DC parking status

Embed it on your site — free

Running a DC restaurant, venue, apartment building, or neighborhood site? Drop this on your directions or visit page so guests know what the curb rules are before they arrive. No account, no API key.

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How the DC parking status works

• Meters: paid 7 AM–10 PM Monday through Saturday in most zones; free on Sundays and on the District and federal holidays DDOT observes.
• Residential permit (RPP): non-residents are held to 2 hours on weekdays until 8:30 PM in posted zones.
• Rush-hour lanes: 7–9:30 AM and 4–6:30 PM on weekdays along corridors like 14th, 16th, and Connecticut — these are tow-away, not ticket-only.
• Street sweeping: posted weekday mornings, roughly March through October. It's the single most common ticket in DC's residential blocks.

Neighborhoods covered

Pick a neighborhood in the dropdown above for permit-zone and sweeping detail, or read the full block-by-block guide:

• Adams MorganZone 1 · 18th Street NW, Columbia Road NW
• U Street CorridorZone 1 · 14th Street NW, U Street NW
• GeorgetownZone 2 · M Street NW, Wisconsin Avenue NW

Common DC parking mistakes this catches

• "It's Sunday, so meters are free." True for meters, but RPP, rush-hour, and sweeping restrictions still apply where posted.
• "I paid the meter, so I'm good." A paid meter does not override a rush-hour tow lane or a temporary no-parking sign.
• "I'll just move every 2 hours." On RPP blocks, you cannot feed the meter to reset the 2-hour clock for non-residents.
• "Street sweeping is only in spring." Many DC blocks post March–October sweeping seasons; the first week back is ticket season.

How DC parking enforcement actually works

Washington, DC enforcement is split across agencies, and each one writes a different kind of ticket. Knowing who is looking at your car explains why a block can be safe at 9 AM and towed at 4:05 PM.

Who writes DC parking tickets

• DPW parking enforcement: the bulk of routine citations — expired meters, RPP overstays, street sweeping, blocking alleys and driveways. These officers walk residential and commercial corridors on repeating routes, which is why the same block gets hit at roughly the same time each week.
• DDOT: owns the signs, meter hours, holiday schedule, and temporary emergency no-parking postings for construction, moving trucks, and events.
• MPD: handles safety and obstruction violations — hydrants, crosswalks, bus stops, bike lanes, and rush-hour tow lanes.
• Automated cameras: issue moving violations (speed, red light, stop sign, bus lane) by mail. These are not parking tickets, but they land in the same DMV account and the same late-penalty structure.

The four restriction clocks

Swipe table →

These are DC's citywide defaults. A posted sign on your block always overrides them — including signs that read "including Sundays and holidays."

Why holidays are the biggest trap

On DDOT-observed holidays, meters are free and RPP limits are generally not enforced — but street sweeping suspension, rush-hour lanes, and safety violations do not follow the same calendar, and federal holidays are not automatically DC holidays. A "free parking" day is a meter rule, not a blanket amnesty. That gap is where most visitor tickets come from, and it's why this tool reports each clock separately instead of showing one green light.

DC parking terms, decoded

RPP

Residential Permit Parking. Blocks reserved for residents with a zone sticker; everyone else gets 2 hours during posted hours.

Ward vs. zone

DC has 8 wards and 8 matching RPP zones. Your sticker is valid only in your zone, and adjacent neighborhoods often sit in different zones just across an intersection.

Emergency no parking

Temporary orange or paper signs for construction, film shoots, moving trucks, and events. They outrank the meter you just paid, and they are a tow, not a warning.

Enhanced penalty zone

Corridors where fines are elevated to keep travel lanes and bus lanes clear during peak hours.

What to check before you walk away

1. Read every sign on the pole, top to bottom — the most restrictive one wins.
2. Look for a sweeping sign on the curb side you parked on, not the opposite side.
3. Check whether the block is an RPP zone and whether you're inside posted hours.
4. Scan 30 feet ahead and behind for temporary emergency no-parking postings.
5. Confirm you're clear of hydrants, crosswalks, alley aprons, and bus stops.

Got a ticket anyway? Read the DC parking tickets guide for current fine amounts and how to contest one, or the is parking free in DC today holiday breakdown.

FAQ

Does this show open parking spaces in DC?

No. It shows whether parking enforcement is active right now in Washington, DC — meter hours, residential permit time limits, rush-hour tow lanes, and street sweeping windows. It does not show real-time space availability.

How is the DC parking status calculated?

From DC's citywide posted rules and the current Eastern Time clock: meters are paid 7 AM to 10 PM Monday through Saturday and free on Sundays and DDOT-observed holidays; residential permit zones are time-limited on weekdays until 8:30 PM; rush-hour lanes run 7-9:30 AM and 4-6:30 PM on weekdays; street sweeping is posted on weekday mornings, roughly March through October.

Can I put the DC parking status widget on my website?

Yes. The widget is free to embed on any Washington, DC neighborhood, venue, restaurant, or business website. Copy the iframe snippet on this page — no account or API key needed.

Is the widget accurate for my exact block?

The widget reflects citywide defaults, not block-level signs. Some blocks carry signs that say 'including Sundays and holidays,' and those override the general rule. The posted sign always wins.

What does 'enforcement active' mean?

It means at least one posted parking restriction is currently in effect for the selected area — meter payment required, RPP time limits applying, rush-hour tow lanes active, or a street sweeping window open. It does not guarantee you will be ticketed, but it does mean you should read the pole before leaving your car.

Can I use this for DC visitor parking?

Yes. The tool is built for DC drivers, visitors, and businesses who need a quick answer before walking away from the curb. For block-level nuance, follow the link to the neighborhood guide.

Is parking free in DC on Sundays?

Metered parking is free citywide on Sundays, and residential permit (RPP) time limits are not enforced on Sundays either. The exceptions are blocks with signs that explicitly say 'including Sundays,' plus rules that never pause — no-parking zones, bus zones, fire hydrants, loading zones, and special-event restrictions.

What time do DC parking meters stop?

Most DC meters stop at 10 PM, Monday through Saturday, and start at 7 AM. A minority of blocks post shorter windows such as 7 AM to 6:30 PM. After the posted end time you can stay at the meter without paying, but any separate time-limit or street-sweeping sign on the same pole still applies.

Is parking free in DC on holidays?

On DDOT-observed holidays meters are free and RPP limits are suspended — New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus/Indigenous Peoples' Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. DC Emancipation Day (April 16) is a DC holiday too. Inauguration Day and major events add temporary restrictions instead of removing them.

How much is a DC parking ticket if I get this wrong?

Common DC parking fines run $30 for an expired meter, $50 for overtime in a residential permit zone, $65 for a street-sweeping violation, and $100 or more plus towing for parking in an active rush-hour lane. Fines double if unpaid after 30 days.

Does the status update automatically?

Yes. The status recalculates from the current Eastern Time clock each time the page or embedded widget loads, and it keeps refreshing while the page stays open, so an embedded copy is accurate without any maintenance on your side.