Unscripted DC
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DC Parking
Street cleaning in DC is enforced whether or not the sweeper actually passes your car. The ticket comes first. Here’s exactly how the schedule works, when enforcement is active, and how to never get caught by it again.
Street cleaning tickets are one of the most common ways DC drivers lose money — not because the rules are complicated, but because people forget. You’ve been parking in the same spot for weeks without a problem and then one Tuesday morning you come back to a $45 ticket. The sweeper may not have even come through. It doesn’t matter.
Here’s everything you need to know to never get caught by this again.
When Street Cleaning Is Enforced in DC
Season: March 1 through October 31. Street cleaning enforcement is suspended November through February.
Hours: Vary by block — most windows are 9:30–11:30am or 12:30–2:30pm, but check your specific sign.
Days: Vary by block — could be weekly or biweekly on any day of the week.
Federal holidays: Street cleaning is suspended on federal holidays. Check DC DPW for the current holiday schedule each year.
How to Find Your Street Cleaning Schedule
There is no single citywide lookup tool that’s reliably accurate. The most accurate source is always the sign posted on your specific block.
Read the sign — all of it
DC parking signs stack multiple rules on one pole. Look for the sign that says “No Parking — Street Cleaning” and note the exact day, time window, and any exceptions. Don’t assume — read it.
Check both sides of the street
Street cleaning often runs on different days for each side of the street. The sign on your side is the only one that matters for your car.
DC311 app
The DC311 app allows you to look up street cleaning schedules by address. It’s not always up to date, but it’s a useful second check after reading the sign.
DC DPW website
The DC Department of Public Works website has schedule information, but neighborhood-level accuracy varies. Use the sign as your primary source.
What Street Cleaning Tickets Cost
A standard street cleaning violation in DC is $45. That fine doubles to $90 if unpaid after 30 days. Multiple violations on the same vehicle can eventually trigger booting — see our DC towing rules guide for how that escalates.
The fine is the same whether the sweeper came through or not. The fine is the same whether your car was parked there for 5 minutes or 5 hours during the window. Pay it or contest it within 30 days — don’t let it sit.
To pay: dmv.dc.gov/service/pay-tickets or call (866) 893-5023. Full details in our guide to paying a DC parking ticket.
How to Never Get a Street Cleaning Ticket Again
Set a recurring phone reminder
The moment you learn your street’s cleaning day and time, set a recurring weekly alarm on your phone for 30 minutes before the window starts. This one habit eliminates the ticket entirely.
Move your car the night before
If your cleaning window is Tuesday morning, move your car Monday evening. You won’t be rushing at 9am and you won’t forget.
Watch for temporary signs
Construction, events, and emergencies generate temporary “No Parking” signs that can appear on any block with little notice. These override all other parking permissions — including your regular street cleaning knowledge. Always do a final visual scan of your block before walking away.
Know when March 1 hits
This is the single biggest source of street cleaning tickets in DC. Drivers who’ve been parking freely all winter forget that enforcement resumes on March 1. Put it in your calendar now.
Use SpotAngels
The SpotAngels app shows street cleaning rules filtered by day and time. If you’re parking somewhere unfamiliar, check it before you walk away from your car.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does DC enforce street cleaning if the sweeper doesn’t come?
Yes. Enforcement officers ticket independently of the sweeper schedule. Your car can be ticketed even if no sweeper ever passes.
Is street cleaning enforced on holidays?
No — street cleaning is suspended on federal holidays. But verify with the DC DPW holiday schedule each year, as the list of observed holidays can vary.
When does street cleaning season start and end?
March 1 through October 31. Enforcement is suspended November 1 through February 28.
What if I moved my car 10 minutes after the window started?
If an officer already ticketed your car, the ticket stands. There’s no grace period and moving the car after the fact doesn’t void an issued ticket.
Can I contest a street cleaning ticket?
Yes — if the sign was missing, obscured, or the ticket information is factually wrong. “I forgot” and “the sweeper didn’t come” are not valid defenses. Contest through DC DMV at dmv.dc.gov.
Do both sides of the street have the same cleaning schedule?
Not necessarily. Each side of the street can have a different day and time window. Read the sign on your specific side.
Quick Reference
| Topic | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Season | March 1 – October 31 |
| Typical hours | 9:30–11:30am or 12:30–2:30pm (varies by block) |
| Fine | $45 (doubles after 30 days) |
| Holidays | Enforcement suspended on federal holidays |
| Sweeper no-show | Doesn’t matter — tickets issued regardless |
| Find your schedule | Read the sign on your specific block |
| Pay a ticket | dmv.dc.gov or (866) 893-5023 |
| Spring trap | March 1 catches people every year — set a reminder |
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