Berkeley Parking Ticket: How to Pay or Contest a Citation

Berkeley is a dense urban environment with aggressive parking enforcement — residential permit zones, street sweeping corridors, and metered commercial districts create a citation landscape that trips up residents and visitors alike. Whether you need to pay a citation or dispute one you believe was wrongly issued, here's the complete process.

How Much Is a Berkeley Parking Ticket?

Berkeley operates under Alameda County rules and city ordinances. Fine amounts vary by violation:

• Street sweeping: approximately $60–$75
• Expired meter: $50–$75
• Red zone / No parking: $75–$100
• Residential permit zone violation: $70–$80
• Fire hydrant (within 15 feet, CVC § 22514): $90+
• Daylighting violation (new 2025, CVC § 22500(n)): Enforcement expanding statewide — within 20 feet of any crosswalk approach, painted curb not required

As with all California cities, unpaid Berkeley tickets escalate with late fees and eventually trigger a DMV registration hold on your vehicle (CVC § 4760).

How to Pay a Berkeley Parking Citation

Berkeley uses an online payment portal for citations:

Online: Search for your citation at Berkeley's parking citation portal (accessible via cityofberkeley.info/parking). You'll need your citation number.

By phone: Check the back of your citation for the specific phone number — Berkeley may direct you to a third-party processing service depending on the citation type.

By mail: Mail payment to the address shown on the back of your citation. Make checks or money orders payable to "City of Berkeley."

Do not pay if you intend to contest. Payment under CVC § 40204 closes your right to dispute.

How to Contest a Berkeley Parking Ticket

The process follows California's standard three-step structure under CVC § 40215:

Step 1 — Initial Administrative Review (free, 21 days)

Submit your contest within 21 days of the citation date. Berkeley accepts requests online, by mail, or in person. Include:

• Your written statement explaining the specific legal reason the citation should be dismissed
• Photos of the sign, meter, or parking position
• Receipts or digital records if you paid for parking
• Any evidence relevant to the specific violation type

The citation is placed on hold during the review — no late fees accrue while Step 1 is pending.

Step 2 — Administrative Hearing (fine deposit required)

If Step 1 is denied, request a hearing within 21 days of the denial mailing date. You must deposit the full fine amount unless you qualify for a low-income waiver under CVC § 40220. An independent hearing officer — not a city employee — reviews the case. You can appear in person or submit a written declaration.

Step 2 is where most successful contests happen. The hearing officer has full authority to dismiss the citation based on the evidence, independent of the Step 1 reviewer's decision.

Step 3 — Superior Court Appeal

If the hearing goes against you, file a civil appeal in Alameda County Superior Court within 30 days of the hearing decision. The $25 filing fee is refundable if you win. The judge reviews the case de novo.

Berkeley-Specific Parking Rules to Know

Residential Permit Zones

Berkeley has extensive residential permit zones (RPZ) throughout neighborhoods close to UC Berkeley campus and commercial areas. CVC § 22507 requires signs to be placed on each specific street or district where the restriction applies. If the block you parked on had no visible RPZ signs — even if adjacent blocks did — the restriction may not be enforceable on that specific block.

The defense: photograph the entire block showing absence of RPZ signs at both ends. Check both sides of the street.

UC Berkeley Campus vs. City of Berkeley

If your ticket was issued on UC Berkeley campus property, it may be a UC Police Department citation, not a City of Berkeley citation. UC parking citations go through UC's own appeal process, not the city's. The legal framework under CVC § 40215 still applies, but the agency is different. Check the citation header to confirm the issuing authority.

Street Sweeping in Berkeley

Berkeley's street sweeping schedule is published online. Common street sweeping violations occur because residents miscalculate which side of the street is being swept on which day — alternating schedules in some neighborhoods create confusion.

Your defense options: - Incorrect time: Screenshot the official Berkeley sweeping schedule for that block and date. If the sweep time on the ticket doesn't match the posted schedule, that's a strong argument. - Missing signage (CVC § 22507.6): Document that no compliant sign was posted at the neighborhood entrance or on the block. - Sweeper already passed: If you have dashcam or timestamped photo evidence that the sweeper already passed before your citation was issued, include it.

Metered Parking

Berkeley uses both traditional coin meters and smart meters with card readers. If the meter couldn't accept any form of payment, CVC § 22508.5 allows parking for the posted time limit without penalty. Record video of the failure attempt with the meter number visible and report the broken meter immediately.

Alameda Parking Ticket (Same County)

If you received a citation in the city of Alameda (also in Alameda County), the process is similar but you'll contact Alameda's parking enforcement directly. Alameda uses its own citation portal and mailing address — check the back of your ticket. The legal process (CVC § 40215, 21-day windows) is identical across all California jurisdictions.

Tips for a Stronger Berkeley Parking Dispute

Document everything immediately. The 21-day window is tight, and photos taken right after the citation are more credible than photos taken days later (signage can change, conditions can change).

Match your language to CVC sections. A statement that references "CVC § 22507.6 (street sweeping signage)" reads more credibly than "there was no sign." Hearing officers are bound by legal standards, not sympathy.

Use a written declaration at the hearing. If you can't appear in person, a written declaration still carries weight. It should follow the same structure as a good Initial Review statement — factual, specific, with evidence attached.

Request sign maintenance logs. Under the California Public Records Act (CPRA), you can request Berkeley's sign maintenance records for the specific block and time period. A sign that was recently reported as missing or damaged corroborates your signage defense.

The California Parking Ticket Dispute Guide covers Berkeley alongside every major California city — with contest letter templates, a deadline tracker, and step-by-step instructions for each stage of the dispute process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a UC Berkeley parking ticket the same as a city ticket? No. UC Berkeley campus citations go through UC's parking appeal process, not the City of Berkeley's system. Check the top of your citation to confirm which agency issued it.

Can I get the fine waived if I can't afford it? CVC § 40220 requires cities to offer payment plans and indigent waivers. In Berkeley, you must apply within 120 days of the citation date. The waiver allows you to proceed through the Administrative Hearing without pre-paying the fine.

What if I have multiple unpaid Berkeley parking tickets? Five or more unpaid citations make your vehicle eligible for booting or towing under CVC § 22651(i). If you have multiple tickets, address them before your next trip to Berkeley — paying or entering a payment plan removes the tow risk.

Does Berkeley honor ParkMobile receipts in disputes? Yes. Digital receipts from ParkMobile and similar apps are timestamped and tied to your license plate. They're among the strongest forms of evidence for meter and time-limit disputes.