofia: why they remain a safe investment

Parking in Sofia has been a contentious topic for years - and 2026 was no exception. In November 2025, the Sofia Municipal Council approved the largest reform of the blue and green parking zones in 20 years: higher hourly rates, an expansion of the zones into new districts, and pricier resident permits. The reform never actually took effect - on 24 March 2026, the Supreme Administrative Court permanently blocked the changes, ruling that they would cause "significant and difficult-to-remedy harm" to residents. The result: the old zone boundaries and existing rates remain in force for now. But for property owners in Sofia, the message matters more than the outcome of any single court case - the Municipality has already shown which direction it's heading, even though this particular attempt was stopped by the court.

Why the blocked reform isn't the end of the story

The court blocked this specific reform over procedure and the risk of harm to residents, not because it decided Sofia Municipality doesn't need better parking management. The proposal itself went through public consultation with over 22,000 citizen submissions and secured a majority in the Municipal Council. That's a clear sign that expanding paid zones and raising rates remains the direction the city is heading - the question is when, not whether, the next attempt will come. For property owners and buyers, that means relying solely on free street parking carries some long-term risk, while owning a garage or parking space remains a hedge, regardless of how future municipal decisions play out.

What a garage or parking space costs in Sofia right now

According to the country's major property portals, garage prices in Sofia vary widely depending on location and size - roughly from €20,000 to €50,000 for a typical single garage in a residential complex, with smaller spaces in underground parking lots sometimes available for less. At New Key Properties we currently have two garages for sale - one in Druzhba 2 for €42,000 and one in the city Center for €52,000, with the price difference reflecting mainly location - Sofia's central areas traditionally carry a higher premium for parking too, not just for housing.

Why a garage is a different kind of asset than an apartment

Unlike a rental apartment, a garage or parking space doesn't require maintaining utilities, repairs between tenants, or managing a rental relationship - it's a comparatively passive asset with low ongoing costs. On the other hand, absolute returns in euro terms are lower than for a residential property, and the market is narrower - buyers are typically owners of an apartment in the same building or neighborhood who already need a specific spot, rather than investors looking for any asset anywhere in the city. That can make a sale slower, but demand tends to be stable and predictable - people buy a car before they buy an investment property, not the other way around.

Who this investment suits

A garage or parking space is a good choice for apartment owners in buildings without enough parking who want to solve their own problem while investing in a low-maintenance property. It's also a sensible add-on investment for people who already own a rental apartment in central Sofia, where parking is limited and paid - an apartment with an included parking space is easier to rent out at a higher price than a comparable one without.

Conclusion

Whether or not the next attempt to reform parking in Sofia survives the courts, the direction is clear - paid, regulated parking in the capital is set to expand, not shrink. Owning a garage or parking space remains a secure, low-risk asset in that context. If you're considering buying a garage or parking space in Sofia, contact us at 0879 826 292 - we currently have active listings in Druzhba 2 and the Center, and we work with a limited number of clients per month specifically so we can give each deal the attention it deserves.