KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco/YouTube
Finding parking in a major city can be a headache, and paying for it isn’t much better. But in San Francisco, one resident suspects some wealthy homeowners may have found a cheaper way to secure a spot by taking advantage of the city’s construction permit system.
Greg Long, a 56-year-old product designer who lives in the affluent Presidio Heights neighborhood, began looking into the issue after noticing 14 temporary no-parking signs along one side of his street. With several nearby homes undergoing renovations, six of the street’s eight available parking spaces had been taken out of use, he documented on Instagram. Long began to question whether all those spaces were actually needed for construction work.
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“It’s just extremely easy in San Francisco to get a permit. You can get it without actually having any construction done to your home or property, you can put down landscaping as an excuse for getting a permit, and the cost isn’t really all that expensive,” Long told KTVU.
In his Instagram reel, Long scanned one of the permits on his street and discovered that it had expired and didn’t authorize towing. Although he acknowledged that most of the signs appeared legitimate, he questioned whether the city was doing enough to prevent misuse.
The cost of claiming a parking spot
San Francisco allows property owners to temporarily reserve curbside space for construction, landscaping and other approved projects. According to San Francisco Public Works, a standard street space permit costs $209 per month for every 20 linear feet, with additional fees for occupying metered parking.
Property owners can apply online, but Long is concerned about how easily someone can obtain a permit and how much oversight there is once it’s issued.
“But you apply online, you submit nothing and the city doesn’t have the resources to follow up,” Long explained in his Instagram reel. “That’s a system that’s easy to abuse.”
Long said Public Works confirmed to him in writing that it lacks the resources to monitor permit activity. Violations can carry fines of up to $1,000 per day.
San Francisco isn’t alone in facing these concerns. In February 2025, Boston city councilors Sharon Durkan and John FitzGerald called for a hearing after residents complained about contractors occupying public parking spaces with expired permits and unauthorized no-parking signs, according to The Boston Sun.
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On Sept. 18, 2025, the issue had reached a city council hearing, where officials discussed ways to improve oversight and enforcement. For residents in neighborhoods where parking is already hard to come by, it’s another example of how a system meant to accommodate construction can create headaches for everyone else.
Who’s keeping an eye on the permits?
In a statement to Moneywise, Public Works spokesperson Rachel Gordon said the city expects permit holders to follow the rules and use temporary street spaces only for their approved purpose.
“We expect permitholders to abide by the rules and not abuse the system,” Gordon said. “If we get a complaint of an expired street space permit, or that the street space permit is not being used for its sanctioned purpose, we will conduct a timely investigation and, if warranted, take enforcement action.”
That enforcement could include fines of up to $1,000 a day.
Gordon also said city data suggests permit misuse isn’t a widespread problem, but confirmed that complaints submitted through San Francisco’s 311 customer service center would be investigated.
Still, some residents are questioning why the responsibility falls on them to flag potential violations in the first place.
“That is interesting that it puts it on the residents, ’cause you would think that we could have some funding. I mean the meter maids are always out there,” Presidio Heights resident Hannah Rutter told KTVU.
Long hasn’t submitted a formal complaint to the city. However, he noticed that some of the no-parking signs disappeared after his video began attracting attention online. Whether the two are connected remains unclear.
He would like to see stricter requirements for people applying for temporary parking permits and hopes city officials will consider whether more safeguards are needed.
Anyone who’s spent 20 minutes circling the block looking for parking knows how frustrating it can be. And in cities where spots are already hard to come by, the last thing residents need is someone taking up public parking they don’t actually need.
Of course, construction crews need space to do their jobs. But there’s a difference between reserving a spot for legitimate work and using a permit to make parking more convenient for yourself. Being a good neighbour means being considerate of the people who have to share those spaces.
And if you come across a temporary no-parking sign in San Francisco, it’s worth checking the details. According to San Francisco Public Works, signs must be posted at least 72 hours before the restrictions take effect, and the city must verify them before towing can be authorized.
If a sign appears to be expired or isn’t being used for its intended purpose, residents can report suspected violations through 311. Checking the permit details and confirming any restrictions with the city before parking could help you avoid an expensive mistake.
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This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: San Francisco residents accuse rich drivers of using $209 loophole for parking spaces — city threatens $1K-a-day fines
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