Where to Pay Your Santa Monica Parking Ticket
You can pay a Santa Monica parking ticket online through the city's parking citation website, by mail, or in person at the Santa Monica Parking Violations Bureau. The online option is fastest — you'll need your citation number and the license plate number, and payment processes when ready. If you prefer not to pay online, you can mail a check or money order to the address printed on your ticket, or walk into the Parking Violations Bureau during business hours with cash, check, or card.
The city does not accept payment over the phone. If your ticket was issued by a parking enforcement officer, the citation number appears in the upper right corner of the ticket itself. If you've lost the physical ticket, you can look up your citation online using your license plate number before paying.
Key Takeaways
- Pay online at the Santa Monica parking citation website using your citation number and license plate — this is the fastest method and takes a few minutes.
- Mail payments should include a check or money order and be sent to the address on your ticket; allow two weeks for processing.
- In-person payment at the Parking Violations Bureau accepts cash, check, or card and is processed the same day.
- If you cannot locate your citation number, you can search for your ticket online using your vehicle's license plate.
- Unpaid tickets accrue late fees and can result in a hold on vehicle registration renewal, so paying within the initial important date avoids additional costs.
Paying Online Through the City Website
The Santa Monica parking citation payment portal is the most direct route. Go to the city's official parking violations website and select the option to pay a citation. You'll enter your citation number (the eight-digit code on your ticket) and your license plate number. The system will pull up your ticket details, show the amount due, and let you pay by debit or credit card.
Payment is processed when ready, and you'll receive a confirmation number on screen. Take a screenshot or write down this confirmation number — it serves as your proof of payment. The city will send an email confirmation to the address on file, though this can take a few hours. If you don't receive an email within 24 hours, log back into the portal and search for your citation to confirm the payment went through.
The online system is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is no additional fee for paying online beyond the ticket amount itself.
Mailing a Check or Money Order
If you prefer to mail your payment, write a check or money order for the full amount shown on your ticket. Include a note with your citation number, license plate number, and vehicle description. Mail everything to the address printed on the back of your ticket — this is the Parking Violations Bureau's mailing address.
The city processes mailed payments within two weeks of receipt. During this time, your ticket will still show as unpaid in the system, so do not be alarmed if you see a late fee notice before your check clears. Keep a copy of your cancelled check or money order receipt as proof of payment. If you're concerned about timing, consider paying online or in person instead.
Paying in Person at the Parking Violations Bureau
The Santa Monica Parking Violations Bureau is located at 200 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401. They accept cash, checks, and debit or credit cards. Hours are typically Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., though you should confirm current hours on the city website before making the trip, as hours occasionally change.
Bring your ticket with you or have your citation number and license plate ready. Payment is processed on the spot, and you'll receive a receipt when ready. This is the best option if you want same-day confirmation and a physical receipt in hand.
What Happens If You Miss the Payment important date
Santa Monica parking tickets have an initial payment important date printed on the ticket itself, usually 21 days from the date of issue. If you do not pay by this date, a late fee is added to your balance. The amount of the late fee varies depending on the original ticket amount, but it typically ranges from $10 to $50 or more.
If your ticket remains unpaid for several months, the city may place a hold on your vehicle registration renewal. This means you cannot renew your registration until the ticket is paid. You can still pay the ticket at any time — there is no cutoff date — but the longer you wait, the more fees accumulate. If you believe the ticket was issued in error, you have the option to contest it before the initial important date, though this requires a separate process through the city's citation review system.
If You Cannot Find Your Citation Number
If you've misplaced your ticket or cannot locate the citation number, you can search for it online using your license plate number. Visit the Santa Monica parking citation website and select the option to look up a citation by plate number. Enter your vehicle's license plate and the approximate date the ticket was issued. The system will display any outstanding citations associated with that plate.
Once you've located your citation number, you can proceed with payment using any of the methods described above. If the online search does not return results, contact the Parking Violations Bureau directly by phone or visit in person with your driver's license and vehicle registration — staff can look up your ticket manually.
Payment Plans and Hardship Options
Santa Monica does not currently offer formal payment plans for parking tickets through the standard payment system. However, if you are experiencing financial hardship, you may be able to request a reduction or discuss options by contacting the Parking Violations Bureau directly. Call the bureau or visit in person to explain your situation — staff can sometimes work with you on timing or refer you to other resources.
Contesting a ticket is a separate process from payment. If you believe the ticket was issued incorrectly — for example, if the sign was obscured, the meter was broken, or you were parked legally — you can request a hearing to contest it. This must be done before the initial payment important date. The ticket itself will include instructions for requesting a hearing or contesting the citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay a Santa Monica parking ticket by phone?
No, the city does not accept phone payments for parking tickets. You must pay online, by mail, or in person at the Parking Violations Bureau. Online payment is the fastest option and takes only a few minutes.
What if I paid my ticket but still see it listed as unpaid?
If you paid online or in person, the system usually updates within a few hours. If you mailed a check, allow two weeks for processing. If more than two weeks have passed since you mailed payment and the ticket still shows as unpaid, contact the Parking Violations Bureau with your cancelled check or money order receipt as proof.
Will paying my ticket stop the late fees from growing?
Yes. Late fees are only added if the ticket remains unpaid past the initial important date. Once you pay, no additional fees accrue. If you've already incurred a late fee, that amount is included in what you owe, but paying now stops any further increases.
Can I dispute a parking ticket instead of paying it?
Yes, you can request a hearing to contest the ticket, but you must do so before the initial payment important date printed on your ticket. The ticket includes instructions for requesting a hearing. If you miss this important date and pay the ticket, you generally cannot dispute it afterward.
What happens if I ignore a Santa Monica parking ticket?
Unpaid tickets accumulate late fees and eventually result in a hold on your vehicle registration renewal. You will not be able to renew your registration until the ticket is paid. The ticket does not expire — you can pay it at any time, but the longer you wait, the more fees add up.