Palm Springs, CA Parking Rules: Dibs & Space Saving (2026)

The practice of saving shoveled-out parking spaces with chairs, cones, or other markers, known as 'dibs' in Chicago and 'space savers' in Boston, has no application in Palm Springs. The city sits in the Sonoran Desert with average January highs near 70°F and receives essentially no measurable snow. Even if such a custom existed, it would violate Palm Springs Municipal Code Chapter 12 and California Vehicle Code provisions against obstructing public streets and rights-of-way. Placing furniture, cones, trash cans, ladders, or other objects in the roadway or parking lane to reserve a space is prohibited and subject to citation and removal by the city. Public on-street parking in Palm Springs is first-come, first-served, with no private reservation rights, even in front of your own home. Residents who need dedicated guest or event parking should use their driveway, arrange off-street private parking, or obtain a temporary street-use/encroachment permit from the Engineering Division for legitimate activities such as moving trucks, weddings, or construction staging. Short-term rental hosts may not reserve street space for their guests. Commercial establishments may apply for valet zones through the city's valet permit program. Disputes between neighbors over street parking have no legal remedy based on proximity to a residence; public streets are public.