Guide · 8 min read
DC Parking Meters: Hours, Rates & How to Pay
Updated October 2026 · Sources: DC.gov, ParkDC, DPW.
The short answer
DC parking meters run 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM or 10:00 PM (depending on the block), Monday through Saturday. They are free on Sundays and on District holidays. You pay by license plate — at the block kiosk or in the ParkMobile app — and the posted time limit (usually 2 hours) applies no matter how much you pay.
The expired-meter ticket is $30, and meter tickets are among the most-issued parking citations in the District — not because drivers refuse to pay, but because they misread the hours, the time limit, or the second sign on the pole.
Meter hours: when you actually have to pay
Enforcement starts at 7 AM, Mon–Sat and ends at either 6:30 PM or 10 PM depending on the block. Three wrinkles catch people:
- Saturday is a paid day. It feels like the weekend, but meters in commercial corridors run their full hours. Sunday is the free one.
- Some blocks run later. Nightlife corridors and premium-demand zones can post extended hours. The sign on your block beats the citywide default.
- "Free after meter hours" only means the meter. RPP limits, rush-hour lanes, and no-standing rules have their own clocks and can run later.
For the full holiday list and the Sunday/Saturday breakdown, see is parking free in DC today.
How to pay: kiosks and ParkMobile
DC is pay-by-plate almost everywhere. There is no receipt to put on your dashboard — enforcement reads your plate.
- Find the zone number on the sign or meter — a short code posted on the block.
- Pay at the block kiosk (card or coin) or in the ParkMobile app with the zone number.
- Enter your license plate exactly. A typo'd plate reads as unpaid — this is one of the most common "I paid and still got a ticket" stories in DC.
- Set your own reminder. The app will not stop the ticket if you overstay; it only stops the meter from expiring.
The time limit is a separate rule
This is the single most-misread part of DC meter parking. A sign that says "2 Hour Parking 7 AM – 10 PM" means two things at once:
- You must pay during those hours, and
- You may occupy the space for at most 2 hours — feeding the meter or buying another session does not reset it.
Enforcement tracks this by plate and by chalk or plate-scan passes. If you need to stay longer, the legal move is to move the car to a different block — not to repay the same meter.
What the meter doesn't tell you
A paid meter makes you legal on one rule. The same curb can still be illegal because of:
- Rush-hour tow-away lanes — a paid meter does not protect you at 4:30 PM on Connecticut Ave NW.
- Street sweeping windows — day- and side-specific, and they override payment.
- RPP zone limits — on residential blocks the 2-hour permit rule can apply alongside or instead of a meter.
- Temporary emergency no-parking signs — posted for events and construction, and they beat everything.
Our guide to reading DC parking signs covers which sign wins when they conflict, and why DC signs conflict explains how the stacks end up that way.
Free tool
Which RPP zone am I in?
Look up DC Residential Permit Parking Zones 1–8 by neighborhood, with boundaries and the ticket traps on each zone's blocks.
If you do get the ticket
The expired-meter fine is $30 ($60 during Nationals Park events), and a penalty equal to the fine is added if it's unpaid after 30 days. Payment and contesting both run through the District's online ticket portal — our DC parking ticket guide walks through the deadlines and the defenses that actually work (a broken kiosk with a photo, a mis-entered plate with a ParkMobile receipt).
Key takeaways
- Meters run from 7 AM to 6:30 PM or 10 PM, Mon–Sat; free Sundays and holidays.
- Pay by plate at the kiosk or in ParkMobile — no dashboard receipt.
- The 2-hour time limit is separate from payment; re-paying doesn't reset it.
- A paid meter doesn't override rush-hour, sweeping, RPP, or emergency signs.
- Expired meter or overtime: $30 each, doubling after 30 days unpaid.
Want today's answer without reading the signs? Check the live DC parking status tool — it reads the current Eastern Time clock against meter, RPP, rush-hour, and sweeping rules.
FAQ
What time do parking meters start in DC?
DC parking meters are enforced Monday through Saturday starting at 7:00 AM. Most blocks end at 6:30 PM, while busier corridors run until 10:00 PM — the meter or sign on your block shows which. Outside those hours — and all day Sunday — the meter is free, though other posted restrictions on the same block still apply.
Are DC parking meters free on Sunday?
Yes. Metered street parking in Washington DC is free on Sundays and on observed District holidays. A small number of blocks post signs reading 'including Sundays and holidays,' and those override the general rule.
How much do DC parking meters cost?
Rates vary by area: the citywide standard is $2.30 per hour, though some special-event and high-demand blocks post different rates. The posted rate on the meter or the ParkMobile zone sign is the one that counts.
How do I pay a DC parking meter?
Nearly all DC meters are pay-by-plate: pay at the kiosk on the block or through the ParkMobile app using the zone number posted on the sign. Enter your license plate — there is no paper receipt to display on the dashboard.
What is the fine for an expired meter in DC?
An expired meter (failure to pay or a lapsed session) is a $30 ticket in DC, and overstaying the posted time limit is a separate $30 ticket. Fines rise during Nationals Park events, and any unpaid ticket picks up a penalty equal to the fine after 30 days.
Can I stay longer than the meter time limit if I keep paying?
No. The posted time limit — usually 2 hours — is a separate rule from payment. Paying for a third hour at a 2-hour meter still gets you a ticket — paying to extend past the limit is its own $20 violation, and overstaying is $30 — because the restriction is on how long the vehicle may occupy the space, not on whether you paid.
This guide is informational and reflects rules as published by official DC government sources and ParkDC as of October 2026. Posted signs and current District notices always take precedence.