San Diego Street Cleaning & Parking Guide

Street Sweeping provides two primary benefits to the City. The more obvious benefit is the collection and removal of paper, leaves, and other visible debris that collect in the gutters. This debris can block storm water facilities, causing localized flooding during heavy rains. An equally important, but less visible benefit is the removal of metal particles and other hazardous waste products left by passing vehicles. Although they are virtually invisible, these particles can be extremely harmful to fish and other wildlife if they reach our creeks, rivers, beaches and bays. Street sweeping is an effective method of removing both the large and microscopic pollutants that collect on City streets.

If assigned sweeping day falls on a scheduled City holiday it will not be swept. The route will be swept on the next assigned sweeping day.

Street Sweeping Schedules - https://www.sandiego.gov/streetsweeping

The Storm Water Department performs many other special cleaning operations. We sweep bike ways, center medians upon request, and before and after many community events.

Motor Sweeping Routes

Some streets are posted with "no parking" signs that state the day of the week and time of day the street will be swept. The Storm Water Department will issue parking citations enforcing the no parking time restrictions. The routes are designed with time limits to allow enough time for the sweeper to complete the miles assigned to a specific route, which varies in length. These restricted routes average between 20 to 30 miles in length and are cleaned frequently.

These types of routes have no signs and are not enforced. Residents are asked to voluntarily move their cars on sweeping days.

Red Curbs

No parking/no stopping any time, whether the vehicle is attended or not. Parking is prohibited:

in an intersection or a crosswalk; within 15 feet of a fire station driveway or fire hydrant; on a sidewalk or parkway; on the roadway side of a parked vehicle (double parking); in a bus stop; in a tunnel; upon a bridge (unless otherwise posted); in such a manner that obstructs the free use of the street; in a center median strip unless signs are posted permitting parking on the median; in front of a public or private driveway (even your own driveway).

Disabled persons parking only.

Yellow zones are only for active freight loading and unloading by commercial vehicles.  Allowed to park in yellow curb spaces after 6pm and anytime on Sundays and holidays. 

Passenger loading zones. You may stop for three minutes at a white curb (ten minutes if in front of a hotel.) No parking.

Designated a short-term time limit zone, usually 10- 20 minutes. More information will be painted on the curb or nearby sign

If you do not have a permit in a permit area, you will need to move your vehicle after the posted time limit, time limits are usually one to two hours.

No vehicle may be parked continuously at one location on any public roadway for more than 72 hours

Wheel cramping is required on all grades over 3% (hills) with or without the presence of signs. Block your wheels diagonally against the curb by turning your wheels into the curb when facing downhill and out to the street when facing uphill.

Temporary Overnight RV Permit (TORVP)

A Temporary Overnight Recreational Vehicle Permit (TORVP) is required to park an RV on a City street between the hours of 2 and 6 a.m. More information about the ordinance, the permitting process, including annual limits allowed per address, and the required documentation, can be found on the TORVP page

https://www.sandiego.gov/parking/permits/torvp

Residential Permit Parking

Residential permit parking districts are intended for residential areas that are severely impacted by all-day commuter parking generated by a nearby facility or institution. In a residential permit parking district, on-street parking is prohibited during certain hours, except for vehicles displaying valid permits, or valid disabled placards. Vehicles not displaying a valid permit or disabled placard will be issued a parking citation.

Parking meters are enforced Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., unless otherwise posted.

Variable Pricing: $.050-$1.25 per hour

Pay online - https://www.dspayments.com/SanDiego

or you can pay by credit card (Visa, MasterCard and Discover), Pre-Paid Parking Meter Cards.