How to reserve street parking for a moving truck or POD
Most big cities will reserve curb space for a moving truck if you apply in time. Here's how to apply, how far ahead, what it costs and how to avoid a tow.
Updated October 24, 2026
Parking the truck right outside the door saves the most time on moving day. Every extra 50 feet of carrying, for every box and piece of furniture, adds up to hours. In many cities you can reserve that space with temporary no-parking signs or a permit. You must apply early enough.
This guide walks through the process using real rules from cities we've researched. Every example below links to the city's official page. Rules change, so always confirm on your own city's page before you apply.
1. Find out what your city calls it
The same thing goes by different names: temporary no-parking signs, a tow-away permit, a parking space rental, meter bagging, or a right-of-way or encroachment permit. Search your city's website for "moving permit" or "temporary no parking", or call 311.
San Francisco, CA: The SFMTA provides temporary tow-away "No Parking" or "No Stopping" signs for moving vans and special events.
Source: Temporary Signage, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). Checked October 17, 2026.San Jose, CA: San Jose's Department of Transportation Tow-Away Permit can be used to reserve city street or parking-meter space for moving pods and moving trucks.
Source: Tow-Away Permit FAQs, City of San José, Department of Transportation. Checked October 17, 2026.Orlando, FL: Orlando rents on-street parking spaces for activities such as moving, construction, weddings and other special events that last less than 30 days.
Source: Apply for On-Street Space Rental, City of Orlando, Parking Division. Checked October 17, 2026.Hamilton, OH: Hamilton's Engineering Department lists reserving on-street parking spaces for moving vans as a typical use of its Parking Area permit.
Source: Engineering Department Applications (Cityworks permit portal), City of Hamilton, Engineering Department. Checked October 17, 2026.Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia's Department of Streets issues Temporary No Parking (TNP) permits for moving trucks, storage containers or PODs, and temporary dumpsters.
Source: Apply for a Temporary No Parking (TNP) permit, City of Philadelphia, Department of Streets. Checked October 20, 2026.
2. Check who's allowed to apply
For a truck, it's usually you. For a portable container or dumpster in the street, many cities issue the permit only to the container company, so ask about it when you book the delivery.
Denver, CO: Denver DOTI requires a permit for all dumpsters, roll-offs and other containers placed in the public right-of-way, and only the container company (holding a ROW Dumpster License) can obtain that permit.
Source: Right-of-Way & General Permits, City and County of Denver, Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. Checked October 13, 2026.San Francisco, CA: A Public Works Mobile Storage Container Permit is needed to put a moving or storage pod on any part of the street or sidewalk, and it is issued only to authorized container companies.
Source: Storage Container, San Francisco Public Works. Checked October 17, 2026.Boston, MA: Permits for moving containers must be applied for in person, with a letter of authorization from the container company, which must hold a bond with the City.
Source: Reserve A Parking Spot For Your Moving Truck, City of Boston, Office of the Parking Clerk. Checked October 20, 2026.New York City, NY: A commercial refuse container (dumpster) on a city street needs a DOT permit obtained by the carting company, and each permit covers one container for up to five consecutive days.
Source: NYC DOT - Commercial Refuse Container Permits, New York City Department of Transportation. Checked October 20, 2026.
3. Apply early: lead times range from one day to eight weeks
This is where most people get caught out. Count backwards from moving day, and remember that business days skip weekends and holidays.
Boston, MA: A standard permit reserves two spaces for one day, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and online applications must be made 15 days to eight weeks before the move.
Source: Reserve A Parking Spot For Your Moving Truck, City of Boston, Office of the Parking Clerk. Checked October 20, 2026.San Jose, CA: The city recommends applying for a Tow-Away Permit at least two weeks in advance.
Source: Tow-Away Permit FAQs, City of San José, Department of Transportation. Checked October 17, 2026.San Francisco, CA: The SFMTA asks for at least 5 business days between the application date and the first day the temporary signs are enforced, not counting legal holidays.
Source: Temporary Signage, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). Checked October 17, 2026.Philadelphia, PA: A Temporary No Parking permit must be applied for at least four business days before it is needed.
Source: Apply for a Temporary No Parking (TNP) permit, City of Philadelphia, Department of Streets. Checked October 20, 2026.Austin, TX: Austin says a right-of-way parking permit request must be submitted at least 3 business days before the requested date and paid for at least 2 business days before it.
Source: Right-of-Way Permits, City of Austin, Austin Transportation and Public Works. Checked October 17, 2026.Miami Beach, FL: Space rental requests must be submitted at least three business days ahead, or 15 business days ahead for non-metered or residential areas.
Source: Space Rentals, City of Miami Beach, Parking Department. Checked October 17, 2026.Orlando, FL: On-street space rental applications must be submitted and paid in full at least one business day before the requested start date.
Source: Apply for On-Street Space Rental, City of Orlando, Parking Division. Checked October 17, 2026.
4. Post the signs early, and get them verified
A reservation usually only counts if the signs went up a set time before it starts, often 48 or 72 hours, so drivers already parked there have notice. Some cities also require you to report or verify the signs. If they weren't posted in time, the city may refuse to tow the car that's in your spot.
Berkeley, CA: If the permit is approved, the No Parking signs must be posted at least 72 hours before the parking ban begins.
Source: Engineering Permits, City of Berkeley, Public Works Department. Checked October 17, 2026.Alameda, CA: The city's own example: for a moving truck arriving Friday at 8 a.m., the signs must be posted and police-verified by Wednesday at 8 a.m.
Source: No Parking Sign Permit, City of Alameda, Public Works Department. Checked October 17, 2026.Sausalito, CA: Signs posted or verified less than 72 hours ahead, or never verified, will not be enforced.
