Street Sweeping Violations:
The City’s street cleaning program removes dirt and debris from City streets to provide a healthy, safe, and attractive environment for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection permit and some federal requirements for operating a combined sewer system mandate street sweeping to protect water quality. Regular removal of leaves and debris by City street sweepers is necessary to prevent storm drains from clogging, which can result in localized street flooding. Street cleaning protects water quality by removing approximately 1.2 million pounds of trash and litter annually that would otherwise end up in local streams and add more burden on the sewer system. The street cleaning program sweeps over 240 lane miles of streets within the City of Lancaster.
Street cleaning is done every two weeks on residential city streets and weekly on some major corridors. To find your street cleaning schedule check here, or look for nearby street signs that list the time of street cleaning (two hours on the designated day). You must move your vehicle during that time. LPA parking enforcement officers follow the street sweeper and ticket any vehicles in the way of the street sweeper.
Residential Permit Parking:
Daytime Residential Permit Parking (RPP) allows for 2 hours of parking by non RPP vehicles before a ticket can be issued. Enforcement officers “virtually” chalk tires and input all license plates; then return after two hours to check which vehicles are remaining that do not have a permit.
Night-time Residential Permit Parking (RPP) allows for ticketing immediately. There is no parking grace period. Enforcement officers will ticket all vehicles that do not have a permit registered for the license plate number on the vehicle.
Snow Removal:
The City of Lancaster provides snow removal on public streets during winter weather events. During light snow, cars can remain parked on the street. Typically, when there is a strong forecast for 8 or more inches of snow, the City will declare a Snow Emergency. Declaration of a Snow Emergency allows the Department of Public Works and the Police Bureau to restore reasonable flow of traffic in the City as quickly and effectively as possible. Whenever possible, streets will be plowed curb to curb.
Cars parked along snow emergency routes must be moved within one hour of the declaration of a Snow Emergency. Failure to remove a vehicle from a Snow Emergency Route could result in a parking ticket or towing of the vehicle at the owner’s expense.
During a Snow Emergency, the City will advise the public through local media, the City website and social media outlets, and text message alerts. Text LANCASTER to 57838 to receive text messages directly to your phone.
Booting & Towing:
Off-Street booting & towing of vehicles in the garages and lots is handled by the Lancaster Parking Authority.
On-Street booting & towing of vehicles is handled by the City of Lancaster Police Department. See the City of Lancaster boot ordinance and tow ordinance.
If your car is booted or towed, call the Lancaster City Bureau of Police Non-Emergency phone n umber 717-735-3454 You will be charged a fee to remove a boot and/or for towing.
Enforcement Concerns:
Both the Lancaster Parking Authority and the Lancaster City Bureau of Police Department have enforcement authority and can write tickets for parking violations. LPA parking enforcement officers focus primarily on enforcing meters and kiosks, Residential Permit Parking blocks and street sweeping.
Call the Lancaster Parking Authority at (717) 299-0907. If you are calling outside regular weekday business hours (8:00 AM-4:30 PM), please leave a message. All messages are monitored by Lancaster Parking Authority staff 24/7/365.
Emergency parking concerns such as a blocked fire hydrant, blocked driveway or inappropriate use of a handicapped parking space, should be reported to the Lancaster City Bureau of Police at (717) 664-1180.
You can find more information about the City of Lancaster’s parking and enforcement ordinances here, or by searching online for Chapter 285 Vehicles and Traffic in the City of Lancaster Code.
Unpaid parking violations are submitted to the local Magisterial District Judges for prosecution. The LPA offers defendants the opportunity to pay their violations prior to scheduled hearings to avoid additional fees.
It is the right of the defendant to decline this offer and continue with the adjudication process.
If cases has been decided by the courts and disposition is visible, payment cannot be accepted and the violation will not be withdrawn. If a defendant is unsure of a case status, please visit to verify at the UJS Portal of PA.
Citations will not be withdrawn if the proper amount is not paid in full.
Below is the list of violations and their associated costs.
