Quick answer: In California, when a street is needed for cleaning, repair, construction, utility work, or another approved use such as moving oversized equipment, a local authority can have parked cars removed, but only if signs warning that vehicles may be removed were posted at least 24 hours before the removal. These rules are in Vehicle Code 22651(l) and (m). Permanent tow-away zones are covered by subdivision (n), which generally requires posted signs giving notice of removal. In Los Angeles, where temporary paper “No Parking” signs are common for street work, moving trucks and other permitted uses, checking the curb before you leave your car for a day or more is the best way to avoid a tow.
This guide from the TowCars team explains how temporary no-parking signs work under California law, how to read them, and what to do if your car was towed from a spot that was legal when you parked. It is general information, not legal advice.
The three rules that cover posted restrictions
Street cleaning, repair, construction and utilities: 22651(l)
A vehicle may be removed if it is illegally parked on a highway in violation of a local ordinance forbidding standing or parking, the use of that street is necessary for cleaning, repair, construction, or installing underground utilities, and signs giving notice that vehicles may be removed were erected or placed at least 24 hours prior to the removal by a local authority under the ordinance.
Other approved uses of the street: 22651(m)
A vehicle may be removed if a local authority has authorized use of the street for a purpose other than normal traffic, or for moving equipment, articles or structures of unusual size, the parked car would interfere, and signs giving notice were posted at least 24 hours before removal.
Posted no-parking and tow-away zones: 22651(n)
A vehicle may be removed wherever local authorities, by resolution or ordinance, have prohibited parking and authorized removal. With narrow exceptions for certain advertising vehicles, the law says “a vehicle shall not be removed unless signs are posted giving notice of the removal.”
What “24 hours” means in practice
The 24-hour requirement is about when the signs went up compared with when the car was removed. It is not a promise that you will personally see the sign 24 hours ahead. If you parked on Monday, signs went up Tuesday morning for work starting Wednesday morning, and your car was removed Wednesday, the 24-hour requirement may well have been met even though the signs were not there when you parked.
That is why temporary signs catch so many people who leave a car on the street while traveling, or who park once and do not drive for a few days. Cities and permit holders often post signs several days ahead, but the statute itself sets 24 hours as the minimum for these situations.
How to read a temporary no-parking sign
Temporary signs vary by city and by the type of permit, but most include similar information. Read the whole sign, not just the big words:
- Dates. The day or days the restriction applies. Some signs cover a single day; others cover a range.
- Times. The hours of the restriction, for example morning to afternoon.
- Area covered. Arrows or text showing which part of the block is affected.
- Tow-away language. Words indicating that vehicles will be removed.
- Who posted it. The agency, department or permit number. This helps if you need to check whether it is legitimate.
- Posting date. Some signs include the date they were posted. Take a photo of it.
If you are not sure whether a sign applies to your spot, assume it does and move the car.
Common reasons for temporary restrictions in LA
- Street resurfacing and repairs. Crews need the full width of the street.
- Utility work. Water, gas, power, or telecom crews working under or along the street.
- Tree trimming. Large trucks and falling branches.
- Construction. Deliveries, cranes, or equipment for nearby building projects.
- Moving trucks and other permitted uses where a city permit reserves curb space.
- Special events and filming. LA regularly has permitted events and productions that use curb space.
Regular weekly street sweeping restrictions are usually shown on permanent signs. Those are normally enforced with tickets, but repeated tickets can lead to a tow if a car piles up five or more unanswered notices under CVC 22651(i). We cover that in our guide to tows for expired registration and unpaid tickets.
Before you leave your car on the street
If you will not move the car for a day or more, this short routine can save you a tow:
- Walk the block. Look for paper signs on poles, trees, and barricades within sight of your car, on both sides of the street.
- Check the permanent signs for street sweeping days, time limits, permit-only zones and peak-hour restrictions.
- Take a dated photo of your car and the curb, including the nearest signs or the lack of signs. It costs nothing and can be valuable at a hearing.
- Remember the 72-hour rule. Many cities, including Los Angeles, enforce a limit on leaving a car in one spot for 72 hours or more. Our guide to the 72-hour parking rule explains it.
- Ask a neighbor or friend to check the block if you are away for a long time.
If your car was towed after signs went up
- Do not report it stolen until you check. Look for temporary signs on the block first. Then find the car using our impound lot finder or Los Angeles towing guide. In some cases, cars moved for street work are relocated nearby rather than taken to a yard, so ask the agency.
- Photograph the signs. Capture the dates, times, posting date, and location. If the signs are already gone, note that too.
- Ask for the storage notice and the authority for the tow. Under CVC 22852, the agency must mail or deliver a notice within 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) stating the authority and purpose for removal.
- Get the car out quickly. Under Civil Code 3068.1, release within 24 hours of storage limits storage to one day. Use our impound lot checklist.
- Request a post-storage hearing within 10 days if you believe the signs were not posted at least 24 hours before removal, were missing, or did not cover your spot. Our post-storage hearing guide explains what to bring.
- Check the bill. Use our tow bill checker and glossary to review the charges.
What makes a strong case at a hearing
The question at a post-storage hearing is whether there were reasonable grounds for the storage. For a temporary sign tow, the key issue is usually whether signs were properly posted at least 24 hours before removal. Useful evidence can include:
- a dated photo of the curb with no signs at a time when they should have been there,
- photos showing the sign’s posted date or time range did not cover the removal time,
- photos showing the signs did not cover the part of the block where you were parked, and
- statements from neighbors who saw when signs were put up.
Weak arguments include “I didn’t see the sign” or “I parked before the signs went up.” As explained above, the law focuses on when signs were posted relative to the removal, not when you parked.
Private “No Parking” signs are different
A homeowner, business, or film crew cannot create a legal tow-away zone on a public street just by taping up their own sign. Restrictions on public streets come from local authorities. If you see a sign that looks homemade and has no agency or permit information, you can check with your city. Private lots are a separate matter, governed by CVC 22658; see our guide to tow-away sign requirements.
Key takeaways
- For street work and other approved street uses, California requires removal signs to be posted at least 24 hours before a car is towed.
- The 24 hours is measured from when the signs went up, not when you parked, so check your block if you leave your car for more than a day.
- Permanent tow-away zones require posted signs too.
- If towed, photograph the signs, retrieve the car quickly, and request a hearing within 10 days if the signs did not meet the rules.
Prepared by the TowCars team from the official California Vehicle Code and Civil Code text on leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. This is general information, not legal advice. Local sign formats and permit rules vary by city.
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