SFMTA Parking Ticket: How to Pay or Contest a San Francisco Parking Violation

San Francisco generates more parking revenue per capita than almost any other city in the United States — approximately $88 million annually from citations alone. The system is not designed for your convenience. If you've received an SFMTA citation, here's exactly how to pay it, and more importantly, how to fight it if the ticket was issued in error.

How Much Is a Parking Ticket in San Francisco?

SFMTA fine amounts for common violations in 2024–2025:

• Street sweeping: $76–$96 (one of the highest in the state)
• Expired meter: $76
• Red zone / No parking: $100+
• Fire hydrant (within 15 feet): $100
• Blocking a driveway: $100
• Daylighting violation (AB 413, new 2025): $65+ (expanding enforcement near crosswalks)
• Disabled placard — not displayed: $100 fine, but can be reduced to a $25 admin fee if you prove you held a valid placard at the time (CVC § 40226)

Late fees and registration holds escalate the cost significantly. Unpaid citations trigger a hold on your vehicle registration through the DMV (CVC § 4760).

How to Pay an SFMTA Citation

SFMTA provides several payment options:

Online: Visit sfmta.com and search by citation number or license plate.

By phone: Call 311 (within San Francisco) or (415) 701-2311.

By mail: Send payment to SFMTA Customer Service Center, ATTN: Citation Review, 11 South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94103. Include your citation number on the check or money order.

In person: SFMTA's Customer Service Center at 11 South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco.

Important: Do not pay if you plan to contest. Paying is treated as an admission of liability under CVC § 40204 and permanently closes your right to dispute.

SFMTA also warns that handwritten tickets can take up to two weeks to appear in their system. If you got a ticket and can't find it online yet, wait a few days before assuming there's an error.

How to Contest an SFMTA Citation

California law (CVC § 40215) gives all drivers a three-step administrative process. SFMTA calls Step 1 a "Protest" rather than a review, but the legal framework is the same:

Step 1 — Administrative Protest (free, 21-day window)

File within 21 days of the citation date. Submit online through sfmta.com/citations, by mail to the address above, or by calling 311.

Your protest puts the citation on hold — no late fees accrue while it's under review. SFMTA reviews protests internally, which means the same agency that issued the ticket is deciding your first appeal. Reviews can take up to 90 days.

Include: - A written statement identifying the specific legal issue (not just "I disagree") - Photos of the sign, meter, parking position, or lack of signage - Any digital receipts from ParkMobile or PayByPhone showing you paid for parking - A screenshot of SFMTA's official street sweeping schedule if the time is at issue

Step 2 — Administrative Hearing (requires fine deposit)

If your protest is denied, request a hearing within 25 days of the denial letter. (Note: San Francisco gives you 25 days here, not 21 — this is different from other California cities.) You must deposit the full fine amount, unless you qualify for a low-income waiver (CVC § 40220).

Hearings are conducted by an independent officer and can be done in person or by written declaration. This is where solid evidence and a clear legal argument produce the best results.

Step 3 — Superior Court Appeal

If the hearing goes against you, file a civil appeal in San Francisco 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 — fresh, not deferring to the agency's prior decision.

Defenses That Work for SFMTA Citations

Street Sweeping: When the Sweeper Already Passed

San Francisco has a specific policy that many drivers don't know: if the street sweeper has already passed your vehicle's location, you may park for the remainder of the time block without penalty — even if the posted restriction hours haven't ended. Other California cities (including San Diego) do not have this policy, so it's specific to SFMTA.

If you have dashcam footage or timestamped photos showing the sweeper passed before you parked, this is a viable defense.

The signage defense also applies: CVC § 22507.6 requires adequate notice. If the entrance sign to the neighborhood was obscured, missing, or graffiti-covered, document it.

Broken Meter: CVC § 22508.5

If a parking meter cannot accept any form of payment — neither coins, credit card, nor app — you may park there for up to the posted time limit without penalty under CVC § 22508.5. The meter must be completely inoperable, not just partially malfunctioning.

Record a video showing the meter number and the failed payment attempt. Report the malfunction to SFMTA's 311 system and keep your reference number.

72-Hour Rule and Tire Chalking

SFMTA enforces the 72-hour rule (CVC § 22651(k)) and uses tire chalking to detect overtime parking. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Verdun v. City of San Diego (2022) that tire chalking is constitutional in California, so a legal challenge to the practice won't succeed here.

To contest a 72-hour chalking citation: in San Francisco, you must move your vehicle at least one-tenth of a mile (approximately 500 feet) to reset the clock. Rolling the car forward a few feet does not count.

Daylighting: New 2025 Law

Effective January 1, 2025, CVC § 22500(n) prohibits parking within 20 feet of the vehicle-approach side of any crosswalk — marked or unmarked. The curb does not need to be painted red for this to apply. If you were cited for a daylighting violation near a corner, the defense must be that your vehicle was actually more than 20 feet from the crosswalk (measured and documented with photos).

Disabled Placard Not Displayed: CVC § 40226

If you hold a valid disabled placard but failed to display it, CVC § 40226 allows SFMTA to charge only a $25 administrative fee instead of the full fine — as long as you submit: - The citation - Your valid placard - Proof the placard was valid on the date of the citation (registration card)

If the placard belonged to a passenger, a signed letter from the placard holder confirming they were present may be required.

SFMTA Parking: Special Situations

Rental cars: If you drove a rental and received a ticket, the rental agency will transfer liability to you under CVC § 40209. They'll charge an administrative fee (typically $30–$50) and give the city your contact information. Once the notice arrives in your name, you can contest it directly with SFMTA.

Metered zones and ParkMobile: San Francisco enforces metered parking aggressively. If you paid via ParkMobile or the SFMTA app, your digital receipt is strong evidence. The app creates a timestamped record tied to your license plate — far more reliable than a paper slip.

Transit-only lanes: Citations in Muni transit-only lanes are treated similarly to parking violations and go through the same SFMTA protest process.

If you want the complete contest templates, the hearing script, and a deadline tracker covering all SFMTA steps, the California Parking Ticket Dispute Guide covers San Francisco's process in detail alongside every other major California city.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does SFMTA take to process a protest? Up to 90 days. The citation is on hold during this time — no late fees accrue.

What if I can't afford the fine deposit for the hearing? Apply for an indigent payment waiver under CVC § 40220. SFMTA must provide a waiver if you meet the income criteria. Applications must be filed within 120 days of the citation date.

Does SFMTA dismiss tickets for tourists? Being a tourist is not a legal defense. However, if you were cited for a violation you genuinely couldn't have known about (such as a brand-new restriction with inadequate signage), the signage defense applies to everyone regardless of residency.

What's the difference between SFMTA and SFPD parking enforcement? Both issue parking citations in San Francisco, but all citations go through SFMTA's citation payment and protest system regardless of which agency issued the ticket.