Moving tips · LA County & Orange County
How to reserve a truck parking spot for your move
Our trucks are 26 feet long. It needs about two car spaces plus room behind it for the ramp/liftgate. Here’s how to hold that space legally, city by city, so moving day doesn’t start with circling the block.
26 ft
Our truck. Plan for ~40 ft of curb
7-10 Days
When to start if your city needs a permit
72 hrs
Typical sign-posting deadline before the move
WHY IT MATTERS
Parking is the part of a move people forget
Packing gets planned. Parking usually doesn’t. Then the truck shows up and the only open curb is a red one, or a spot half a block away.
That costs you in two ways. Every extra minute the crew spends walking furniture down the street is a minute on your hourly bill. And if the truck has to double-park or sit somewhere it shouldn’t, the ticket goes to you. We say this upfront: customers cover parking tickets during the move, including ones that aren’t anybody’s fault.
A reserved spot fixes both. If you’re still choosing a crew, our Los Angeles movers can look at your street and tell you whether you need a permit at all.
What a good spot looks like
- Straight curb, about 40 feet long
- Directly in front of your door or driveway
- No red curb, hydrant or driveway in the way
- No street sweeping during your move window
- No overhead branches or wires below ~13 ft
QUICK CHECK
Do you even need a permit?
Not always. A lot of LA and OC streets have plenty of room. Walk your block a few days before the move, at the same time of day the truck will arrive, and look honestly.
Probably fine without one
Wide residential street, open curb most mornings, no permit-only or time-limit signs. Houses with long driveways often fall here too.
Hold spots yourself
Parking is tight but legal. Park two of your own cars out front the night before and move them when we arrive. Ask a neighbor if you only have one car.
Get the permit
Dense areas like West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Koreatown, Hollywood or DTLA. Metered streets. Permit-only blocks. Narrow hillside or beach streets. Any city that requires a permit for a truck our size.
STEP BY STEP
How to reserve the spot
The process is close to the same everywhere. The details — who issues the signs, how far ahead, what it costs — change by city. Those are in the next section.
1. Confirm who controls the curb
Incorporated city? Go to that city. Unincorporated area like Altadena or Marina del Rey? That's LA County. Private street, gated community or most of Irvine's villages? That's your HOA or property manager, not the city.
2. Ask your building first
Apartments and condos often have a loading dock or a reserved loading zone. Ask about move hours, elevator booking and whether they need a certificate of insurance from us. This alone can make a street permit unnecessary.
3. Measure and pick the exact space
You'll need the address, the side of the street and the length — tell the city 26 ft truck, about 40 ft of curb. Take a photo of the posted signs on the block. Note any street-sweeping day.
4. Apply 7–10 days before the move
Some cities process in a day. Others want 10 days or recommend 8 business days. Have your ID, proof of address, move date and hours ready. Applying early leaves room for a reschedule.
5. Post the signs on time
This is where most permits fail. Many cities only enforce signs posted 24–72 hours ahead, and some want you to call the police or parking enforcement so they can log the posting. Write the date and hours clearly. Don't cover existing signs.
6. Keep the permit handy on moving day
Have a copy on your phone. If someone parks in the space anyway, call the parking enforcement number for your city — not us, we can't move other people's cars. Take the signs down when we're done; some cities charge a removal fee if you don't.
CITY BY CITY
Where to get the permit in LA County and Orange County
Fees and rules below come from each city’s own pages, checked in October 2026. Cities change them, so confirm before you pay.
Los Angeles County
City of Los Angeles
Hollywood, Koreatown, DTLA, Westwood, Valley
Permit: LA doesn’t offer residents a simple moving permit the way smaller cities do. Most people use a building loading zone, hold spots with their own cars, or hire a private permit service.
Overnight: In Oversize Vehicle Restricted Areas, vehicles over 22 ft can’t park 2–6 AM without a $10 daily permit. Only matters if a truck stays overnight.
Where: LADOT Parking Permits · (310) 843-5936
West Hollywood
Required for our 26-ft truck
Permit: Encroachment (moving) permit. Required for vehicles over 24 ft on residential streets. The city posts the signs for you.
Timing: Signs go up at least 72 hours before a residential move. The city recommends applying 8 business days ahead. No refunds.
Cost: Ask [email protected] for current rates.
Where: weho.org – Moving Permits · Enforcement (323) 650-6757
Beverly Hills
Signs from City Hall
Permit: Buy “No Parking” signs at City Hall, 455 N. Rexford Dr. The receipt number is your permit number. Moves north of Santa Monica Blvd don’t need signs.
