I just got a street sweeping ticket in Denver. Now what?

What is this ticket?

It’s a $50 citation for parking on the side of the street being swept on the day of the sweep^[1].

The rule comes from Denver Revised Municipal Code section 54-482, which bans parking during sweeping hours on the side of the block being cleaned^[2].

The city sweeps residential streets once a month from April through November to keep debris out of storm drains and waterways^[3].

How to pay the fine

Pay online or by phone through the Parking Violations Bureau at 1-866-280-9988^[4].

If unpaid, a default judgment enters after 120 days, adding late fees to the $50^[4].

Three or more unpaid tickets may lead to a boot or seizure warning on your vehicle^[4].

Can I dispute it?

Yes, but only if the ticket is less than 20 days old^[4].

You must schedule a Final Hearing at Denver County Court, 1437 Bannock St., Room 140, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday^[4].

If the ticket is upheld or you don’t appear, you’ll owe the $50 fine plus $26 in court costs^[4]. There is no pre-court review anymore due to budget cuts^[5].

Why this keeps happening

The two sides of the same block can have different sweeping days. The rule applies only to the side being swept^[4].

Not every block has restrictions, and the signs can be hard to read or interpret—like figuring out if today is the first Wednesday^[6].

In 2024, the city issued about 137,000 street sweeping tickets, collecting nearly $6.9 million^[6]. Early season and winter months see the most tickets^[6].

How to not do this again

The sign on your block is the law. Check it to know your side’s schedule^[4].

Sign up for free reminders: the city offers email and text alerts, or use Denver Broomsday, a free service that emails you the night before and morning of your sweep day^[4].

We list every neighborhood’s 2026 sweep dates below. Read the sign, move the car, and keep the fifty.

When does my neighborhood sweep?