How to Contest a Parking Ticket in Sacramento

Sacramento has two separate parking enforcement jurisdictions — the City of Sacramento and Sacramento County — and they use different portals, different processing centers, and in some cases different fine schedules. Knowing which issued your ticket determines where you contest it.

Here's how to fight a parking ticket in Sacramento, from identifying the correct portal to writing the appeal that has the best chance of success.

City of Sacramento vs. Sacramento County

City of Sacramento parking enforcement covers the incorporated city limits and is handled by the Sacramento Police Department and the city's parking enforcement division.

• Contest portal: SacPark.org or cityofsacramento.gov/police/police-services/contest-a-parking-citation
• Mailing address: Revenue Division, 915 I Street, Room 1214, Sacramento, CA 95814

Sacramento County (covering unincorporated areas outside the city limits, and citations issued by the Sheriff's Parking Enforcement) uses a third-party processor:

• Contest portal: citationprocessingcenter.com
• Mailing address: Sacramento County Sheriff's Parking Enforcement, P.O. Box 10479, Newport Beach, CA 92658-0479

If you're not certain which jurisdiction issued your ticket, the issuing agency name appears at the top of your citation. "Sacramento Police Department" or a city parking enforcement division means City of Sacramento. "Sacramento County Sheriff" means Sacramento County.

The Three-Stage Appeal Process

Like all California cities, Sacramento follows the statewide appeal framework under California Vehicle Code § 40215:

Stage 1 — Initial Administrative Review: Free to file. Submit within 21 days of the citation date. The agency reviews your written statement and evidence without a hearing. No officer is present. Many tickets are dismissed at this stage if the evidence is clear.

Stage 2 — Administrative Hearing: If Stage 1 is denied, you have 21 days from the mailing date of the denial to request a hearing. You must deposit the full fine amount in advance (CVC § 40215(b)). A neutral hearing officer — not an agency employee — reviews the case. You can appear in person or submit a written declaration.

Stage 3 — Superior Court: If Stage 2 goes against you, you can file a civil appeal at Sacramento Superior Court within 30 days. $25 filing fee, recoverable if you win. The court hears the case fresh.

How to File a Contest in Sacramento

Online: SacPark.org allows contest submissions directly through the portal. This is the fastest method and gives you a submission timestamp. Upload photos and supporting documents during the submission.

By mail: Written statement with copies of evidence sent to the Revenue Division address above. Keep a copy of everything you send.

In person: The Revenue Division accepts in-person contest submissions during business hours.

The 21-day window is hard. Sacramento does not generally grant extensions for missing the deadline. If the deadline has passed, you're in delinquency territory — check your balance on SacPark.org to see the current amount owed including penalties.

Defenses That Work in Sacramento

Signage non-compliance (CVC § 22507.6): Street sweeping violations require that signs give adequate notice. If the sign restricting parking on your block was missing, obscured by tree growth, or damaged, document it with photographs immediately. Sacramento requires signs at street entrances for sweeping restrictions — if the entrance to your block had no visible or readable sign, this is a viable defense.

Daylighting (new 2025 law): Sacramento began enforcing Assembly Bill 413's Daylighting law (CVC § 22500(n)) in 2025, initially issuing warnings. Monetary fines began in Sacramento on July 1, 2025. If you received a Daylighting citation and the sign or marking wasn't present, note that Sacramento's initial enforcement phase involved a transition period.

Broken meter (CVC § 22508.5): If you parked at a meter that could not accept any form of payment, you are allowed to park up to the posted time limit without penalty. Document: video of the meter number, failed coin insertion, failed card payment. Report to Sacramento's broken meter line and record the reference number.

Factual errors: Check every field on your citation — plate number, vehicle make and color, location, date, time, and violation code. Errors in identifying information can support dismissal, particularly if they're significant enough to question whether your vehicle was correctly identified.

Sacramento's New Daylighting Enforcement (2025)

AB 413 took effect statewide on January 1, 2025, making it illegal to park within 20 feet of a crosswalk approach under CVC § 22500(n). Sacramento's enforcement transition:

• Early 2025: Warning citations issued (no monetary fine)
• July 1, 2025: Monetary fines began at $25 initial fine

The Daylighting law applies regardless of curb color. A white or unpainted curb within 20 feet of a crosswalk is still subject to the restriction. The only defense to a Daylighting citation is if the measurement is incorrect (the vehicle was actually more than 20 feet from the crosswalk approach) or if there's an applicable local exception. Photograph the crosswalk and measure from your vehicle's position to the nearest crosswalk edge if you believe the distance was misread.

What Happens If You Don't Respond

If a Sacramento citation goes unpaid and uncontested past 21 days:

1. A delinquency notice is sent and a penalty is added — the fine approximately doubles.
2. After continued non-payment, the citation is forwarded to the California Franchise Tax Board or collection agencies.
3. A DMV registration hold is placed on the vehicle under CVC § 4760 — you cannot renew registration until the balance is cleared.

Low-income drivers can apply for a hardship payment plan under CVC § 40220 — plans are capped at $25/month for balances under $500, but applications must be submitted within 120 days of the citation date.

Writing Your Appeal

Your Initial Review statement should follow this structure:

"I am contesting Citation #[Number] issued on [Date] at [Location]. The citation alleges violation of [CVC Section]. I am contesting on the basis of [Specific Ground]. [State the facts: e.g., 'The parking restriction sign at [address] was obscured by vegetation and not visible from the roadway at the time of citation.' or 'The parking meter at [meter number] was inoperable and would not accept coins or credit cards.'] Attached please find [Exhibit A: Photo of sign/meter, dated/timestamped, taken at TIME]. I request dismissal of this citation."

Keep it short, specific, and evidence-based. The reviewing officer has no patience for paragraphs of frustration — they respond to factual statements paired with evidence.

The California Parking Ticket Dispute Guide includes Sacramento-specific portal instructions, the exact CVC codes relevant to Sacramento violations, and violation-specific appeal letter templates for street sweeping, meter, curb, and Daylighting citations.

Get the California Parking Ticket Dispute Guide