Alternate side parking in NYC requires you to move your car off one side of the street during a posted window so Department of Sanitation sweepers can clean the curb. Each block has a sign showing which days and hours the restriction applies. Park through that window and you’ll get a $65 ticket, and the cost grows quickly if you ignore it.
How the Rule Actually Works
On designated days and times, you cannot park on the side of the street being cleaned. Signs on each block spell out the specific schedule. Many residential side streets now have a single cleaning day per side after the city consolidated what used to be two-day schedules. Commercial and heavily trafficked streets may still have daily or multiple-day schedules.
One detail trips people up constantly: the restriction runs for the full posted window, even if the sweeper has already come and gone. You cannot legally pull back into the spot early just because you watched the broom pass.1New York City Department of Sanitation. Street Cleaning (ASP)
The city does allow a five-minute grace period after the posted end time. If the sign reads “No Parking 8:30–10 AM,” enforcement cannot write a ticket before 10:05 AM.2NYC311. Alternate Side Parking and Street Cleaning Push past that, and agents are ready.
Reading the Signs
ASP signs show a “P” crossed by a broom icon, followed by the days and times when parking is prohibited.2NYC311. Alternate Side Parking and Street Cleaning Arrows at the bottom point toward the zone where the rule applies, so check the direction before assuming your spot is safe. The restriction covers the full block for the full window.
Many blocks carry multiple signs on the same pole or scattered along the curb, and they can seem to contradict one another. A general no-parking sign may overlap with a cleaning sign or a metered zone. When signs conflict, the more restrictive rule controls. Walk the block before leaving your car; a sign 50 feet away can still cover your spot.
When Alternate Side Parking Is Suspended
The city suspends ASP on dozens of holidays throughout the year, covering national holidays, state holidays, and major religious observances. NYC Administrative Code § 19-163 lists the specific dates, which include Christmas, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Good Friday, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Lunar New Year, Diwali, and Passover, among others.3Justia. New York City Administrative Code 19-163 – Holiday Suspensions of Parking Regulations The Department of Transportation publishes a full suspension calendar each year.4NYC Department of Transportation. Alternate Side Parking 2026 Suspension Calendar
Not All Suspension Days Are Equal
On most holidays, only street cleaning rules are suspended. Parking meters still run, and other posted restrictions such as “No Standing” zones remain in force. On major legal holidays (in 2026, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas), the city goes further: meters are also suspended, and you can park at most “No Parking” and “No Standing” signs unless the rule is posted for all seven days of the week.5New York State Assembly. 2026 New York City Parking Calendar Pulling up to a meter on a regular ASP suspension day without feeding it will still earn you a ticket.
Weather and Emergencies
Snow, severe storms, and public emergencies also trigger ASP suspensions, usually announced with little notice.6NYC Department of Transportation. Alternate Side Parking Suspensions For real-time status, check the @NYCASP account on X, the NYC311 app, or the NYC311 website.2NYC311. Alternate Side Parking and Street Cleaning
What a Ticket Costs
The fine for a street cleaning violation (violation code 21) is a flat $65 in every borough.7City of New York Department of Finance. Stipulated Fine and Commercial Abatement Programs Parking Fee Schedule That’s the base. Late penalties stack quickly:
- After 30 days: $10 added
- After 60 days: another $20 added on top
- After 90 days: another $30, bringing penalties alone to $60
A single ignored $65 ticket reaches $125 within three months.8NYC311. Parking Ticket or Camera Violation Payment Payment goes through the Department of Finance, online via CityPay, by mail, or in person at a Finance business center.9NYC.gov. Department of Finance – Parking Ticket Services
Booting and Towing
Vehicles that block street maintenance or accumulate enough unpaid violations can be booted or towed under 34 RCNY § 4-08(a)(9). Costs climb once the car reaches a city pound. Regular towing for a passenger vehicle under 6,500 pounds is $185, and heavy-duty towing for larger vehicles is $370. Storage runs $20 per day until pickup. If the car was booted before being towed, you also owe a $185 immobilization fee.10American Legal Publishing Corporation. 34 RCNY 4-08 – Parking, Stopping, Standing Add the original ticket and late fees and one forgotten violation can run into several hundred dollars.
Disputing an ASP Ticket
You have 30 days from the date of issuance to request a hearing without triggering late penalties.11NYC.gov. Dispute a Ticket The Department of Finance’s Hearings-by-Web system and the Pay or Dispute mobile app both let you submit evidence online. An administrative law judge reviews the case and emails a decision, usually within a few weeks.
The strongest grounds for dismissal involve errors on the ticket itself: wrong plate number, color, make, model, date, time, or location. Beyond clerical mistakes, a common defense is proving the sign was missing, obscured, or contradicted by another sign. Photos taken at the scene carry real weight here.
If the judge rules against you, you can appeal within 30 days of the hearing decision. Late appeal requests may be denied, so the deadline matters.12NYC311. Parking Ticket or Camera Violation Appeal
One Exemption Worth Knowing
Drivers displaying a valid NYC Parking Permit for People with Disabilities (PPPD) are exempt from alternate side parking restrictions and may park at any “No Parking” space regardless of posted hours, including street cleaning rules.13NYC Department of Transportation. Parking Permits for People with Disabilities The permit must sit visible on the driver’s side dashboard and can be registered to up to three vehicles. The exemption applies only to the NYC city permit. A state-issued disability placard does not carry the same parking privileges under city rules.