Street Sweeping Ticket in Los Angeles: How Much It Costs and How to Fight It

Street sweeping violations are one of the most common parking citations in Los Angeles. The city issues approximately 1.86 million parking tickets per year, and street sweeping accounts for a significant share of them — the predictable schedule, the automated license plate recognition systems, and the sheer density of residential streets make them easy to issue in volume.

If you've just gotten one, here's what it means, what it costs, and whether it's worth fighting.

How Much Is a Street Sweeping Ticket in Los Angeles?

A street sweeping violation in Los Angeles costs approximately $73 as of 2024–2025. This is the base fine. California Vehicle Code surcharges and assessments can add to this total depending on how it's processed, so the amount showing on your citation or in the LADOT portal may include additional state-mandated fees.

If you miss the 21-day payment or contest window, the fine goes delinquent and a penalty is added — effectively doubling the amount owed. A $73 ticket that goes ignored can become $140+ once delinquency fees are applied.

How Street Sweeping Enforcement Works in LA

Los Angeles street sweeping schedules are posted on signs along residential streets. The signs specify the day of the week and the time range when parking is prohibited for sweeping. LADOT parking enforcement officers — and increasingly, vehicles equipped with Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras — patrol these blocks during the posted hours.

The ALPR technology has made enforcement faster and more systematic. The camera reads your plate, records the time and location, and cross-references against known violation patterns. An officer no longer has to physically chalk your tire — the camera pass is the record.

The Legal Framework: CVC § 22507.6

Street sweeping restrictions in California are authorized under California Vehicle Code § 22507.6, which allows local authorities to prohibit parking on streets during scheduled sweeping. Critically, the law requires that signs give "adequate notice" of the restriction.

This is the primary legal basis for a successful contest.

When You Can Win a Street Sweeping Contest

Defense 1: Missing or Obscured Signage

California law requires that signs be posted giving adequate notice. In Los Angeles, signs are typically required at the entrance to a street or neighborhood, not necessarily on every single block. But if that entrance sign is:

• Missing entirely
• Covered by overgrown tree branches or vegetation
• Obscured by graffiti to the point of unreadability
• Blown down or otherwise non-functional

...then the restriction may not be enforceable on that block at that time.

What you need: photographs taken immediately after the citation. A "wide" shot showing the full block with no visible sign. A close-up of any entry point showing an obscured or missing sign. The time stamp on your photo metadata matters — it establishes that this was the condition at the time of the violation.

Defense 2: The Street Sweeper Had Already Passed

Los Angeles strictly enforces the full posted time block regardless of whether the sweeper has already come through. Unlike San Francisco (where some leniency exists for parking after the sweeper has passed), LADOT enforces based on the posted hours alone. This means parking after the sweeper passes but within the posted hours is still a violation in LA — and this defense will generally not succeed.

Defense 3: Schedule Discrepancy

If you have documentation showing the official sweeping schedule for your block ends at a specific time, and your ticket was issued after that time, this is a documentable discrepancy. Screenshot the official LADOT or city sweeping schedule webpage (including the URL and date of capture). If the officer's ticket time and the official schedule are in direct conflict, the city's own published schedule is the more credible source.

Defense 4: CPRA Records Request

Under the California Public Records Act, you can request records related to sign maintenance logs for a specific street. If you can show that a sign was reported missing or was recently damaged, it corroborates your claim that adequate notice was not provided.

How to Contest a Street Sweeping Ticket in LA

Step 1: Act within 21 days. The LADOT Initial Review window is 21 days from the citation date, or 14 days from the first delinquency notice. Do not miss this deadline.

Step 2: File online. Go to ladotparking.org and navigate to "Contest a Parking Citation." Upload your photos directly in the online form. The online submission creates a timestamp and gives you a confirmation.

Step 3: Write a specific, evidence-based statement. Cite CVC § 22507.6. State the specific deficiency: "The restriction sign at [address/cross-street] was [obscured by vegetation / missing / unreadable] at the time of citation. Attached photographs [taken at TIME on DATE] demonstrate this condition. I request dismissal of Citation #[Number] on the basis of inadequate notice under CVC § 22507.6."

Step 4: If denied, request an Administrative Hearing. The Initial Review is handled by agency staff — it has a high denial rate because it filters out subjective complaints. An Administrative Hearing is reviewed by a neutral, independent hearing officer. If your evidence is solid, the hearing is where legitimate signage defenses succeed. You must deposit the fine amount in advance to proceed.

What Doesn't Work

"I forgot it was sweeping day" is not a legal defense. "I was only there for five minutes" is not a legal defense. "The sweeper had already come" will fail in LA because enforcement is based on posted hours. "I can't afford this" is not grounds for dismissal (though it is grounds for a hardship payment plan under CVC § 40220 if you qualify).

Checking Your Street's Sweeping Schedule

To avoid future citations, use LADOT's street sweeping schedule lookup at ladotparking.org or download SpotAngels — a crowd-sourced parking app that overlays sweeping schedules on a map and can send alerts before your block's sweep time starts.

The California Parking Ticket Dispute Guide covers LADOT's specific portal process, the exact language for signage-based appeals, and how to prepare for an Administrative Hearing if your Initial Review is denied.

Get the California Parking Ticket Dispute Guide