SF’s street cleaning program is managed by the City’s Public Works. It’s a crucial way to lower trash and pollutants that end up in the Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
Get to know the sweeping schedule for your block with this handy map from SpotAngelsOpens in new window. Clicking a block gives you info on parking meters (rates and time limits), free zones, street cleaning times, and more.
What Is Street Cleaning?
Street cleaning is when municipal services sweep the streets and sidewalks to remove leaves and other organic waste, which can clog storm drains and lead to flooding. In most cities, a specific street sweeping schedule is posted and vehicles are prohibited from parking on the street during those hours. Parking ticket officers often cite cars that are not moved during the sweeping hours.
The most common way to avoid getting a citation is to look for signs or check a city map to see when sweeping is happening. You can also set a reminder in your phone and turn on notifications so you get alerts about street cleaning when it is coming up. Or you can sign up for Metromile, which gives you real-time sweeping alerts and could save you money on car insurance too! Learn more about signing up with Metromile here. You can even get a free quote! Getting a street cleaning ticket is one of life’s greatest annoyances. A single one can cost you $85, so it’s worth it to take a few preventive steps!
Where Is Street Cleaning Done?
Street cleaning is done on a weekly basis in commercial neighborhoods and at least once per month in residential areas. It is important to remember to move your car on sweeping days in order to avoid a parking ticket. The easiest way to remember is to look for the parking sign on the street or set a reminder on your phone.
Rene Colorado, executive director of the Tenderloin Merchant Association, says street sweeping helps local businesses. “People don’t want to walk through filth, and it translates into dollars for us,” he said.
Public Works crews work around the clock to clean San Francisco streets and sidewalks. The recently expanded CleanCorridorsSF operation deploys a team of Public Works street cleaners to one neighborhood commercial district each week for intensive cleaning – power washing and sweeping sidewalks, flushing down roads, digging out weeds and wiping down graffiti – a coordinated blitz that produces noticeable improvements in the targeted area.
How Do I Know When Street Cleaning Is Happening?
It can be hard to keep up with SF’s sweeping schedule, especially when it’s only enforced a few times a month. To help, San Francisco Public Works maintains a map of all swept streets.
Just type in an address or tap on the map to find a street’s sweeping date and time. Sweeper trucks usually come through commercial areas at least once a week, and residential neighborhoods twice per month.
When you see the sweeping truck pass by, it may be tempting to think that parking restrictions have ended. Unfortunately, if you park during sweeping hours and are caught, you’ll get a ticket.
To avoid getting a ticket, it’s best to use this map or set a reminder on your phone. If you’re a Metromile customer, you’ll also receive an alert 12 hours before sweeping is scheduled to end, by email or text. It’s just another way we’re helping drivers save money on car insurance and say goodbye to tickets.
How Do I Avoid Getting A Ticket On Street Cleaning Day?
There are a few things you can do to avoid getting a ticket on street sweeping day. First, check the sweeping schedule to make sure you know when it’s happening in your neighborhood. You can also sign up for Metromile’s sweeping alerts and get notified 12 hours before a sweeping event by text, push notification, or email. This will help you avoid those dreaded parking tickets and keep money in your pocket.
Finally, consider using a service like Ticket Snipers to fight parking tickets you receive for street sweeping violations. They can help you gather evidence, submit appeals, and even represent you in court if necessary.
Street sweeping is an important part of keeping our city clean and preventing pollutants from entering storm drains and the ocean. So please remember to move your car when the street sweeper trucks are in the area. Thank you! And don’t forget to check the sweeping schedule on the Metromile app before heading out.
