Have you ever woken up in a cold sweat, filled with anxiety that you missed street sweeping in Los Angeles, again? Whether you’ve racked up a number of street sweeping tickets already or just want to avoid them and keep your budget intact, it’s important to be aware of street cleaning Los Angeles times and dates. Whether you live, work, or hang out in downtown, Koreatown, Hollywood, or elsewhere, you want to arm yourself with knowledge and be prepared to avoid those pesky tickets. Read on to learn more about how to prepare for street sweeping in Los Angeles as well as Los Angeles street sweeping holidays.
How does street cleaning in Los Angeles work?
Street cleaning in Los Angeles is managed by the Public Works department of Los Angeles County. According to the Bureau of Street Services in Los Angeles, there are 4,700 curb miles that have restricted parking areas in order to maintain street cleaning.
The street sweeping process effectively removes trash and various types of pollutants from the streets, making areas of the city cleaner and more hygienic. Plus, it helps unwanted materials from getting into the storm drains and ultimately in the ocean. Given that LA’s beaches are one of the top perks of the city, it’s a win-win and a much-needed service.
In Los Angeles, some areas have specific signs that denote when street sweeping is and that you shouldn’t park there. It can be a bit confusing as in other areas there aren’t signs but are still designated street sweeping times. That’s why it’s key to review the street sweeping map for your area (more on that later).
Many areas have 1 to 2-hour blocks of time where you’re unable to park there due to street cleaning.
If you don’t end up moving your car in time for street cleaning, you may get hit with a ticket and have to pay a fine.
When is street cleaning in my area?
If you’re an LA resident, you want to know when street cleaning is happening in your area. The first thing to note is that as of May 1, 2021, the street sweeping schedule in Los Angeles changed to twice a month in residential areas, however many major streets still have street cleaning once a week.
To check the street cleaning schedule in Los Angeles, you can look at the Los Angeles map here.
Source/credit: LA County Department of Public Works website
You can also review this calendar by the Bureau of Street Services to see the 2021 Los Angeles street sweeping schedule. You can also view this Los Angeles County Public Works Residential Street Sweeping Calendar for 2021 all the way up until 2026.
You can also check out this street sweeping routes in Los Angeles map. Additionally, you can check out specific addresses here and even sign up for notifications in your area about street cleaning.
How much is a street cleaning ticket in Los Angeles?
Getting a street cleaning ticket in Los Angeles isn’t exactly cheap at $73 a pop. That means every time you miss street sweeping and don’t move your car, you could get hit with a $73 ticket. If you get a ticket every few months, that’s several hundred dollars a year.
What are the Los Angeles street sweeping holidays?
There are certain Los Angeles street sweeping holidays that can offer you a break from having to move your car. According to the Public Works of LA County website, the following are observed holidays:
- New Year Day* – January 1
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Third Monday in January
- President’s Day – Third Monday in February
- Memorial Day – Last Monday in May
- Cesar Chavez Day – Last Monday in March
- Independence Day* – July 4
- Labor Day – First Monday in September
- Indigenous People Day – Second Monday in October
- Veteran’s Day – November 11
- Thanksgiving Day – Fourth Thursday in November
- Day After Thanksgiving – Fourth Friday in November
- Christmas Day* – December 25
The asterisks refer to when the holidays are observed based on the day they fall on. The holidays with asterisks that occur on a Saturday are observed on the previous Friday. If it happens to fall on a Sunday, the holiday is observed on the Monday after.
How to avoid getting street cleaning tickets in Los Angeles?
Getting a street cleaning ticket is no one’s idea of a good time and can turn a perfectly fine day into an annoying one. If you want to avoid street cleaning tickets in Los Angeles, you can:
- Put calendar reminders in your phone
- Sign-up for street sweeping notifications
- Use the Metromile app to get alerts about street sweeping in your area. Metromile customers get the added benefit of getting text, email, or push notifications about street sweeping 12 hours ahead of time and also 1 hour ahead, to make sure you move that car and avoid that ticket! Metromile has your back and uses local data to ensure you’re alerted when the street sweeper is on its way. As a customer, you get to pay for only the miles you drive plus a low base rate and get reminders for street sweeping to keep money in your pocket.
Is it okay to park after the street sweeper passes?
If you’re waiting until the street sweeper passes to move your car back, you might want to think again. According to the Public Works site, a parking enforcement officer is within their rights to give you a citation during the no parking period whether the street sweeper has passed or not. The best way to avoid a street sweeping ticket in Los Angeles is to not park during the restricted hours.
The bottom line
If you live in the City of Angels, you’re well aware of the importance of becoming fluent in reading parking signs and understanding when street sweeping in Los Angeles occurs. The street sweepers come and the officers can be ruthless, so you want to do your part to avoid a ticket and move your car on time. Using Metromile, you can get alerts without all the hassle and also may get more affordable coverage depending on how much you drive. Get a free quote today and consider making the switch.
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Melanie Lockert is a freelance writer, podcast host of the Mental Health and Wealth show, and author of Dear Debt. She’s a cat mom to two jazzy cats, Miles and Thelonious, an amateur boxer, music lover, and needs coffee to function.