City of Sacramento Parking Ticket Payment and Contest Guide

Sacramento parking citations come with a 21-day clock — and whether you want to pay the ticket or fight it, the process starts the same way: locating your citation through the city's portal and understanding what your options actually are.

Sacramento is also in the middle of rolling out enforcement of AB 413, the new statewide "Daylighting" law that prohibits parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk approach. The city issued warnings through early 2025 and began issuing monetary fines in July 2025. If you received one of these newer violations, the defense landscape is narrower than many drivers expect — and this guide covers that too.

How to Pay a Sacramento Parking Ticket

Online (fastest) The City of Sacramento uses an online portal for citation payment and contest requests. You can access it at:

• SacPark.org — the primary online portal for City of Sacramento parking citations
• cityofsacramento.gov/police/police-services/contest-a-parking-citation — the official contest landing page that also links to payment

You will need your citation number (printed on the ticket) and your vehicle's license plate number.

By Mail Mail payment to: Revenue Division, 915 I Street, Room 1214, Sacramento, CA 95814

Include the bottom portion of the citation with your payment. Use check or money order payable to "City of Sacramento" — do not mail cash.

In Person Payment in person can be made at the Revenue Division office at 915 I Street during business hours.

Important distinction — City vs. County If your ticket was issued by Sacramento County Sheriff's Parking Enforcement (rather than the City of Sacramento Police Department or City parking enforcement), the process is different. Sacramento County uses a third-party processor:

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

Check the top of your citation carefully — it will state whether it was issued by the City or the County.

Sacramento Parking Fine Amounts (2024–2025)

Fine amounts vary by violation. Under Sacramento's daylighting enforcement schedule:

• Daylighting (AB 413 — CVC § 22500(n)): $25 initial fine as of July 2025 enforcement start
• Street sweeping and meter violations: typically in the $50–$75 range depending on the specific infraction

Late fees double the fine amount once a citation enters delinquent status, typically 30 days after the original issuance date.

How to Contest a Sacramento Parking Ticket

California law (CVC § 40215) gives you a standardized three-step process. Sacramento follows this statewide framework.

Step 1 — Initial Administrative Review Request online at SacPark.org or by mail within 21 days of the citation date. You do not pay anything at this stage — the citation is placed on hold while the city reviews your written statement and any attached evidence (photos, receipts, meter repair records).

If the city upholds the citation, you will receive a mailed "Notice of Decision."

Step 2 — Administrative Hearing If your Initial Review is denied, you have 21 days from the mailing date of that denial notice to request a formal hearing. At this stage, you must deposit the full fine amount (CVC § 40215(b)), refundable if you win. Drivers who meet income thresholds can apply for an indigent waiver under CVC § 40220.

The hearing is conducted by a neutral officer — not a city employee. You can submit your case by written declaration or appear in person.

Step 3 — Superior Court Civil Appeal If the hearing goes against you, you have 30 days to file a civil appeal in Sacramento Superior Court. The filing fee is $25, recoverable if you win. The judge hears the case de novo — independently of the administrative record.

Strong Defense Grounds for Sacramento Citations

Missing or Obscured Signage Street sweeping restrictions are only enforceable where signs give "adequate notice" (CVC § 22507.6). If the sign marking the zone was damaged, graffiti-covered, or blocked by overgrown vegetation, photograph it. File a California Public Records Act (CPRA) request with the city's Public Works or Transportation department to obtain the sign maintenance log for that location — this shows whether the damage predated your citation date.

Broken Meter (CVC § 22508.5) A completely inoperable meter — one that rejects both coin payment and card payment — permits parking up to the posted time limit at no charge. Video evidence of the meter's failure and a call to the city to report it (with your reference number) are the strongest proof.

Daylighting (AB 413) — Understanding the New Rule As of January 1, 2025, parking within 20 feet of the vehicle approach side of any crosswalk is prohibited statewide under CVC § 22500(n) — regardless of whether the curb is painted red. In Sacramento, monetary enforcement began July 1, 2025. The key defense challenge here is that the law applies to unmarked crosswalks as well as marked ones, which means many drivers who parked near corners without painted curbs are being cited for what appears to be an unmarked restriction. If your citation is for daylighting, verify whether the intersection has a marked or unmarked crosswalk, confirm the measurement from your vehicle to the crosswalk, and document with photos.

Payment Plan and Indigent Relief CVC § 40220 requires cities to offer payment plans for eligible low-income individuals, capped at $25 per month for balances under $500. The application window is 120 days from citation issuance. Contact the Revenue Division directly for the application process.

What Happens If You Don't Pay a Sacramento Parking Ticket

Unpaid Sacramento citations enter delinquent status after 30 days. Late fees are added — typically 100% of the original fine. After the delinquent period, the city forwards the debt to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which places a registration hold on your vehicle under CVC § 4760. You cannot renew your registration until the outstanding balance is paid.

Sacramento does not report unpaid parking tickets to credit bureaus directly, but debt collection referral is possible for long-standing balances.

When You Have Multiple Unpaid Tickets

Under CVC § 22651(i), a vehicle with five or more unpaid parking citations can be towed or booted by parking enforcement. If you are dealing with accumulated citations, address the oldest ones first — the ones closest to collection referral pose the most immediate risk to your vehicle registration.

The California Parking Ticket Dispute Guide covers Sacramento's contest process in detail, including the new daylighting enforcement rules, violation-specific defense strategies, and appeal letter templates you can use at each stage.

FAQ

How long do I have to pay or contest a Sacramento parking ticket? 21 days from the citation issuance date to request an Initial Review without late fees. Paying after this window means paying late fees in addition to the original fine.

Can I contest a Sacramento parking ticket online? Yes. SacPark.org allows online submission of contest requests with evidence upload.

What if my ticket was from Sacramento County, not the City? Sacramento County citations go through a third-party processor: citationprocessingcenter.com. The process is the same three tiers under CVC § 40215, but the submission portal and mailing address differ.