A San Francisco resident has exposed a little-known way to reserve free street parking in one of the nation’s most congested parking markets — prompting outrage among neighbors.
Greg Long, a 56-year-old product designer, said on social media that he became suspicious after counting 14 “no stopping” tow-away signs along his side of a street in Presidio Heights.
The signs eliminated six of the area’s eight parking spaces, Long said. He also posted video showing one tow-away sign that remained in place even though its permit had expired in May.
Long later discovered that residents can pay roughly $350 a month to place one of the signs outside their home and effectively reserve the curb space. The permit requires an $851 application fee, followed by a monthly charge of $209 for each 20-foot section of curb.
Long contacted the city’s Public Works department, which told him it lacks the resources to monitor permit activity but can investigate complaints.
“This is a system that’s easy to abuse,” Long said. “It’s simple to pull a street permit, you need no documentation, and enforcement comes only when your neighbor complains.”
According to the city’s website, these street-space permits are generally intended to support construction work at private residences. That can include relatively small projects, such as landscaping and other “minor building repairs.”
Public Works pushed back on the suggestion that the permit system is being widely exploited. In a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle, the department said, “we have no reason to believe it’s a rampant issue.”
The agency issued approximately 8,600 tow-away sign permits last year, and the Chronicle reported that the total is expected to be similar this year.
Public Works said it welcomes complaints. If someone violates the permitting process and refuses to correct the problem, penalties can reach as much as $1,000 a day.
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Even so, Long’s video appeared to reinforce existing suspicions — and anger — over the tow-away signs residents regularly encounter on San Francisco streets.
“2900 Jackson Street (at Broderick) has been under construction since I moved into the neighborhood in 2005,” one commenter claimed.
Another user described the situation in Presidio Heights as “a huge issue,” adding: “Trying to park during the day?… University High and construction sign on 70% of the blocks… forget about it!!”
City Supervisor Stephen Sherrill also weighed in, telling Long that he had checked the dates on an expired sign near his home.
“A lot of people are sneaky,” Sherrill said. “They leave their signs up after they expire, so take a look at those dates.”
Parking disputes and alleged attempts to manipulate the system have been a persistent problem across San Francisco. In 2024, a viral Reddit post described one incident in which a neighbor allegedly put up a homemade “no parking” sign.
Long said his goal is ultimately to raise awareness about how the permit system is being used.
“Part of what I’m doing is just showing people like, ‘Hey, let’s just try to be neighborly – if your sign’s done, take it down,’” he told the Chronicle. “Don’t try and abuse this loophole.”