Timing: Post at least 72 hours ahead, then call BHPD at (310) 550-4875. Residential moves: 8 AM–6 PM.
Cost: $7.85 per sign, 2 minimum. Street sweeping still applies.
Santa Monica
Apply by email
Permit: Temporary No Parking (TNP) signs. Email the form, then pick up the signs at City Hall East.
Timing: Done at least 24 hours before the start. You post the signs; police inspect them. City Hall closes on alternate Fridays — plan around that.
Cost: 2026 form: $107.75 application + $2.04 per sign. Leave signs up, and you can be charged a removal fee per sign.
Pasadena
26 ft+ needs a permit
Permit: Trucks 26 ft and longer need a Moving Vehicle Permit. Shorter trucks can reserve curb with Temporary No Parking signs.
Timing: Apply 10 days before. Post signs 24 hours ahead and call (626) 744-6440. Moving trucks: 7 AM–7 PM only.
Cost: $84 permit, includes up to 4 signs. Meter fees extra.
Long Beach
Call Street Operations
Permit: For a designated no-parking area for a moving van, the city sends you to Street Operations. Residents can also get a temporary oversized vehicle permit.
Contact: Street Operations (562) 570-2726 · Parking Enforcement (562) 570-2866
Where: longbeach.gov – Oversized Vehicle Permit
Unincorporated LA County
Altadena, Marina del Rey, East LA
Who: LA County Public Works handles parking rules; the Sheriff’s Department enforces them. Some communities now restrict large vehicles, so ask before planning to park overnight.
Contact: [email protected] · (626) 300-4888
Other LA County cities
Glendale, Burbank, Culver City, Torrance…
Each city runs its own process. Search “[city] temporary no parking signs” or call the city’s parking office or police non-emergency line. Ask three things: is a permit needed for a 26-ft truck, how far ahead, and who posts the signs.
Orange County
Huntington Beach
Vehicles over 22 ft
Permit: Oversized Vehicle permit for vehicles longer than 22 ft. Free, residents only, park in front of your home. Covers loading and unloading.
Limits: Up to 3 days at a time. Street sweeping still applies.
Irvine
Start with your HOA
Most Irvine villages, apartment communities and gated neighborhoods sit on private streets. The HOA or leasing office sets move hours and where a truck can stand. Ask them first. For a public street, check with Irvine’s police or parking staff.
Newport & Laguna Beach
Narrow streets, beach crowds
Balboa Island, the Peninsula and Laguna’s hillside streets are tight, and summer weekends are packed. Newport limits large trucks in residential areas except while loading or unloading. Call the city a week out and avoid summer Saturdays if you can.
Anaheim, Santa Ana, Orange & the rest
Call the city
Rules vary. Many OC cities let a truck load on a legal curb without a permit but ban large vehicles overnight. Call the city’s parking or police non-emergency line and ask before you book an overnight truck.
CHECKLIST
The day before and the morning of
Day before
- Check that your signs are still up and readable;
- Park your cars in the space if you’re holding it yourself;
- Tell close neighbors what time the truck comes;
- Confirm elevator or dock time with the building.
Moving morning
- Clear the space 15 minutes before arrival;
- Keep the permit on your phone;
- Text the crew lead a photo of the spot;
- Save your city’s parking enforcement number.
Don't forget the other end
- Your new address needs a spot too;
- It may be in a different city with different rules;
- Ask the landlord or HOA there the same questions.
READ THE CURB
Curb colors, in plain words
Even with a permit, curb paint and posted signs still apply. Here’s what each color means for a moving truck in California.
RED. Red: No stopping, ever. A truck can’t load here.
YELLOW Yellow: Commercial loading during posted hours. Sometimes usable, but time limits are short.
WHIT E White: Passenger pickup, a few minutes. Not for a move.
GREEN . Green: Short time limit, usually 15–30 minutes.
BLU E Blue: Disabled placard only. Never block it.
F.A.Q.
Common questions
For a few minutes, maybe. For a three-hour load, no. It blocks traffic, it’s often a ticket, and the ticket is yours.
If your signs were posted on time and verified, call your city’s parking enforcement. They can cite or tow. If the signs went up late, they usually can’t, which is why timing matters.
Most cities issue moving permits to residents, so it usually has to be in your name. We’ll tell you what to ask for, the truck length and how much curb you need.
Yes. Unloading takes about as long as loading. Plan both ends.
Sometimes. A few cities set permit cutoffs at 22–25 ft. But a smaller truck can mean two trips, which costs more time than the permit saves. Call us and we’ll talk through it.