Street parking in Long Beach is governed by five overlapping systems: weekday street sweeping, a citywide 72-hour limit, colored curb zones, metered districts with different rates and hours, and residential permit areas. Get any of them wrong and you’re looking at a citation; leave the problem alone long enough and the city can tow, with basic tow fees starting at $255 plus daily storage. The Long Beach street parking rules below cover what each restriction means, when it applies, and what it costs when things go sideways.
Street Sweeping
Sweeping tickets are the single most common parking citation in the city. Enforcement runs Monday through Friday, and the posted window on your block falls somewhere between 5:00 AM and 4:00 PM depending on the neighborhood.1City of Long Beach. Parking FAQ The exact day and hours are printed on the signs along your street.
Your car has to be off the restricted side for the entire posted window. It doesn’t matter that the sweeper truck already came through; officers write tickets against the sign, not the truck. If you’re there during the window, you’re cited.
To confirm your block’s schedule, the city runs an interactive address lookup at maps.longbeach.gov.2City of Long Beach. Public Works Sweeping is suspended on some city holidays, but the list varies year to year, so check before assuming. Meter enforcement usually continues on holidays unless the meter itself is marked “Exempt on Holidays.”
The 72-Hour Limit
Long Beach Municipal Code 10.40.060 makes it illegal to leave any vehicle on a public street or alley for more than 72 consecutive hours.3eCode360. Long Beach Municipal Code Chapter 10.40 – General Parking Regulations This applies everywhere in the city, not just in permit or metered zones. A car that hasn’t moved in three days is in violation on any residential block.
Enforcement typically starts when a neighbor or officer reports the car. Once it’s marked, the clock is running, and California Vehicle Code 22651(k) gives the city authority to tow after 72 hours.4California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 22651 If you’re leaving town, have someone move the car or put it in a private lot.
Colored Curb Zones
Painted curbs tell you what each stretch of street is for. The rules are set by Long Beach Public Works and posted online.5City of Long Beach. Signs and Curb Markings
- Red: no stopping, standing, or parking at any time. Buses may use red zones marked as bus stops. A single red zone cannot exceed 150 feet or half a block, whichever is shorter.
- Green: short-term parking, limited to 10 to 30 minutes depending on the specific location, stenciled on the curb or posted nearby. Applies 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM except Sundays and holidays.
- White: stopping only to load or unload passengers or to deposit mail, two-minute maximum. Some white zones are marked taxi stands.
- Yellow: loading and unloading of passengers or freight, two-minute limit for passenger loading. Applies 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM except Sundays and holidays. No single zone exceeds 35 feet.
- Blue: reserved for vehicles displaying a valid disabled person placard or plate. Any qualifying driver may use them; they aren’t assigned to individuals.
Blue-zone violations are in a different category from every other curb color. California Vehicle Code 22507.8 prohibits parking in a disabled space or on the crosshatched access lines next to one without a valid placard, and the fine runs several hundred dollars.6California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 22507.8
Meter Rates and Hours by District
Long Beach meters vary by neighborhood. The rate and enforcement window depend on which district you’re in.
- Downtown Core: $1.50 per hour, enforced 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily, including holidays.
- Downtown (outer): $1.00 per hour, enforced 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Saturday. Sundays and holidays are free.
- Belmont Shore (2nd Street): $1.75 per hour, enforced 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily except holidays.
Meters accept coins, credit cards, and mobile payment, and you can add time up to two hours before enforcement begins.7City of Long Beach. Parking Meters Pay at 7:00 AM to hold a spot before the 9:00 AM window kicks in.
Re-feeding is citable. Once you’ve hit the meter’s posted maximum, you cannot drop more coins in the same meter to buy another block of time. You have to move the car to a different block. The rule exists to force turnover, and enforcement treats a re-fed meter the same as an expired one.
Residential Permits
If you live in one of Long Beach’s preferential parking districts, a residential permit lets you park on your block past the posted time limits that apply to everyone else. The annual fee is $34.00 per vehicle, prorated by quarter for applications filed after March. Guest permits cost the same. Temporary permits are free.8City of Long Beach. Preferential Parking Permits
You’ll need proof of residency and proof of vehicle ownership. A California registration showing your address inside the district handles both. If your registration lists a different address, add a driver’s license or utility bill showing you live in the district.
Applications can be filed online through the city’s Parking Permits Portal, mailed to Parking Citations at PO Box 22766, Long Beach, CA 90801-5766, or submitted in person at City Hall, 411 W. Ocean Blvd, lobby level. The program is administered by the Parking Citations division; questions go to 562-570-6822.
Tow and Storage Costs
When a violation escalates to a tow, the numbers add up quickly. The city’s fee schedule, effective October 2025:9City of Long Beach. Towing Fees and Charges
- Basic tow for most passenger vehicles under 9,000 lbs: $255 per hour, prorated beyond the first hour.
- Daily storage for vehicles 20 feet or shorter: $83 per day.
- Daily storage for vehicles over 20 feet: $102 per day.
Storage starts accruing the day of the tow. A car towed on Friday and picked up Monday carries three days of storage on top of the tow fee, and the original citation is still outstanding. A weekend delay on a sweeping or 72-hour tow can easily push the total past $500. Handling the ticket before it becomes a tow is almost always cheaper.
Appealing a Citation
California gives you a written appeals process with hard deadlines. Miss one and the case is closed.
The first step is an initial review, requested in writing within 21 calendar days of the citation, or within 14 days of a delinquent notice if you missed the first window. You can’t do it by phone alone; the appeal and your reasons have to be submitted in writing.10Citation Processing Center. Appeal FAQ
If the initial review denies your appeal, you have 21 days to request an administrative hearing. You have to deposit the full penalty amount before the hearing is held. You get it back if you win. The hearing is run by an independent hearing officer, not the person who denied the initial review.
If the hearing officer rules against you, the last option is filing in superior court within 30 days of the decision. The court filing fee is $25.
EV Charging Spaces
Public charging spaces in Long Beach aren’t ordinary parking spots, and the rules catch drivers who assume they are. City-owned ChargePoint stations charge idle fees once your car stops drawing power: $1 per hour after 60 minutes at Level 2 chargers, and $1 per hour after 10 minutes at Level 3 DC fast chargers. If the station sits inside a city lot or garage, the posted parking fee applies on top, capped at $30 per session. These are charge-and-leave spaces. Sitting past a full battery costs money.