What
We Do

Parking Operations and Support Division handles the Initial Review of all parking citations contested in the City of Los Angeles. Nearly 150,000 citations are contested and processed on a yearly basis. Our staff of professionals evaluate every contested parking citation paying particular attention to the contestant’s evidence and timeliness, and City and State Code requirements. The Division partners with the Parking Violations Bureau for all citation processing.

Parking Operations and Support Division also manages the Community Assistance Parking Program (CAPP), which permits eligible homeless individuals to perform community service in lieu of payment of a parking penalty and manages both the Citation Processing and Meter Coin Collection Contracts.

LADOT CAPP

Community Assistance Parking Information

The Community Assistance Parking Program allows homeless individuals the option to perform community or support services in lieu of paying for parking citations.

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Parking
Laws

How to Park Legally & Avoid Citations

Some of the most common parking citations can be easily avoided by adhering to all parking rules and regulations.

No Signs: How long can you leave your car parked in one place?

People may think they can park as long as they like in one place if they do not see posted signs. This is not the case. Like many other cities, Los Angeles prohibits storing vehicles on the street. Under CVC§22651(k), the City can cite and/or tow any vehicle that remains parked or standing in one place longer than 72 consecutive hours. No sign is required.

This applies to all vehicles. There is no exception for vehicles with Disabled Person/Veteran Placards or Plates, in Overnight Parking Districts or in Preferential Parking Districts.

The City can cite and/or tow any vehicle that remains parked or standing in one place longer than 72 consecutive hours

Common Curb Parking Violations: 18 inches or more from the curb and parking on the wrong side of the street.

Unless you are parked on a one-way street, vehicles must be parked with the passenger-side wheels of the vehicle parallel to and within 18 inches of the curb on the right side of the street. If you park with the driver-side wheels within 18 inches of the curb on a two-way street, the vehicle is the whole street width from the proper parking curb.

Common Curb Parking Violation - 18 inches or more from the curb
Is Your Bumper in Violation?

When parking, remember your whole car counts, and bumpers may cause your vehicle to be in violation. No part of a vehicle’s front or rear bumper should extend over a sidewalk, beyond the pavement markings for your parking meter space, or into a driveway, crosswalk, or area marked with a colored curb.

Bumper violation

Look for Signs

Parking on many streets in Los Angeles is limited by posted restrictions. Those restrictions are enforceable when the signs are legible and visible to individuals under LAMC §80.10. Since signs may be posted to the front or rear of your parking space, it is advisable to check for signs as soon as you enter a block and/or for additional signs on long blocks.

Please help us: Call 311 to report any vandalized, defaced or missing signs.

Look for Signs

Preferential Parking Districts (LAMC 80.58(L))

Parking in preferential districts may be time limited or prohibited unless you have a properly displayed permit or a Disabled Person/Veteran placard/plate. Everyone else must move their vehicles as required by the sign.

Note: Beside emergency response vehicles, permits are required by everyone, even disabled persons, when parking in Overnight Parking Districts (2 AM to 6 AM)

Preferential Parking Districts

Street Cleaning (LAMC80.69(B))

Street cleaning benefits the community by keeping them clean. The City has designated only a few hours of operation for a street-sweeping parking lane; therefore, it is important that vehicles be moved on/or before the restriction begins. You can also check here to see if your street cleaning route has been cancelled.

Note: Disabled Person/Veteran placards and plates are NOT exempt from this parking restriction.

Street Cleaning Sign

Anti-Gridlock Tow-Away Zones(LAMC80.70)

No Stopping Tow-Away Zones restrictions are designed to alleviate heavy traffic by turning parking lanes into driving lanes during commute hours. Pay attention to the posted Anti-Gridlock hours and move your vehicle when/or before the restriction begins.

Note: There is no grace period at the beginning or end of the restricted hours.

Anti-Gridlock Tow-Away Zones

Park Completely Clear of Driveways

Violations occur when any portion of the vehicle is in front of any portion of the driveway (this includes the apron of a driveway). Blocking any portion of a driveway (including the sloping part) can impair visibility and create a hazard for a vehicle exiting or entering the driveway. Once you have parked, check and make sure that no part of your car hangs over any part of the driveway (this includes the apron). Your vehicle may be towed if you block a driveway. See above.

To report parking violations such as a blocked driveway please call our dispatch center at (818) 374-4823.

Completely Clear of Driveways

Check Meter Parking (LAMC88.13(a))

A parking meter is used to collect money in exchange for the right to park a vehicle in a particular place for a limited amount of time. Parking meter zones are designated by posted signs and metered stations.
You can avoid a citation by adhering to the posted time limit designating the parking meter zone and depositing sufficient money (via coin or credit card) to cover such time.

If you come across a broken meter, please report it online or call our meter hotline at (877) 215-3958.

Check Meter Parking

Follow Meter Boundaries (LAMC 88.03a)

Meter boundaries are white lines painted on the pavement to designate the space for a driver to park and in some cases red curb painted in between. Please be sure to keep your vehicle parked within the painted lines.

Follow Meter Boundaries

White Zone (Passenger Loading) (LAMC 80.56E1)

Parking on city streets in a white zone is limited to the lesser of actual loading or unloading time for passengers and their baggage up to a maximum of five minutes, unless otherwise marked. The driver should remain with the vehicle. These zones can be marked with signs or curb paint and are actively enforced 24 hours per day, 7 days per week unless otherwise posted.

Note:

  • Disabled person/veteran placards/plates are not exempt from these time limits.
  • Airport white zones limit parking to three minutes.

White Zone Passenger Loading

Yellow Zone (Commercial Loading) (LAMC 80.56E2)

Yellow zones are enforced Monday to Saturday from 7 AM to 6 PM, unless signs indicate different times. During enforcement periods, passenger vehicles can only park for a maximum of five minutes to load or unload passengers and their baggage. The driver should remain with the vehicle. Commercial vehicles can park for up to 30 minutes to load or unload.

Note: Disabled person/veteran placards/plates are not exempt from these time limits.

Yellow Zone Commercial Loading

Green Zone (Short Term Parking) (LAMC80.56E3)

Green zones are enforced Monday to Saturday from 8 AM to 6 PM, unless signs state different times. Parking is limited to 15 minutes or longer if the sign so states.

Note: Disabled person/veteran placards/plates are exempt from these time limits when placards/plates are properly displayed.

Green Zone Short Term Parking

Red Curb (Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 80.56(e)(4)

No one can stop or park any vehicle in a red zone. Red zones are enforced at all times, unless signs indicate something different.

Red Curb Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 80.56(e)(4)

Follow Arrow Signs

When a sign has an arrow on it, the restriction listed on the sign applies to that side of the sign. If there is no arrow, the restriction applies to both sides of the sign.

Follow Arrow Signs

Multiple signs

When there are multiple signs on a pole, look for the one which covers the time period you plan to leave your vehicle parked. More than one sign could apply.

Multiple Signs

Disabled Parking
Placard Placement

Learn more

Disabled Parking Placard Placement