How Much Is a Parking Ticket in California? 2025 Fines by City and Violation

California parking fines vary dramatically depending on which city you're in and which rule you violated. A street sweeping ticket in Los Angeles costs roughly $73. The same violation in San Francisco runs $76–$96. Oakland's red zone fine reaches $91. And under California's new 2025 Daylighting Law, crosswalk violations are now enforceable statewide even where curbs are unpainted.

Here are the current fine schedules for California's major cities, plus how late fees and DMV registration holds escalate costs when citations go unpaid.

Los Angeles (LADOT) Parking Fines

Los Angeles issued approximately 1.86 million parking tickets in fiscal year 2024, generating around $110 million in revenue. Fine amounts:

• Street sweeping (CVC § 22507.6): ~$73
• Expired meter: $63–$88 (varies by meter type)
• Red curb / No parking zone (CVC § 21458): $93–$108
• Fire hydrant within 15 feet (CVC § 22514): $93
• Blocking a driveway: $68
• Daylighting near crosswalk (CVC § 22500(n), new 2025): $65+
• Disabled parking zone without valid placard: $250–$1,000

San Francisco (SFMTA) Parking Fines

San Francisco collects nearly $88 million annually from parking citations — among the highest per-capita citation revenue in the country.

• Street sweeping: $76–$96
• Expired meter: $76
• Red zone / No stopping: $100+
• Fire hydrant within 15 feet: $100
• Blocking a driveway: $100
• Disabled placard — not displayed (CVC § 40226): $100 (reducible to $25 admin fee with proof of valid placard)

San Diego Parking Fines

San Diego issued 482,449 citations in just the first nine months of 2024. It's among the first California cities to actively enforce the new Daylighting Law.

• Street sweeping: $62.50
• Expired meter: $50–$70 (zone-dependent)
• Red zone: $90+
• Daylighting (AB 413, new 2025): $65 + fees = approximately $77.50 total
• Fire hydrant: $90+

Sacramento Parking Fines

Sacramento's fines are generally lower than LA or SF, but they're rising as the city expands enforcement:

• Street sweeping: $45–$65
• Expired meter: $40–$60
• Red zone: $75–$91
• Daylighting (new July 2025 enforcement): $25 base (warning period ending)

Oakland Parking Fines

Oakland enforces a full range of violations with fines similar to SF:

• Red zone: ~$91
• Street sweeping: ~$72
• Fire hydrant: $90+

San Jose Parking Fines

San Jose issues approximately 217,000 citations annually. Common fine amounts:

• Street sweeping (largest category, 30% of all citations): ~$60
• Metered parking (22% of citations): $40–$50
• General safety violations: $65+

How Late Fees Multiply California Parking Fines

California cities add late fees when citations go unpaid. The typical structure:

1. Base fine: The amount on the ticket
2. First late fee (21–30 days unpaid): Adds 50–100% of the base fine
3. Second notice / delinquency: Additional administrative fees
4. Collections: Debt can be sent to a collection agency affecting your credit
5. DMV registration hold (CVC § 4760): Your vehicle registration cannot be renewed until the balance is cleared

A $73 street sweeping ticket in Los Angeles can become $110+ within 60 days if ignored. A $100 San Francisco citation can reach $150–$200 after fees.

New 2025 Parking Violations: The Daylighting Law

Assembly Bill 413, effective January 1, 2025, added CVC § 22500(n) to California law: no parking within 20 feet of the approach side of any crosswalk — marked or unmarked. Crucially, the curb does not need to be painted red for this to apply. Corner spots that were historically legal are now potentially citable.

Cities are in varying stages of enforcement: - San Diego: Active enforcement started early 2025 - Sacramento: Warning phase through June 2025, monetary fines starting July 1, 2025 - Los Angeles and SF: Expanding enforcement throughout 2025

California Parking Laws: Key CVC Sections

Understanding the Vehicle Code sections helps you know your rights:

What Adds to the Fine: Surcharges and Fees

California parking fines are not what you see on the ticket. Several surcharges are added by the state before the final amount:

• State Penalty Assessment: 100% of the base fine
• State Court Facilities Construction fee
• DNA Identification Fund surcharge
• Night Court Assessment

These surcharges can nearly double the displayed fine on some violation types. What appears as a $50 base fine may total $90–$120 after all state and local fees are applied. Check the detailed breakdown on your citation or the city's payment portal.

Is It Worth Contesting a California Parking Ticket?

For any citation over $50, the cost-benefit math of a free Initial Review (Step 1 under CVC § 40215) is favorable. If you have any evidence of a legal defect in the citation — missing signage, a broken meter, incorrect time, or a position dispute — it takes 15–20 minutes to file and costs nothing.

The California Parking Ticket Dispute Guide covers fine structures for all major California cities alongside the complete dispute process — from the Initial Review letter template through the Administrative Hearing script and Superior Court appeal instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I negotiate a California parking ticket down? California cities don't negotiate on parking fines the way some municipalities do in other states. The formal dispute process (CVC § 40215) is your path to reduction or dismissal — either through Initial Review or Administrative Hearing. There's no informal "let me speak to someone" route.

What happens to a California parking ticket if I move out of state? Parking tickets generally don't follow you to an out-of-state license, but if your vehicle is registered in California, the DMV registration hold applies regardless of where you live. If your vehicle ever returns to California, it can also be booted or towed for five or more unpaid citations (CVC § 22651(i)).

Do parking tickets in California affect my credit score? Not directly — but if an unpaid balance goes to a collections agency, the collection account can appear on your credit report. Most cities refer seriously delinquent accounts to collections after 6–12 months.

Are there different parking rules in different California counties? Yes. Local ordinances supplement state law, and cities set their own fine schedules within state guidelines. The CVC establishes minimum standards (like the three-step appeal process and the 72-hour rule), but cities can be more restrictive and set their own fine amounts.