San Diego Parking Ticket: How to Pay or Contest a Citation

In the first nine months of 2024 alone, San Diego issued 482,449 parking citations. Street sweeping violations accounted for 15% of that total — more than 76,000 tickets — generating over $4 million in fines from that single violation category. If you're one of the hundreds of thousands of San Diego drivers who gets cited each year, here's how the payment system works and how to fight a citation you think shouldn't have been issued.

How Much Is a San Diego Parking Ticket?

San Diego fine amounts for 2024–2025:

• Street sweeping: $62.50
• Expired meter: variable by zone, typically $50–$70
• Red zone / No stopping (CVC § 21458): $90+
• Daylighting violation (AB 413, CVC § 22500(n)): $65.00 + processing fees = approximately $77.50 total — San Diego was among the first California cities to begin active enforcement
• Fire hydrant (within 15 feet): $90+
• Blocking a driveway: $65+

Late penalties escalate quickly. A delinquent San Diego citation can double in cost within 60 days. Unpaid citations are eventually forwarded to the City Treasurer and result in a DMV registration hold (CVC § 4760).

San Diego Parking Meter Rules

San Diego uses smart parking meters across downtown and many beach and commercial areas. Several meter-specific rules matter for disputes:

Broken meter defense (CVC § 22508.5): If a meter cannot accept any form of payment — neither coins nor credit card — you may park for up to the posted time limit without penalty under California law. The meter must be completely inoperable. If card payment works but coins are jammed, you're expected to use the card.

Mobile payment: San Diego uses the ParkMobile app and the Flowbird app for meter payment in many zones. Your digital receipt with timestamp and license plate is your strongest evidence if you paid and were still cited.

Meter bag / temporary no-parking: If a meter is covered by a bag (indicating construction, utility work, or event restrictions), you generally cannot park there during the restriction period, even if the meter itself is bagged. The temporary restriction is enforced separately from the meter.

Overtime parking: San Diego enforces posted time limits strictly. The 72-hour rule (CVC § 22651(k)) applies throughout the city — parking in one spot for more than 72 hours is a violation regardless of whether you paid for the spot. San Diego requires vehicles to move at least one-tenth of a mile to reset the 72-hour clock, not just a few feet.

How to Pay a San Diego Parking Citation

Online: Visit sandiego.gov/parking/citations to pay by citation number or license plate.

By phone: Call (866) 470-1308.

By mail: Send payment to Parking Administration, P.O. Box 129038, San Diego, CA 92112-9038. Include the citation number on your check or money order.

In person: San Diego's Parking Administration office accepts in-person payments during business hours.

Do not pay if you plan to contest. Under CVC § 40204, payment is an admission of liability and permanently closes your dispute window.

How to Contest a San Diego Parking Citation

San Diego follows California's mandatory three-step process under CVC § 40215:

Step 1 — Administrative Review (free, 21 days)

Submit your contest within 21 days of the citation date. Use the online portal at sandiego.gov/parking/citations/appeal, mail your written request, or call (866) 470-1308.

No payment is required at this stage. The citation is placed on hold while under review.

Your written contest must include the specific legal basis — not just "I disagree" — and any relevant evidence: photos of the parking position, signage (or lack of it), meter condition, payment receipts, or the street sweeping schedule.

Step 2 — Administrative Hearing (fine deposit required)

If Step 1 is denied, you have 21 days from the mailing date of the denial to request an Administrative Hearing. The full fine must be deposited in advance, unless you qualify for an indigent waiver under CVC § 40220.

San Diego uses independent hearing officers — not city employees. An in-person or written declaration hearing gives you a fresh review. This is where strong evidence and a clear legal argument produce the most favorable outcomes.

Step 3 — Superior Court Appeal

If the hearing decision goes against you, appeal to San Diego Superior Court within 30 days. The $25 filing fee is refundable if you win. The judge reviews the case de novo.

Effective Defenses for San Diego Parking Violations

Street Sweeping: Signage and Schedule

San Diego's street sweeping enforcement is among the most active in California. Your defenses:

Missing or obscured signage: CVC § 22507.6 requires adequate posted notice. Document the absence or obscured condition of signs at the neighborhood entrance with wide-angle photos.

Sweeper did not pass (strict enforcement note): Unlike San Francisco, San Diego strictly enforces the full posted time block — the sweeper doesn't need to pass your vehicle for the citation to be valid. This defense is less viable in San Diego than in other California cities. Focus instead on signage defects or timing errors.

Time discrepancy: If your citation time falls outside the posted sweeping hours, print a screenshot of the official San Diego street sweeping schedule for that specific block and submit it as evidence.

Daylighting: AB 413 Enforcement

San Diego is one of the first California cities actively enforcing the Daylighting Law (CVC § 22500(n), effective January 1, 2025). This law prohibits parking within 20 feet of the vehicle-approach side of any crosswalk — even if the curb is not painted red.

If you were cited for a daylighting violation: - Measure the actual distance from your parked position to the crosswalk - Photograph the measurement with a tape measure - Document whether any signage or markings indicated the new restriction

The "no red paint" defense no longer works in California. The law applies to all crosswalks, marked and unmarked.

Tire Chalking: What's Legal in California

San Diego is the subject of the landmark California tire-chalking case: Verdun v. City of San Diego (9th Circuit, 2022). The court ruled that tire chalking is a constitutional administrative search in California. Unlike in some other states where chalking was invalidated, challenging a San Diego chalk-based overtime citation on constitutional grounds will not succeed here.

Handicap Zone Citations in San Diego

CVC § 40226 allows reduction of a disabled parking violation to a $25 administrative fee if you can prove you held a valid placard at the time of citation but failed to display it. San Diego parking enforcement is specific about documentation requirements — submit the citation, the physical placard, and the placard registration card. If a passenger held the placard, a letter from that person confirming their presence may be required.

San Diego Parking: What to Know About the DMV Hold

Unpaid San Diego citations are forwarded to the City Treasurer and eventually reported to the DMV. Once a registration hold is in place under CVC § 4760, you cannot renew your vehicle registration until the full balance — fine, late fees, and processing charges — is paid. The hold is removed within a few business days after payment, but DMV processing time means it may not clear instantly.

If you have multiple unpaid San Diego citations, your vehicle is also at risk of being booted or towed under CVC § 22651(i) (five or more unpaid citations).

The California Parking Ticket Dispute Guide covers San Diego's dispute process with contest letter templates, a hearing declaration guide, and deadline tracker for all three steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I contest a San Diego citation online? Yes. San Diego's online appeal portal at sandiego.gov is the fastest method for filing an Initial Review request.

What's the fine for San Diego daylighting violations in 2025? Approximately $77.50 total ($65 base + processing fees). San Diego began active enforcement of the new Daylighting Law (AB 413) early in 2025.

I paid and the meter still timed out — can I dispute? If you paid via ParkMobile or Flowbird, your digital receipt is strong evidence. Submit it with your Initial Review request. If you used a coin meter and don't have a receipt, it's your word against the officer's — digital payment methods are significantly easier to document.

Does San Diego have a payment plan for citations I can't afford? Yes. CVC § 40220 requires payment plans for indigent individuals. You must apply within 120 days of the citation date. Monthly payments are capped at $25 for balances under $500.