Where to pay your San Francisco parking ticket

San Francisco parking tickets can be paid online through the Department of Parking and Traffic (DPT) website, by mail, in person at a payment location, or by phone. The online method is fastest — you can pay within minutes using a credit or debit card, and you'll receive when ready confirmation. The city does not require you to pay before contesting a ticket, but paying stops late fees from accruing while you decide whether to challenge it.

The DPT processes payments Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time. If you pay online or by phone outside those hours, your payment is recorded with a timestamp from when you submitted it, not when staff process it. Mail payments take 7 to 10 business days to post to your account after arrival.

Key Takeaways

  • Online payment through the DPT website is the fastest method and requires only your citation number and license plate number.
  • Late fees begin 21 days after the ticket issue date, so paying or contesting before then stops additional charges.
  • You can pay by phone at (415) 701-2311, by mail to the address on your ticket, or in person at DPT offices in SoMa and the Civic Center.
  • Paying a ticket does not prevent you from contesting it later through the Department of Administrative Appeals.

Paying online through the DPT website

Go to sfgov.org/parkingtickets and enter your citation number (found at the top of your ticket) and license plate number. The system will pull up your ticket details and show the amount due. You can pay with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. The site accepts payments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and you'll receive a confirmation number when ready.

Keep your confirmation number for your records. The DPT will send an email receipt if you provide an email address during payment. If you do not receive an email within 24 hours, log back into the system and verify that your payment posted — sometimes email delivery is delayed but the payment has already been recorded.

Paying by phone or mail

To pay by phone, call (415) 701-2311 during business hours and have your citation number and a credit or debit card ready. The phone line is staffed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time. A staff member will confirm your ticket amount and process the payment over the phone.

To pay by mail, send a check or money order to the address printed on the back of your ticket, along with the ticket itself or a copy of it. Write your citation number on the check. Mail payments take longer to process — allow 7 to 10 business days for the payment to appear in the system. Do not send cash through the mail.

In-person payment locations

The DPT operates two payment windows in San Francisco. The main office is located at 25 Van Ness Avenue (at Market Street) in the Civic Center area. A second location is at 1 South Van Ness Avenue in SoMa. Both are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on city holidays.

Bring your ticket or citation number and a valid form of payment. The staff can accept cash, checks, credit cards, and debit cards. In-person payment is processed when ready, and you'll receive a receipt on the spot. This method is useful if you want to ask questions about your ticket or if you prefer not to pay online.

Understanding ticket amounts and late fees

Parking ticket fines in San Francisco range from $65 to $250 depending on the violation type. Meter violations and street-cleaning violations are typically $65 to $100. Parking in a red zone, disabled zone without a permit, or a fire hydrant zone ranges from $100 to $250. The exact amount is printed on your ticket.

A late fee of $50 is added 21 days after the ticket issue date if you have not paid or contested it. An additional $100 penalty is added if the ticket remains unpaid 60 days after issue. These fees stack, so a $65 original ticket can grow to $215 if left unpaid for two months. Paying or contesting before the 21-day mark stops late fees from being added.

What happens if you do not pay

Unpaid parking tickets in San Francisco can result in a hold on your vehicle registration renewal, a lien against your vehicle, or referral to a collection agency. The city may also boot your vehicle or arrange for it to be towed if you have multiple unpaid tickets. These enforcement actions typically begin after 60 days of non-payment.

If your vehicle is registered outside California, San Francisco may report the debt to credit bureaus or pursue collection through the courts. Unpaid tickets can also prevent you from renewing your driver's license in some cases. The fastest way to stop these actions is to pay the ticket or contact the DPT to set up a payment plan if you cannot pay in full.

Contesting a ticket after payment

Paying your ticket does not prevent you from contesting it. You can request a hearing with the Department of Administrative Appeals (DAA) within 30 days of the ticket issue date, regardless of whether you have already paid. If you win your appeal, the city will refund your payment.

To request a hearing, submit a written appeal to the DAA with your citation number, a description of why you believe the ticket was issued in error, and any supporting evidence (photos, witness statements, proof of a valid permit, etc.). You can submit your appeal online at sfgov.org/daa, by mail, or in person. The DAA will schedule a hearing, usually within 30 to 60 days, where you can present your case to a hearing officer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay a San Francisco parking ticket with a payment plan?

The DPT does not offer formal payment plans for parking tickets. You must pay the full amount or contest the ticket. If you are facing financial hardship, contact the DPT directly at (415) 701-2311 to discuss your situation — staff may be able to refer you to resources or explain your options.

What if I paid my ticket but it still shows as unpaid online?

Mail payments take 7 to 10 business days to post. If you paid online or by phone, check your confirmation number and allow 24 hours for the system to update. If more than 24 hours have passed and the ticket still shows unpaid, call (415) 701-2311 with your confirmation number to verify the payment was received.

Can I pay someone else's parking ticket?

Yes. You can pay online using the citation number and license plate number, or by mail or phone. The person whose name is on the ticket does not have to be present. Provide the citation number and payment method, and the payment will be credited to that ticket.

What if I lost my parking ticket?

You can still pay online if you know your license plate number and the approximate date you received the ticket. Go to sfgov.org/parkingtickets and search by plate number. If you cannot find it online, call (415) 701-2311 and provide your license plate number and the date of the violation — staff can look up the citation number for you.

Do I need to pay before I can contest a ticket?

No. You can request a hearing with the Department of Administrative Appeals within 30 days of the ticket issue date without paying first. However, paying stops late fees from accruing while your appeal is pending. If you win your appeal, any payment you made will be refunded.