San Jose Municipal Code Chapter 11.36 governs on-street parking. Residential streets are swept once per month on a posted day; high-traffic and downtown streets are swept 2–4 times per month between 2:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Vehicles parked in posted no-parking zones during sweeping receive a citation, and tow-zone violators are towed.
On-street parking restrictions in San Jose are codified in SJMC Title 11 (Vehicles and Traffic), particularly Chapter 11.36 (Stopping, Standing, and Parking). Section 11.36.190 addresses street-cleaning and construction parking restrictions, authorizing the Department of Transportation to post no-parking signs on designated streets during specified sweep windows. Residential street sweeping runs once per month — every street has a fixed day of the month (for example, 'second Tuesday') and a fixed time window. Higher-traffic streets in commercial and downtown corridors are swept 2 to 4 times per month, generally between 2:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Look up your address at the City Collection Day Look-Up to find the exact day and hours. Parking enforcement officers patrol routes at the posted times; vehicles in marked sweep zones are cited under SJMC 11.36.190. Streets marked with red 'Tow-Away' signs allow the vehicle to be impounded under SJMC 11.36.430. Residents can request street-sweep route changes through the Department of Transportation, but signage and route changes go through formal Council action and posted public notice.
Citations for parking during posted sweep hours start at the standard San Jose street-cleaning fine and escalate for repeat offenses. Vehicles in posted tow-away zones during sweep windows can be towed at owner expense under SJMC 11.36.430. Permanent posted signs apply year-round; temporary signs (for paving or special events) must be posted at least 72 hours in advance under California Vehicle Code §22651(n).
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