About TopeThis program which provides residents with the means to obtain a temporary overnight parking exemption (TOPE). Temporary overnight parking exemptions may be purchased at five (5) conveniently located kiosks, throughout the City (TOPEK) or online (TOPEO). Residents wanting to temporarily park their vehicles on the street between the hours of 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. must purchase an overnight parking exemption. TOPEs may not be purchased after receiving a parking citation.
Note: Holiday Overnight Parking Citation Moratorium – 2 am to 6 am, from December 23 thru January 3. Vehicles legally parked on the street during the aforementioned hours and dates will not receive a citation for overnight parking. Overnight parking citations will resume being issued the morning of January 4, at 2 am.
The cost of each temporary overnight parking exemption is $3 per night, per vehicle. You may purchase consecutive nights (up to a maximum of 10 nights) at a time. The kiosks accept coins; $1, $5, and $10 bills; and will take most major credit cards including bank debit cards that display the Visa or MasterCard logo. Temporary overnight parking exemptions must be clearly displayed on your vehicle. Temporary overnight parking exemptions are valid only in front of or abutting any property improved exclusively for residential use. “Residential use” means either single-family or multiple family dwellings, but shall not include business, industrial or commercial properties.Conditions of Use1. Valid only from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. 2. Expires on the date shown on receipt. 3. Receipt MUST be clearly displayed on driver's side of vehicle dashboard. 4. Expiration date and license number MUST be legible and clearly visible to Parking Enforcement officers. 5. Valid only for vehicle matching license number listed on receipt. 6. Not valid for vehicles with expired registration or for non-operational vehicles. 7. Vehicles MUST be moved after 72 consecutive hours or be subject to citation and/or tow. 8. Not valid in industrial commercial or business districts. 9. Not valid at metered spaces during hours of operation. 10. Tampering with or duplication of the receipt is strictly prohibited and will prompt a citation and/or tow. 11. TOPEs do not provide exemption from any other parking laws or requirements. Warning: You may be subject to a citation if your exemption does not legibly contain the license plate informaiton and/or is not visibly displayed for parking enforcement to read.
Purchase a TOPEYou may purchase a Temporary Overnight Parking Exemption online (TOPEO) or at one of our five convenient locations (TOPEK).
Purchase a TOPE Online>>
Below are frequently asked questions about the program. 1) I need to park my car on the street overnight, what do I do? Simply visit one of our conveniently located temporary overnight parking exemption kiosks (TOPEK) or you may purchase temporary overnight parking exemptions online (TOPEO). Either method allows you to purchase an exemption from one to ten consecutive nights at a time. You MUST display the exemption clearly and visibly in your vehicle with the license number of the exempted vehicle legibly printed (TOPEO) or written in black ink as indicated on the receipt (TOPEK). 2) Can I purchase TOPEKs and TOPEOs in advance? TOPEKS cannot be purchased in advance, unless purchased for consecutive days. A single TOPE purchased from a kiosk will only be valid for the current or following morning (depending on the time of purchase). TOPEs can be purchased for the current morning until 5:45 a.m. After 5:45 a.m. the single TOPE is valid for the following morning. However, TOPEOs can purchased in advance up to 30 days online. 3) My street has day-time restrictions, but I need to park my vehicle during day time, will this exemption apply? No. Temporary overnight parking exemptions are for overnight parking ONLY. If you wish to request a temporary daytime parking exemption, please call parking enforcement at (626)744-6440. 4) I do not have enough parking on my property for my cars. Do I need to buy exemptions for the cars that will be parked on the street? Residents needing long-term overnight parking may apply for an annual overnight parking permit. Please contact Business Services Section located at City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave., Rm. N106, Pasadena, CA 91101, or contact them at (626) 744-4166. Their office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed on weekends and holidays). 5) Why do I need my license plate information on the exemption?
Your temporary overnight parking exemption is vehicle specific. Your vehicle license plate number MUST be clearly visible on your exemption so that parking enforcement knows that the exemption belongs on your vehicle. If your license plate information is not visible and legibly printed (TOPEO) or written (TOPEK) or you fail to display the exemption properly you may receive a citation. 6) Can I use my exemption for more than one vehicle? No. Temporary overnight parking exemptions are vehicle specific. Exemptions are to be used for one vehicle only. Your vehicle license plate number MUST be legibly printed (TOPEO) or written in black ink (TOPEK) on your exemption so that parking enforcement knows that the exemption belongs to your vehicle. If you find that you need an exemption for another vehicle, you must purchase another exemption for the additional vehicle. Exemptions are not transferable. 7) Can I store a vehicle on the street using an exemption? No. On-street vehicle storage is prohibited using a temporary overnight parking exemption. Vehicles left on the street in the same location for more than 72 consecutive hours will be cited and towed, even if a temporary overnight parking exemption is correctly displayed. Per the Pasadena Municipal Code a vehicle must be moved at least 500 feet under its own power within a 72 hour period to avoid being impounded as an abandoned vehicle. 8) Can I use this exemption on a vehicle with expired or non-operational registration? No. Your vehicle must be in compliance with State and local codes to be eligible to use a temporary overnight parking exemption. Vehicles displaying valid temporary overnight parking exemptions must be operational with current registration and tags properly displayed. Vehicles not incompliance shall be cited or towed. 9) My street has other parking restrictions; does the exemption apply to them too? No. The temporary overnight parking exemption is valid only from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. on the date(s) printed on your receipt and does not apply to any other restrictions. You must obey all other posted and applicable restrictions. 10) Can I use an exemption to park at a meter overnight? Temporary overnight parking exemptions are valid only in front of or abutting any property improved exclusively for residential use. “Residential use” means either single-family or multiple family dwellings, but shall not include business, industrial or commercial properties. 11) I can’t find parking near the Fire Station; can I quickly park on or in front of their driveway? No. Under no circumstances, Parking on or blocking a Fire Station front driveway/ramp (emergency vehicle access area) will result in a $340 fine. You should never block emergency vehicle access, block driveways, or park in red zones.
Please e-mail us at parking@cityofpasadena.net or call (800) 317-7177 should you have additional comments or questions.