Denver’s 2-hour parking rules give you up to two hours in a posted time-limit zone during the enforcement window shown on the sign, after which you must move your vehicle at least 100 feet or to a different block face. Overstaying starts at a $25 citation and, if ignored, escalates to a boot and a court judgment. The sign closest to your spot is what governs you, so read it before you walk away.
Reading the Sign and When the Clock Starts
Two-hour zones are marked by signs with green lettering on a white background, posted at intervals along the block. Each sign states the time limit and the hours it’s enforced. Some blocks post shorter limits (15 or 30 minutes near high-turnover spots) and some longer. Whatever the sign nearest your car says, that’s the rule for your vehicle. “I didn’t see the sign” is not a defense.
Enforcement hours vary by block. Metered parking runs Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.1City and County of Denver. Street Parking Non-metered time-limit signs often show a narrower window, such as 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Your two-hour clock does not start until the posted enforcement window opens. Park at 7:30 a.m. on a block that begins enforcement at 8 a.m. and you have until 10 a.m., not 9:30.
Moving Your Car to Reset the Clock
When your two hours are up, pulling forward a few spaces will not help you. Denver requires the vehicle to move at least 100 feet from its original position, or to a different block face (the stretch of curb between two intersections). The 100-foot standard appears in Municipal Code Section 54-485(c) and applies across Denver’s time-limited zones.2City and County of Denver. Accessible Parking in Denver Frequently Asked Questions Officers track vehicles by plate and by physical markers, so a twenty-foot shuffle down the same curb is not going to fool anyone.
Fines, Boots, and Court Judgments
An overtime citation in a non-metered zone is $25, rising to $35 if not paid promptly. Overtime meter parking carries the same structure.3City and County of Denver. Denver Parking Citation Fine Schedule The number is small; the escalation is not.
If a citation goes unpaid for more than 120 days, Denver County Court enters a default judgment against you for the fine plus accumulated late fees. Your vehicle can then be placed on the immobilization list. Getting a boot removed means clearing every outstanding fine, fee, and surcharge before you drive.4Denver County Court. Parking
Disputing a Ticket
You have 20 calendar days from the date of issuance to dispute a citation. Disputes are scheduled in person at Denver County Court, 1437 Bannock Street, Room 140, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is no online dispute option; the online portal only accepts payments. If the judicial officer upholds the ticket or you don’t appear, judgment is entered for the fine plus $26 in court costs, due immediately.4Denver County Court. Parking
Between 21 and 120 days, you can still file a general motion, though the outcome is less predictable. After 120 days, a default judgment is already on the books and you would need to file a motion showing good cause for the delay.
When the Two-Hour Rule Doesn’t Apply to You
Residential Parking Permits
If you live on a block inside a Residential Parking Permit (RPP) zone, an active permit exempts your vehicle from the posted time limits within that zone. Your license plate serves as the permit and is verified digitally.5City and County of Denver. Residential Parking Permit Program The exemption is zone-specific: park in a different RPP zone across town and the two-hour clock applies to you like anyone else.
Denver offers two permit types, both renewed annually:
- Vehicle Specific Parking Permit (VSPP), tied to a single license plate, $20 per year.
- Flex Parking Permit (FPP), a physical hangtag for guest vehicles, caregivers, or regular service providers, $25 per year. Only one FPP can be active per address at a time.
Each RPP account also receives one guest permit for occasional visitors. Visitors without a guest permit or flex hangtag are subject to the posted time limits.
Accessible Placards and Plates
A vehicle displaying a valid disability placard or accessible license plate gets up to four hours in any on-street zone normally restricted to two hours or less.6City and County of Denver. Accessible Parking Sign Program The placard must be clearly visible on the rearview mirror while parked. When those four hours end, the same 100-foot move applies.2City and County of Denver. Accessible Parking in Denver Frequently Asked Questions The allowance extends the posted limit; it doesn’t remove it.
Sundays and City Holidays
Denver does not enforce parking meters or time-limit zones on Sundays. The same suspension applies on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.1City and County of Denver. Street Parking Safety-related rules still apply: blocking hydrants, parking in no-parking zones, and obstructing loading areas will still draw a ticket. Street sweeping restrictions during the April–November season also stay in force, with a $50 fine and possible tow if you’re in a sweeping zone during posted hours.3City and County of Denver. Denver Parking Citation Fine Schedule
Unsigned Streets Are Not Unlimited: The 72-Hour Rule
On any Denver street, even one with no posted time limit, you cannot leave a vehicle in the same spot for more than 72 consecutive hours. The fine is $25, and the vehicle can be flagged for towing.3City and County of Denver. Denver Parking Citation Fine Schedule This catches people who assume an unsigned residential block is fair game for long-term storage.