If You Received a Parking Citation
If you have received a parking citation from the City of Irvine, you have two options.
- Pay a parking citation online or by mail
- Appeal a parking citation
Payment plans may be available:
For more information, please call 1-866-353-5867 or visit www.paymycite.com/irvine
Pay a Parking Citation
Follow the instructions on the back of your copy of the parking citation. You must pay the parking fine within 21 days or be subject to late charges and a DMV registration hold. Make a check or money order payable to the City of Irvine and write your citation number on your payment. Do not send cash. Please send payment to:
City of Irvine c/o Parking Citation Service Center P.O. Box 11923 Santa Ana, CA 92711
You can appeal a parking citation
The process for appealing a parking citation consists of three levels of review.
Contest a parking citation
The process for appealing a parking citation consists of three levels of review.
Request for parking citation review form
First Level Review
The first level of review must be made within 21 days of the violation or within 14 days of the mailing of the Notice of Delinquent Parking Violation. For recorded parking review information, please call 1-866-453-3603. You may request a review of your parking citation online at www.paymycite.com/irvine and clicking on Contest Citation. The online form is available for downloading and mailing. You may also obtain a Request for Parking Citation Review form at the front desk of the Irvine Police Department.
- First Level Review requests are informal, written statements outlining why the citation should be dismissed, including copies of related documentation. There is no cost for an administrative review.
- Your appeal will be reviewed by a parking citation review officer who will determine the validity of your appeal in accordance with the provisions of the parking enforcement policy and state law. A written response will be sent to the appellant after receipt of the administrative review form.
- Certain violations, such as those written for parking in a fire lane or in a disabled parking space without a permit, WILL NOT be waived.
Second Level Review
If you have contested a citation and your request to cancel the citation has been denied, you may contest the first-level review ruling before a Hearing Examiner. This hearing may be conducted in person or by written application at the election of the appellant. The second-level review administrative hearing must be postmarked within 15 days of the notification mailing of the results of the first-level review. To schedule an administrative hearing or for additional information, please call 1-866-453-3603.
- Second Level Administrative Hearings are conducted by an independent referee who will review the administrative file, amendments, and/or testimonial material provided by the appellant and may conduct further investigation or follow-up on their own.
- State law requires the appellant to pay the original penalty of the parking citation before the hearing.
- State law allows one continuance of the hearing.
Third Level Review
If you disagree with the verdict of the Hearing Examiner, you may file a civil case with the local court. You must file your case within 30 days of the Examiner’s verdict and pay all fees required by the court. If the court decides in your favor, any penalties, including court fees, will be refunded to you when the City receives a written judgment. If judgment is in favor of the City of Irvine, the action is ended, and all penalties are forfeited.
If you have any questions regarding filing a civil case, please contact Harbor Justice Center – Newport Beach at (949) 476-4699.
Request a Parking Permit
Click here for information and assistance with the City of Irvine’s parking permit process. The City of Irvine offers both annual and overnight parking permits and on this website you will find more information on:
- Purchase Parking Permit Online
- Information about Parking Citations
Request a Parking Variance
Parking Variances will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis after submitting the form here with the following considerations:
- Variances should be requested a minimum of three (3) to five (5) business days in advance
- The maximum variance duration for a given street segment is seven (7) days
- Variances lasting longer than seven (7) business days can be requested by contacting 949-724-7365
- Reasons for denial/revocation of a parking variance include, but are not limited to:
- Submittal of inaccurate information
- Code violations
- Traffic/pedestrian safety concerns
- Impediments to the neighborhood
For questions or clarification, contact parkingvariance@cityofirvine.org.
Please contact the Irvine Police Department if you have any questions about Overnight Parking.
Jodi Rahn
Irvine Police Department
1 Civic Center Plaza
Irvine, CA 92606
Stored/Impounded Vehicles
NOTICE OF HEARING RIGHTS
PURPOSE OF HEARING.
As a vehicle owner or other person entitled to possession of a stored/impounded vehicle, you have the right to a hearing if you believe your vehicle should not have been stored/impounded. The purpose of the hearing is to determine whether there was probable cause to store/impound the car, that is, whether the storing/impounding officer was legally authorized to remove your vehicle.
WHEN and WHERE THE HEARING WILL BE HELD.
The hearing will be held within forty-eight (48) hours of the request, excluding weekends and holidays. The hearing will consist of a meeting with a hearing officer at the City of Irvine Police Department or, if you prefer, by telephone. You may present any witnesses or any other evidence you believe will show that your vehicle should not have been stored/impounded. You must establish that you are the owner of the car or that you have some other right to possession of it.
ATTENDANCE BY IMPOUNDING OFFICER.
At the time you request a hearing, you may also request that the police officer who directed the storage/impound appear and answer your questions at the hearing.
CONDUCT OF THE HEARING.
