Did I Park Right How long can a car stay parked on the street?
A car can stay parked on the street for 72 hours in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle. In Chicago, a car unmoved for over 7 days and apparently deserted counts as abandoned. Posted signs can be stricter, and a permit may not exempt you. Enter your city and when you parked to get your move-by time.
City codes and parking pages · Checked Oct 30, 2026
Does moving it a little count?
It depends on the city, and few say exactly. Seattle says to move off the blockface. San Francisco says another parking spot. San Diego resets the clock if the car moves more than 1/10 of a mile. If your city doesn’t say, move it to a different block. Rolling it a few feet may not count.
New York City
Our list has no hours limit for New York because we didn’t find a single citywide one on an official page. On most residential blocks the practical limit is street cleaning: check your block’s hours and when you next have to move.
New York: the practical limit is the street-cleaning sign.
Going away?
Seattle’s advice works anywhere: find off-street parking, or leave your keys with a trusted neighbor who can move it. Check your block for temporary signs before you leave, since they may go up after you park. If it’ll sit for weeks, read what to do for a car that sits.
In summer, a car in the sun gets hot fast. See how hot a parked car gets before you leave anything in it.
Limits by city
General rules. Posted signs can be stricter.
| City | Limit | The rule |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 72 hours | Unlawful to leave a vehicle on a street or alley for 72 or more consecutive hours (LAMC 80.73.2). |
| San Francisco | 72 hours | Up to 72 hours in the same spot, even with a residential permit or disabled placard. You must move to another spot. |
| San Diego | 72 hours | No more than 72 hours in one place (SDMC 86.0118). The clock resets if the car moves more than 1/10 of a mile. |
| Seattle | 72 hours | No more than 72 consecutive hours on the same block, signs or no signs. Move off the blockface. |
| Chicago | 7 days | A car unmoved for more than 7 days and apparently deserted counts as abandoned ($75 per offense · MCC 9-80-110). |
These are general rules. Posted signs, street cleaning and permits can all be stricter. Other cities: check your city code.
How long it’s been parked
Where Did I Park shows how long ago you parked, so you don’t have to work it out. Free on iPhone. About the app
What to do next
Quick answers
How long can a car be parked on a residential street?
Often 72 hours, as in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle. It varies by city, and posted signs come first.
Can I leave my car parked on the street for a week?
Not in cities with a 72-hour limit. In Chicago, a car unmoved for more than 7 days and apparently deserted counts as abandoned.
Does a residential permit let me park longer?
Not in San Francisco, which says the 72-hour rule applies even with a residential permit. Check your own city.
Sources: Seattle — 72-hour ordinance · SFMTA — 72-hour rule · San Diego — Enforcement · Chicago — Abandoned vehicles · Los Angeles Municipal Code 80.73.2
Reviewed : limits re-read from each city’s page. LA from the code text · how we check · report an error