El Monte Street Parking Limits Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

El Monte's street parking regulations are enforced by the El Monte Police Department's parking enforcement unit. The city follows California Vehicle Code Section 22651(k), which authorizes the removal of any vehicle that has been parked on a public street for 72 or more consecutive hours. This 72-hour rule applies citywide to all public roadways and is enforced through chalk markings, tire-position logging, or license plate reader technology. Residents should be aware that simply moving a vehicle a few feet may not satisfy the requirement; the vehicle generally must be relocated to a different block face.

Certain residential neighborhoods in El Monte have posted overnight parking restrictions that prohibit street parking between 2 AM and 6 AM. These restrictions were implemented to address concerns about vehicle-related crime, noise, and congestion in densely populated residential areas of the San Gabriel Valley. Residents in these zones who need overnight street parking must obtain a parking permit from the El Monte Police Department. Visitors may obtain temporary permits. The specific streets and zones subject to overnight restrictions are posted with regulatory signs.

Street sweeping is a significant source of parking citations in El Monte. The city posts sweeping schedules on curb-mounted signs, typically indicating one or two days per month when vehicles must be cleared from a particular side of the street during specific morning hours. Failure to move a vehicle during posted sweeping hours results in a parking citation. El Monte residents are advised to note their block's sweeping schedule and set reminders. Citation fines for street sweeping violations are typically $58 to $73, while other parking violations such as overtime parking or hydrant violations carry fines ranging from $58 to $250 or more.