Parking FAQs
- Where can I park in downtown Los Gatos?
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Please refer to this parking map for parking locations and regulations near downtown Los Gatos.
- Can I park my car on the street overnight?
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Overnight parking is prohibited in certain areas, including some residential parking permit districts and downtown parking lots. Make sure you check for signs with posted regulations when parking your vehicle.
- Are there any street sweeping regulations I need to know?
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Routine street sweeping is completed once each month, with additional service during the fall season to keep up with fallen leaves. Please refer to the current street sweeping routes and schedule to know when your street will be swept, and note that holiday makeups occurring on the third week of each month. Downtown street sweeping is done weekly on Friday.
Currently, there are no parking restrictions on street sweeping days, but residents are strongly encouraged to move vehicles off the street to allow the sweeping trucks to keep our streets clean and sanitary. For more information about street maintenance, visit this page.
- How do I apply for a parking permit to park near my home or workplace?
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You may apply online to purchase a residential parking permit or an employee parking permits valid downtown or in the Olive Zone. Once registered, you can apply, renew and manage your parking permit(s) online at any time. Supporting documentation may be required to complete your parking permit application.
- I have a residential parking permit account and am hosting an event at my home, can I request additional guest parking permits?
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Requests for temporary guest parking permits may be submitted by email to support@getapermit.net. Please see this webpage for costs. Please allow 2 business days for processing.
- I have a residential parking permit account, can I request permits for my construction workers?
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Requests for temporary construction parking permits may be submitted by email to support@getapermit.net. Please see this webpage for costs. Please allow 2 business days for processing.
- I received a parking ticket. What do I do now?
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More information can be found here, including ways to pay or contest the parking ticket. Please note, you have 21 days from the original citation date to respond to the citation. Failure to respond within 21 days may result in late fees being applied or a hold being placed on the vehicle's registration.
- How do I pay for my parking citation?
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You may pay online, by phone, by mail, or in-person; see below for details or go here for more information:
- Pay online at www.pticket.com/losgatos. Please have the following information available at the time of payment:
- Citation number and/or vehicle license plate number.
- Credit/Debit card details.
- Pay by phone: Call (888) 442-4088. Please have the following information available at the time of payment:
- Citation number and/or vehicle license plate number.
- Credit/Debit card details.
- Pay by mail by sending the original citation and a check/money order to the following address:
- Office of Parking Violations
Town of Los Gatos
P.O. Box 11113
San Jose CA 95103-1113 - Please include your citation and license plate number on your check or money order. Do not mail cash.
- Office of Parking Violations
- Pay in person weekdays, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., here:
- Office of Parking Violations
210 N. 4th Street
Suite 150
San Jose, CA 95112 - Please bring your original citation and/or vehicle license plate number and payment with you.
- Office of Parking Violations
Make sure you pay within 21 days of the date on the citation to avoid late fees and penalties. Do not wait until your due date to mail your payment. Payments are applied using the official postmark date provided by the Post Office. There is no grace period and there are no exceptions. Contact customer service by calling (800) 818-1832.
- Pay online at www.pticket.com/losgatos. Please have the following information available at the time of payment:
- How do I contest a parking citation?
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You may submit a request to appeal the citation within 21 days from the original citation date. See the back of the citation for details or appeal online at www.pticket.com/losgatos. Your request will be processed and you will be notified of the decision by mail, usually within 30 calendar days.
- I received a notice indicating my parking citation appeal was denied, what do I do now?
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You have 21 days from the date on the notice of the results of initial review to respond, follow the instructions on the notice to pay by mail or online, or submit a request for an Administrative Hearing to contest the results of the initial review. To request an Administrative Hearing, mail your request along with the full balance of the amount due for the citation to:
Town of Los Gatos
Parking Enforcement Center
P.O. Box 11113
San Jose, CA 95103-1023The independent Hearing Examiner will conduct an Administrative Hearing, and your payment will be refunded if the citation is dismissed. If the citation is upheld, the payment will be applied and the citation closed. If the Administrative Hearing upholds the parking citation, you have 21 days to appeal the decision in the Santa Clara County Civil Court. This court will review the factual aspects of the case, the administrative process, and the decision of the Hearing Examiner. The decision of the Civil Court may be communicated in person or by mail.
- Who do I contact to report a parking problem on my street?
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Report parking complaints or issues to the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department non-emergency line at (408) 354-8600.
- Who do I contact to report an abandoned vehicle on my street?
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Call the 24/7 Abandoned Vehicle Hotline at (408) 399-5716. Have the description of the vehicle, location, license number and how long it has been there available and an officer will respond as soon as available.
Vehicles parked on private property are the responsibility of the property owner. If you have any questions about vehicles on private property, contact Code Compliance at (408) 399-5720.
- My car was towed or 'booted'. How do I get it back?
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If you think your car was towed or a boot has been placed on your vehicle, please call the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department non-emergency line at (408) 354-8600. Be ready to provide the police dispatcher with the license plate number of your vehicle, and the location is or suspect it was towed from.
If your vehicle was stored (available for immediate release) or impounded (held for a period of 30 days) a vehicle release must be obtained from the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department before the tow company will release the vehicle to you.
In order to get a vehicle release the following conditions must be met:
- You must be the registered or legal owner of the vehicle.
- The vehicle must be currently registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
- You must have a valid California driver’s license or bring a licensed driver with you. If you do not have a CA Driver’s license you will need to bring identification for yourself.
- A vehicle release fee of is required, $235.00 This fee must be paid in the form of cash or the following credit/debit cards – Visa, Master-card or Discover Card (a fee will be charged).
- Can parking enforcement officers issue citations on private property?
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Yes, but only for FIRE LANE and HANDICAP STALL enforcement, which are conditions of the property owner’s use permit.
- What is the meaning of the different curb colors?
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- RED curbs mean no parking at any time.
- YELLOW curbs indicate a commercial loading zone and are restricted to the offloading of commercial freight with a time restriction of 30 minutes.
- GREEN curbs are for short-term parking – see signs for specific regulations.
- WHITE curbs are for passenger loading zones and are for active loading/unloading of passengers only within a 10-minute time limit.
- BLUE curbs indicate accessible parking spaces for disabled persons with valid placards or plates only. These spaces are accompanied by blue and white parking signs and road markings. These parking spaces are enforced at all times.
- What if the curb doesn’t have a color or is painted gray?
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Not all curbs are painted, and an unpainted curb does not mean there are no parking regulations in place. For example, the space may be within a 2-hour parking zone, or the space may be within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
Periodically, the Town adjusts or removes parking restrictions that require a painted curb. To effectively communicate that change, the curb paint will be removed or painted gray. Always check for nearby parking signs to ensure you are parking in a valid space.
- Can I park near a pedestrian crosswalk?
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As a result of California AB 413, new "Daylighting" laws prohibit parking within 20 feet of the approach side of a marked or unmarked pedestrian crosswalk in an effort to enhance crosswalk visibility and increase pedestrian safety. Parking is restricted in such areas regardless of the presence of signage or curb markings indicating no parking. Please visit this page for more information.