How Much Is a Parking Ticket in San Diego?

Parking tickets in San Diego range from $36 to $65. An expired meter costs $48. The most expensive violation is no stopping zone at $65. Late penalties add 50% after 30 days.

Quick Answer

The most common parking ticket in San Diego is expired meter at $48. The most expensive is no stopping zone at $65.

All Parking Fine Amounts in San Diego

Violation	Fine	Late Fee (30+ days)	Notes
No Stopping Zone	$65	$98	Vehicle stopped for any reason in a no-stopping zone
No Parking Zone	$64	$96	Parked in a signed no-parking area
Crosswalk	$64	$96	Parked within a marked crosswalk or within 20 feet of one
Fire Hydrant	$63	$95	Parked within 15 feet (or local requirement) of a fire hydrant
Overtime Parking	$60	$90	Exceeded posted time limit in a time-restricted zone
Bus Lane / Bus Stop	$60	$90	Parked or stopped in a designated bus lane or bus stop
Snow Emergency	$60	$90	Parked on a snow emergency route during a declared snow emergency
Unpaid Meter	$60	$90	Failed to pay any amount at a metered space
Double Parked	$59	$89	Parked alongside another vehicle already at the curb
Wrong Direction	$59	$89	Parked facing against the direction of traffic
Too Close to Intersection	$57	$86	Parked within 20-30 feet of an intersection (varies by city)
Bike Lane	$56	$84	Parked or stopped in a designated bicycle lane
Sidewalk	$56	$84	Vehicle parked on or blocking a sidewalk
Fire Lane	$55	$83	Parked in a designated fire lane
Blocking Driveway	$55	$83	Parked across or blocking a private driveway
Residential Permit Zone	$54	$81	Parked in a permit zone without a valid residential permit
Street Cleaning Violation	$53	$80	Parked during posted street sweeping hours
Expired Meter	$48	$72	Time on a metered space has expired
School Zone	$48	$72	Parked in a school zone during restricted hours
Commercial Zone	$44	$66	Non-commercial vehicle parked in a commercial loading zone
No Standing Zone	$42	$63	Vehicle stopped in a no-standing zone (driver present or not)
Handicap Zone	$41	$62	Parked in an accessible space without a valid placard or plate
Too Far from Curb	$38	$57	Parked more than 12-18 inches from the curb (varies by city)
Expired Registration	$36	$54	Vehicle parked on public street with expired registration

Fine amounts based on published municipal fee schedules. Amounts may change. Always verify with official city sources.

Late Penalties

Unpaid parking tickets in San Diego increase by approximately 50% after 30 days and may double after 60 days. After 90 days, additional administrative fees and collections referral may apply.

What Happens If You Don't Pay

What happens after an unpaid parking ticket in San Diego:

Initial citation

Day 0

Base fine amount due

Late penalty

+30 days

Fine increases 50-100% (varies by city)

Second notice

+60 days

Additional administrative fee ($10-25)

Collections referral

+90 days

Sent to collections agency; may affect credit

Registration hold

+120 days

DMV hold — cannot renew vehicle registration

Boot/tow eligible

+150 days

Vehicle subject to booting or towing at owner expense

Judgment

+180 days

Court judgment; wage garnishment possible in some jurisdictions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most expensive parking ticket in San Diego?

The most expensive parking violation in San Diego is no stopping zone at $65. With late penalties, this can reach $98 after 30 days and $130 after 60 days.

How much does an expired meter ticket cost in San Diego?

An expired meter ticket in San Diego costs $48. If unpaid for 30 days, the fine increases by approximately 50%.

Do parking ticket fines double in San Diego?

Yes. In most cases, unpaid parking tickets in San Diego increase by 50% after 30 days and may double after 60 days. After 90 days, additional administrative fees and collections referral may apply.

Want to contest a ticket? You have 21 days. How to fight a parking ticket in San Diego

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