What is Alternate Side Parking in NYC?

Alternate Side Parking (ASP) is a New York City street-cleaning rule. Posted signs tell you which side of the street you cannot park on during a short cleaning window — usually 90 minutes — once or twice a week. You move your car to the other side for that window, then move it back.

How long is the Alternate Side Parking window?

Most NYC ASP signs post a 90-minute window, for example 8:30 AM–10:00 AM or 11:00 AM–12:30 PM, on specific days like Mon/Tue or Thu/Fri. Read the exact days and times printed on the sign at your bumper — they vary block by block.

Can I park again after the street sweeper passes?

Yes. Once the sweeper has cleared the block you can repark on that side for the rest of the posted window and until the next ASP period. Many tickets are written to people who left too early or came back too late — keep an eye on the clock, or let ParkPiggy time it for you.

When is Alternate Side Parking suspended in NYC?

The NYC Department of Sanitation suspends ASP on legal holidays and during severe weather such as snow emergencies. Suspensions are announced at nyc.gov/dsny and on 311. On a suspended day you do not have to move for ASP — but meter rules and other curb rules still apply.

Do I still have to pay the meter during an ASP suspension?

Yes. An ASP suspension only lifts the street-cleaning side rule. Parking meters, hydrant clearance, no-standing, and permit rules stay in effect unless separately suspended. Always read the posted sign at the space.

How do I contest an NYC Alternate Side Parking ticket?

You have 30 days from the citation date to dispute a NYC parking ticket with the NYC Department of Finance. Include the citation number, date and time, plate, and a timestamped photo showing the sign did not apply or the sweeper had already cleared the block. ParkPiggy drafts that letter from your scan and photo — link below.

NYC deep dive

New York City Alternate Side Parking, explained

The street-cleaning rule that hands out a huge share of NYC tickets — what the signs mean, when ASP is suspended, and how it interacts with the meter at your bumper. Posted signs win; this guide tells you what to look for.

What Alternate Side Parking is

Alternate Side Parking (ASP) is New York City's street-cleaning regulation. Signs on each block name a side of the street and a short cleaning window — usually 90 minutes, once or twice a week. During that window you cannot park on the named side, so the mechanical sweeper can get through. The rest of the time that side is normal parking.

How ASP actually works on the curb

Read the posted sign first
Signs list the days and the exact window — e.g. Mon & Tue 8:30 AM–10:00 AM. Days and times change block to block, so never assume from the last block you parked on.
Move for the window, then move back
Park on the other side before the window starts. Once the sweeper has cleared the block you may repark on the cleaned side for the remainder of the window — most ASP tickets go to people who moved back too early or left the car too long.
Meters and other rules still apply
ASP only covers the street-cleaning side. Muni-Meter receipts, hydrant clearance, no-standing zones, and permit rules keep running — and a paid meter does not cancel an ASP violation.

When ASP is suspended

The NYC Department of Sanitation suspends ASP on legal holidays and for severe weather like snow emergencies. On a suspended day you do not have to move for the cleaning window — but meter and curb rules stay live. Check today's status before you move:

NYC Sanitation ASP status NYC 311 ASP info

Paying the meter in NYC

NYC uses Muni-Meters (kiosks and the ParkNYC app). Display the receipt face-up on the dash, driver side — a slipped receipt is its own citation. For the full NYC meter hours, rates, and free-parking rules, see the general guide.

NYC meter & payment help

Got an ASP ticket? Contest it within 30 days

You have 30 days from the citation date to dispute a NYC parking ticket with the NYC Department of Finance. The strongest ASP defense is a timestamped photo showing the sign did not apply, the window had ended, or the sweeper had already cleared the block. ParkPiggy drafts the letter from your scan and photo.

Draft my dispute letter NYC contest & appeals guide

Check the ASP sign you're at

Snap the sign and ParkPiggy reads the days and window for your block so you know whether you can park there right now.

Scan a sign

NYC Alternate Side Parking questions, answered

What is Alternate Side Parking in NYC?: Alternate Side Parking (ASP) is a New York City street-cleaning rule. Posted signs tell you which side of the street you cannot park on during a short cleaning window — usually 90 minutes — once or twice a week. You move your car to the other side for that window, then move it back.
How long is the Alternate Side Parking window?: Most NYC ASP signs post a 90-minute window, for example 8:30 AM–10:00 AM or 11:00 AM–12:30 PM, on specific days like Mon/Tue or Thu/Fri. Read the exact days and times printed on the sign at your bumper — they vary block by block.
Can I park again after the street sweeper passes?: Yes. Once the sweeper has cleared the block you can repark on that side for the rest of the posted window and until the next ASP period. Many tickets are written to people who left too early or came back too late — keep an eye on the clock, or let ParkPiggy time it for you.
When is Alternate Side Parking suspended in NYC?: The NYC Department of Sanitation suspends ASP on legal holidays and during severe weather such as snow emergencies. Suspensions are announced at nyc.gov/dsny and on 311. On a suspended day you do not have to move for ASP — but meter rules and other curb rules still apply.
Do I still have to pay the meter during an ASP suspension?: Yes. An ASP suspension only lifts the street-cleaning side rule. Parking meters, hydrant clearance, no-standing, and permit rules stay in effect unless separately suspended. Always read the posted sign at the space.
How do I contest an NYC Alternate Side Parking ticket?: You have 30 days from the citation date to dispute a NYC parking ticket with the NYC Department of Finance. Include the citation number, date and time, plate, and a timestamped photo showing the sign did not apply or the sweeper had already cleared the block. ParkPiggy drafts that letter from your scan and photo — link below.

Stella's ASP tip

Set a timer for the posted window and a second one five minutes before it ends. That's the gap where NYC writes the most ASP tickets — Stella's watching the curb so you don't have to.

Back to the full NYC parking guide or browse all ParkPiggy cities.