Paid parking has been extended to include Saturday afternoon and evening until 10.30pm, and Sunday from 8.30am to 10.30pm, as well as weekdays until 10.30pm at London Circuit, Civic Pool and Canberra Institute of Technology car parks.

While no yellow envelopes indicating a fine could be seen on the windscreens of the sea of cars at the Bailey's Corner car park on London Circuit on Saturday afternoon, it was sure to change in the coming weeks.

Spence resident Elizabeth Taumoepeau was rushing to catch up with her family when approached by The Canberra Times mid-afternoon.

Having missed the large yellow signs indicating the change at the entrance to the car park, she was grateful for having her attention drawn to it.

"I didn't know that we had to pay," Ms Taumoepeau said.

"We're going to a multicultural centre for little kids to learn, and this is where we normally park … I will look for another park now; I don't like the idea [of paid parking] at all."

Motorists will be forced to fork out up to $5 to park in those spots or risk being fined.

For Hughes resident Joanne Palisi, the extended paid parking hours meant she wasn't likely to visit the CBD as often, except for special occasions.

On Saturday, she was taking her son shopping to buy a Father's Day gift.

"I'll just go to Woden, I usually only shop for less than two hours, and it is free at Woden for that time," she said.

"We don't regularly come, so this is just a once-off because parking is so much easier at Woden."

With Floriade due to open next weekend, Ms Palisi said the new rules might make visitors think twice about visiting the attraction.

"It might stop a few people but I don't think it would stop most people from going," she said.

Motorist Michael Petrou agreed. He said interstate guests might not be worried, but for locals the fees could change their mind.

"I hardly come here because you always have to pay for parking anyway," he said.

"But I guess in the afternoons and on Sunday, I'm not happy about that but there is not much you can do about it."

Fay Theoharidis was fuming at the changes. She blamed the ACT government for assuming all Canberrans had the money to afford the increase in fees.

"I just think it is all about revenue, I don't think it is about car turnover," she said.

"Most of the people are public servants and they've got a lot of money, but I'm not a public servant, I get a small wage and I have to watch every penny I spend so it is not fair.

"Canberra is already expensive to live here, it's just another expense on top of all that."

Parking-fine revenue is expected to increase to $13.6 million in 2015-16 as inspectors work longer hours to enforce limits.