Source: Temporary No Parking Signs, City of Sausalito, Parking Services. Checked October 17, 2026.Somerville, MA: You must call 311 once the signs are posted to confirm they went up at least 48 hours before the parking restriction.
Source: Moving to Somerville: A New Resident's Guide, City of Somerville. Checked October 20, 2026.Boston, MA: The permit signs must be posted at least 48 hours before the 7 a.m. start, and the city recommends posting them three days ahead.
Source: Reserve A Parking Spot For Your Moving Truck, City of Boston, Office of the Parking Clerk. Checked October 20, 2026.Hamilton, OH: With a Parking Area permit, the applicant must post the city-supplied No Parking signs 72 hours before the parking spaces are closed.
Source: Engineering Department Applications (Cityworks permit portal), City of Hamilton, Engineering Department. Checked October 17, 2026.
5. Know what it costs
Fees for a moving-day reservation are usually modest compared with the time they save. Container permits can cost more.
Boston, MA: A one-day permit for two non-metered spaces costs $69 including two signs, and two metered spaces cost $40 more.
Source: Reserve A Parking Spot For Your Moving Truck, City of Boston, Office of the Parking Clerk. Checked October 20, 2026.Philadelphia, PA: A moving-truck permit costs $50 per 40 feet of space per day in Center City or University City, and $25 per 40 feet per day elsewhere in the city.
Source: Apply for a Temporary No Parking (TNP) permit, City of Philadelphia, Department of Streets. Checked October 20, 2026.Somerville, MA: A Somerville moving permit costs $50 for up to three days, signs are $5 each, and the city recommends two signs per spot.
Source: Moving to Somerville: A New Resident's Guide, City of Somerville. Checked October 20, 2026.Orlando, FL: A rented on-street space costs $22 per day, per space, plus sales tax.
Source: Apply for On-Street Space Rental, City of Orlando, Parking Division. Checked October 17, 2026.Miami Beach, FL: Miami Beach rents on-street parking spaces for moving needs, at a daily rate of $35 per space.
Source: Space Rentals, City of Miami Beach, Parking Department. Checked October 17, 2026.Hamilton, OH: The Parking Area permit reserves on-street spaces by calendar date for $10 per space per weekday, and weekend days and City holidays are reserved at no cost.
Source: Engineering Department Applications (Cityworks permit portal), City of Hamilton, Engineering Department. Checked October 17, 2026.Sausalito, CA: Temporary No Parking signs in non-metered spaces cost $3.00 per sign per day.
Source: Temporary No Parking Signs, City of Sausalito, Parking Services. Checked October 17, 2026.Georgetown, TX: Georgetown says the curbside storage-container permit may be approved for at most seven days and costs a total of $45.
Source: Do I need a permit for a POD-type storage in the Right of Way?, City of Georgetown, Ask GTX Knowledge Base. Checked October 17, 2026.Campbell, CA: Engineering Division staff review the proposed pod location, and if it's acceptable the permit is issued once the $211.14 fee is paid.
Source: Storage Container, City of Campbell, Public Works. Checked October 24, 2026.
6. Know what the signs don't do
A reservation holds ordinary parking spaces. It doesn't override red curbs, hydrant zones, disabled spaces, street-cleaning hours or existing no-stopping rules, and some cities don't reserve curb space at all.
San Francisco, CA: Temporary no-parking signs do not override existing rules such as street cleaning signs, No Stopping or No Parking signs, or red curb zones.
Source: Temporary Signage, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). Checked October 17, 2026.Sausalito, CA: The temporary signs do not override existing rules, including disabled spaces, colored curb zones or existing No Parking signs.
Source: Temporary No Parking Signs, City of Sausalito, Parking Services. Checked October 17, 2026.New York City, NY: NYC DOT does not issue permits to reserve curb space for temporary on-street parking of commercial vehicles for general pick-ups and deliveries.
Source: NYC DOT - Truck Driver FAQ, New York City Department of Transportation. Checked October 20, 2026.New York City, NY: The refuse container permit does not reserve a parking space for the container.
Source: NYC DOT - Commercial Refuse Container Permits, New York City Department of Transportation. Checked October 20, 2026.
Trucks and containers are often treated differently
A truck that leaves the same day is usually covered by temporary signs. A container that stays for days usually needs its own permit, with time limits and placement rules.
San Francisco, CA: Public Works says a moving truck or container on wheels does not need the container permit, and points renters to SFMTA tow signs instead.
Source: Storage Container, San Francisco Public Works. Checked October 17, 2026.Philadelphia, PA: A Temporary No Parking permit for a moving container or POD costs $50, and the container can stay for a maximum of five days.
Source: Apply for a Temporary No Parking (TNP) permit, City of Philadelphia, Department of Streets. Checked October 20, 2026.Campbell, CA: To help residents move in and out, Campbell allows a storage container (pod) on the public street for up to 60 days, as long as it doesn't interfere with traffic or visibility.
Source: Storage Container, City of Campbell, Public Works. Checked October 24, 2026.Alameda, CA: A portable storage unit such as a POD needs both an Encroachment Permit and a No Parking Sign Permit.
Source: No Parking Sign Permit, City of Alameda, Public Works Department. Checked October 17, 2026.
If your city has no reservation process
- Use the loading exception. Many cities let a truck stand on a residential street while it's actively being loaded or unloaded, even where trucks are otherwise banned. Check the time limit.
- Use the driveway. A container on private property often needs no permit, or only a simpler one.
- Ask neighbors to leave a gap the night before, and move your own cars out of the way early.
- Check permit-parking and snow rules for the street. See permit parking on moving day and snow emergencies and winter parking.
Find the rules for your city
We've recorded the move-day rules for more than 1,900 cities, with sources. Start with your state's moving-permit guide, or see what we found across all of them.