Question

What are the alternate side parking rules in NYC?

In NYC, Alternate Side Parking (ASP) rules require moving your car twice a week for street cleaning. You cannot park on the side being cleaned; move to the opposite side and switch back once the cleaning ends

It’s hard enough finding parking in NYC without the added burden of parking rules and regulations. Of all of them, NYC Alternate Side Parking (ASP) is one of the hardest to navigate. Here’s the most important information you need to have.

NYC Alternate Side Parking refers to the clearing of parked vehicles from specific streets to allow the Department of Sanitation to conduct its regular street-cleaning operations. This happens once or twice a week in all neighborhoods across all NYC boroughs. It’s common to see NYC street sweepers spraying water and cleaning the streets with a rotating broom-and-vacuum system.
Since the Department of Transportation oversees it, those who violate the schedule are often slapped with a hefty NYC alternate side parking ticket!

• The law is in effect year-round. It is only suspended for holidays or certain specified events.
• The ASP signs are posted on all affected streets with the scheduled street-sweeping times.
• It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure their vehicles are on the correct side of the street. If they violate this rule, the cars could be towed or fined. 
• Most visitors are often confused by the ASP regulations and instead prefer to park in off-site garages or opt for valet parking to avoid the hassle.
• Even the most experienced NYC residents have fallen victim to NYC ASP parking tickets – mostly because of working late or oversleeping, which causes them to leave a car for too long on the wrong side of the street.
• Street cleaning usually runs like clockwork – so don’t count on street sweepers not turning up! If you’ve parked overnight or on days when street cleaning is scheduled, it’s much more convenient to move your car than to risk an NYC alternate-side parking ticket.
• NYC Street cleaning timings are clearly mentioned on most NYC parking signs – so you can’t excuse yourself by saying that you were unaware!