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SITE NAVIGATION

Contact Parking Services

Parking Enforcement

Administrative Hearings

Contact Parking Services

Parking Enforcement

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City of Sacramento Parking Enforcement ensures compliance of local and state parking regulations to facilitate availability of parking spaces throughout the city, which supports residents, businesses, visitors, and events.

Call for service

Request enforcement services or report concerns

Citation fines

View information related to fines and codes

Citation services

View photos, pay, or contest parking citations

Sacramento City Codes (S.C.C.)

Title 10 ordinances for Vehicles & Traffic

California Vehicle Codes (CVC)

Official website for the State of California

A parking citation is considered an infraction, unless the violation is related to abuse of Disabled Person parking, which is a misdemeanor.

A driver's vehicle insurance is not affected by a parking citation because it is not a moving violation. However, unpaid citations do affect the vehicle registration if left unpaid. The CA DMV has the authority to require payment of delinquent citations to renew vehicle registration.

For downtown or midtown Sacramento area residents who need a residential permit to park near their homes, the registered vehicle(s) must be clear of any outstanding parking citations and not have any citations on contest to obtain permits.

Zero-interest payment programs are available for those who need assistance paying off any citation balances. Registered owners who maintain their monthly payment plans will be allowed by the DMV to renew their vehicle registration

Image of a man standing in despair at his red car with a parking citation under the windshield wiper

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What happens after a citation is issued?

The citation must be paid or contested within 21 calendar days of the issue date.

Citation photos

Any photos taken at the time the citation was issued will be posted online within 24-48 hours after issuance.

Photos are only viewable when specific information from the parking citation are entered into the online portal.

Exceptions to availabilty of any photos include hand-written citations, weather conditions, or low camera visibility. These will result in photos not being available for some citations.

Absence of a photo does not invalidate a citation.

View citation photos

Image of bumpers of vehicles parked in angled parking stalls

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Pay or contest citation

Payments or contests must be received no later than 21 calendar days from the citation issue date to avoid additional penalties.

Instructions on how to contest or pay are also on the reverse side of the issued citation. If paying or contesting the citation online, the "issue number" is the citation number.

If the first digit of the issue number starts with a "0" (zero), do not enter the "0", only enter all the digits after the "0".

View the Citation Services page for payment options, online services, and other information about citations.

Citation contest process

There is no court appearance or payment required to submit a contest.

All fees are "frozen" when a citation is placed on contest.
Please do not submit payment. This will cause delays with your contest process.
Payment is only due if your citation is not dismissed.

Contests are reviewed in the order received. Depending on the volume of contests, decisions may take from 90 days to six months. Updates or inquiries may be submitted through the Online Citation Inquiry Form.

Disposition of contests (review): Results will be mailed via USPS to the address on the contest form.

Held liable: If your citation is not dismissed through the citation contest process, your options are to pay the original citation amount (base fee + $12.50 Mandatory State Surcharge) to close your case, or appeal the decision through an Administrative Hearing. The disposition letter will include information on how to request an Administrative Hearing and the deposit required to secure a hearing date. Please read the letter carefully for instructions if you wish to continue with this second review of your citation.
Not liable (Dismissed): If your citation is dismissed, you will not owe any fees and your case is closed. If the citation is related to failure to display a Disabled Placard, payment of an administrative fee will be required to close your case.

For citations issued by Sacramento County or Sac RT (Regional Transit) parking facilities, the contest process is conducted through those respective agencies. Please view the citation for contest information.

How to submit a citation contest

If you feel you were issued a citation in error, you have the option to contest the citation within 21 calendar days from the citation issue date.

Citations may be contested using one of the following options:

Online Contest Form (upload supporting documents)
Complete a Citation Contest Form (mail, email as attachment, or drop off)
At the Revenue Counter during open hours
Email ParkingCitation@cityofsacramento.org (see section below for information to include)
Send a letter to Revenue Services (see section below for information to include)

Verbal contests will not be accepted at the Revenue Counter or over the phone. Revenue agents are not authorized contest officers. Citation contests are reviewed by Citation Contest Officers who are independent from Parking Enforcement Officers who issue citations.

Contests by mail or email

Please ensure the following are included:

Name, Address, City, State, Zip Code, Daytime Phone number
Citation Number (Issue Number)
Date of the Citation
Location of Citation
Violation Code
Vehicle License Number
For meter-related citations: Meter address and "PKGS" number located on pole (single space meters) or on face of Pay-By-Plate (green kiosks) meters.
The reason for contesting the citation, including any supporting documentation such as pictures or drawings.
Contests relating to disabled placard citations must attach a copy of the Disabled Person Parking Placard and valid Placard Registration

Reminder notice

A reminder notice is sent to the registered owner's address seven days after the citation issuance date that includes all the information from the original citation and the date when the parking penalty becomes delinquent.

Registered owners may inquire about any outstanding citations on their vehicle through the online Citation Inquiry Form. Inquiries are subject to verification of registered owner status. No information will be shared by requestors who are not the registered owner of the vehicle.

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Unpaid citations

If the citation is not paid or contested within 21 calender days, the citation becomes delinquent, and the fine is doubled.

If the citation remains unpaid, an additional $15 penalty will apply, and the citation may be turned over to a third-party collection agency and/or be subject to lien with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The lien will be equal to the citation fine and any accrued late fees. This will need to be paid with the vehicle registration fee in order to renew registration.

Zero-interest payment programs are available for those with delinquent citations or who need financial assistance.

Online citation contest form

Contest online and upload supporting documentation

Citation contest form (PDF)

Print and complete form to submit by mail or in-person at Revenue Counter

Customer service counter

View counter hours and wait times to complete or drop off Contest Form

Online citation inquiry form

Submit online inquiry about parking citations, including lost citations

Checking status of contested citations

The general review status of contested citations may be found on the Contest Citation link by entering the citation information.

Depending on the volume of contests, decisions may take from 90 days to six months, depending on the review agency where the citation was issued. Due to the research involved to resolve contests, definite timelines for results cannot be provided.

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Parking with DP placards or plates in the city of Sacramento

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