NYC parking ticket fines and deadlines
Every figure on this page comes from the NYC Department of Finance fine schedule and penalty rules. Two things decide what a ticket really costs: the fine for your violation code, and how long you wait.
Fines for the most common violation codes
Some fines differ between the Manhattan core (96th Street and below) and the rest of the city.
| Code | Violation | Manhattan ≤96th St | Elsewhere |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | No parking — street cleaning | $65 | $65 |
| 38 | Failure to display muni-meter receipt | $65 | $35 |
| 69 | Failure to display muni-meter receipt (commercial) | $65 | $35 |
| 20 | No parking — day/time limits | $65 | $60 |
| 14 | No standing — day/time limits | $115 | $115 |
| 40 | Parking at a fire hydrant | $115 | $115 |
| 46 | Double parking | $115 | $115 |
| 19 | No standing — bus stop | $115 | $115 |
| 16 | No standing — truck loading excepted | $95 | $95 |
| 71 | Inspection sticker expired/missing | $65 | $65 |
| 74 | Front or back plate missing | $65 | $65 |
| 5 | Bus lane violation (camera) | $250 | $250 |
| 7 | Red light camera | $50 | $50 |
| 36 | School-zone speed camera | $50 | $50 |
Fine schedule per the NYC Department of Finance. Your ticket's printed fine is the controlling figure.
The deadline schedule (parking tickets)
You must pay or dispute within 30 days of the ticket being issued. After that, penalties stack on a fixed schedule:
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Under 30 days | No penalty. Pay or request a hearing. |
| 30 days | +$10 penalty |
| 60 days | +$20 more ($30 total penalties) |
| 90 days | +$30 more ($60 total penalties) |
| ~100 days | Ticket enters judgment — interest accrues and enforcement begins |
Worked example: a $65 street-cleaning ticket ignored for 90 days costs $125 before judgment interest. What judgment leads to is covered on what happens if you ignore a parking ticket.
Camera violations run on a faster clock
Red-light, school-zone speed, and bus-lane camera notices carry a $25 penalty at 30 days (instead of $10), a final notice around day 65, and judgment at about 75 days.
The three windows that matter
Pay: any time — but every penalty milestone you pass is permanent. Dispute: request a hearing within 30 days to keep penalties off while the city decides (decisions typically take 30–60 days). Appeal: if a hearing goes against you, appeal generally within 30 days of the decision. The full walkthrough is on how to dispute a parking ticket in NYC.
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Common questions
How much is a street cleaning ticket?
Code 21: $65. An expired-meter ticket (code 38) is $65 in Manhattan at 96th Street and below, $35 elsewhere.
What if I miss the 30 days?
+$10 at 30 days, +$20 at 60, +$30 at 90 — and judgment at ~100 days with interest and enforcement. You can still dispute, but the penalties already added don't come off unless you win.
Are camera tickets on the same schedule?
No — $25 at 30 days, final notice around day 65, judgment around day 75.
Reference information per the NYC Department of Finance, not legal advice. TicketBeat drafts dispute letters; it does not file disputes or give legal advice.
Related guides
- How to Dispute a Parking Ticket in NYC (Step by Step) — the full process — deadlines, defect checks, evidence, filing, and appeals.
- What Happens If You Ignore a Parking Ticket in NYC? — penalties, judgment, booting, and towing — in the order they arrive.
- How to Fight an Expired Meter Ticket in NYC — code 38 defects, the meter-receipt defense, and your real dismissal odds.