Suppose the Hearing Officer determines that your vehicle should not have been stored/impounded. In that case, it will be released to you without charge, or you will be reimbursed by mail after processing for the charges you paid to the Official Police Garage. Suppose the Hearing Officer determines that the vehicle was stored correctly/impounded. In that case, you must pay the impound and storage charges to the Official Police Garage (if you have not already done so), or a lien will be placed on the vehicle.
HOW TO REQUEST A HEARING.
The request must be made within ten (10) business days of the date of mailing of the “Notice of Stored Vehicle.”
Failure to request a hearing within ten (10) days of the notice, or failure to attend a scheduled hearing, will end your right to a hearing. Complete a “Request for Vehicle Post Storage Hearing Form.” Telephone the Irvine Police for further information at (949) 724-7078.
Write or appear in person at the Irvine Police Department at One Civic Center Plaza, Irvine, CA 92606-5208.
NOTE: Your right to a hearing within forty-eight (48) hours does not affect your right to seek an immediate release of your vehicle, without waiting for a hearing, by obtaining a written release from the Irvine Police Department and paying the impound and storage charges of the Official Police Garage. In this event, the Hearing Officer will determine whether you are entitled to a refund of the charges.
RESULTS OF HEARING:
A written reply from the hearing officer may be provided upon request. The time within which to file a judicial challenge of the Hearing Officer’s decision is governed by section 1094.6 of the California Code of Civil Procedure.
If You Received a Parking Citation
If you have received a parking citation from the City of Irvine, you have two options.
- Pay a parking citation online or by mail
- Appeal a parking citation
Payment plans may be available:
For more information, please call 1-866-353-5867 or visit www.paymycite.com/irvine
Pay a Parking Citation
Follow the instructions on the back of your copy of the parking citation. You must pay the parking fine within 21 days or be subject to late charges and a DMV registration hold. Make a check or money order payable to the City of Irvine and write your citation number on your payment. Do not send cash. Please send payment to:
City of Irvine c/o Parking Citation Service Center P.O. Box 11923 Santa Ana, CA 92711
You can appeal a parking citation
The process for appealing a parking citation consists of three levels of review.
Contest a parking citation
The process for appealing a parking citation consists of three levels of review.
Request for parking citation review form
First Level Review
The first level of review must be made within 21 days of the violation or within 14 days of the mailing of the Notice of Delinquent Parking Violation. For recorded parking review information, please call 1-866-453-3603. You may request a review of your parking citation online at www.paymycite.com/irvine and clicking on Contest Citation. The online form is available for downloading and mailing. You may also obtain a Request for Parking Citation Review form at the front desk of the Irvine Police Department.
- First Level Review requests are informal, written statements outlining why the citation should be dismissed, including copies of related documentation. There is no cost for an administrative review.
- Your appeal will be reviewed by a parking citation review officer who will determine the validity of your appeal in accordance with the provisions of the parking enforcement policy and state law. A written response will be sent to the appellant after receipt of the administrative review form.
- Certain violations, such as those written for parking in a fire lane or in a disabled parking space without a permit, WILL NOT be waived.
Second Level Review
If you have contested a citation and your request to cancel the citation has been denied, you may contest the first-level review ruling before a Hearing Examiner. This hearing may be conducted in person or by written application at the election of the appellant. The second-level review administrative hearing must be postmarked within 15 days of the notification mailing of the results of the first-level review. To schedule an administrative hearing or for additional information, please call 1-866-453-3603.
- Second Level Administrative Hearings are conducted by an independent referee who will review the administrative file, amendments, and/or testimonial material provided by the appellant and may conduct further investigation or follow-up on their own.
- State law requires the appellant to pay the original penalty of the parking citation before the hearing.
- State law allows one continuance of the hearing.
Third Level Review
If you disagree with the verdict of the Hearing Examiner, you may file a civil case with the local court. You must file your case within 30 days of the Examiner’s verdict and pay all fees required by the court. If the court decides in your favor, any penalties, including court fees, will be refunded to you when the City receives a written judgment. If judgment is in favor of the City of Irvine, the action is ended, and all penalties are forfeited.
If you have any questions regarding filing a civil case, please contact Harbor Justice Center – Newport Beach at (949) 476-4699.
Request a Parking Permit
Click here for information and assistance with the City of Irvine’s parking permit process. The City of Irvine offers both annual and overnight parking permits and on this website you will find more information on:
- Purchase Parking Permit Online
- Information about Parking Citations
Request a Parking Variance
Parking Variances will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis after submitting the form here with the following considerations:
- Variances should be requested a minimum of three (3) to five (5) business days in advance
- The maximum variance duration for a given street segment is seven (7) days
- Variances lasting longer than seven (7) business days can be requested by contacting 949-724-7365
- Reasons for denial/revocation of a parking variance include, but are not limited to:
- Submittal of inaccurate information
- Code violations
- Traffic/pedestrian safety concerns
- Impediments to the neighborhood
For questions or clarification, contact parkingvariance@cityofirvine.org.
Please contact the Irvine Police Department if you have any questions about Overnight Parking.
Jodi Rahn
Irvine Police Department
1 Civic Center Plaza
Irvine, CA 92606