Guide
DC Moving Parking Permits
Reserving the curb keeps the truck at your door and off the next block. This guide covers who issues the permit in DC, Arlington, Alexandria, Rockville, and the rest of Montgomery County, how far ahead each one needs your request, and what to do if a car is in your space on move day.
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Find out whether you need a permit at all
A permit only matters if the truck has to park on a public street. A loading dock, an alley behind the building, or a driveway does away with the whole process, so ask the building or landlord at both addresses before you apply for anything.
- Ask where moving trucks park and whether that space has to be reserved.
- If there is a loading dock, ask for its clearance height and reserve a time slot in writing. A 15 foot box truck needs about 12 feet.
- If the only option is the street, note whether the curb is metered, zoned for residential permits, or open.
- Check both addresses. The two ends of a move often fall under different governments with different deadlines.
Washington, DC
DDOT permit and Emergency No Parking signs
The District Department of Transportation reserves curb space through a public space permit. The permit alone does not hold the space. The printed signs do, and only when they go up on time.
- Apply online in TOPS, DDOT's permit system, at tops.ddot.dc.gov. Use the Parking/Occupancy section and choose a moving truck.
- Pay online once the permit is approved. DDOT's FAQ lists a $50 fee plus any meter fees, and TOPS shows the current amount.
- Print the Emergency No Parking signs at a DDOT kiosk or at the permit office. The permit can be printed anywhere, but the signs cannot be printed at home. Kiosks are at police district stations around the city.
- Post the signs at least 72 hours ahead on a residential block without meters, or at least 24 hours ahead at metered spaces in a commercial area. Signs posted late cannot be enforced.
- One reserved parking permit covers up to four curbside spaces for up to 16 hours.
- For metered spaces, DDOT asks for requests to take meters out of service at least seven working days ahead.
- Follow the verification steps printed on the back of the signs, and take a dated photo of each sign once it is up.
- Moving trucks cannot park against posted rush-hour or street sweeping restrictions, so read the signs on your block before you choose a start time.
- Take the signs down as soon as the move is done.
Arlington, VA
Moving Van/Container Permit
Arlington County issues a permit for a moving truck parked on a public street. Buildings with a loading dock and homes with a driveway do not need one.
- Apply online in Permit Arlington at least five business days before your move date.
- A moving truck can be permitted for up to two days in a row.
- The application asks for the address, your dates, the truck's dimensions, a picture showing exactly where it will park, and the ID numbers of any parking meters in that space.
- The truck has to sit against the curb, at least 20 feet from the corner, clear of hydrants, stop signs, and neighbors' driveways.
- The truck has to be marked with reflective cones or tape while it is parked.
- The county will not issue a permit that conflicts with another permit or event at the same spot, so apply early for end-of-month dates.
- The approved permit arrives by email. Fees are listed on the county's fee schedule.
Alexandria, VA
Temporary reserved parking
Alexandria is a city, separate from Arlington and Fairfax counties, and it runs its own permit. The city posts the signs for you.
- Apply online in APEX, the city's permit system, or in person at the permit office at 4850 Mark Center Drive.
- Applications are due by noon, three full business days before you need the space. Weekends and holidays do not count.
- A non-metered space costs $30 a day, and a metered space costs $40 a day.
- No-parking signs cost $10 each per day.
- For a problem with the sign installation, call 703-746-4035 on weekdays from 8am to 5pm.
- Fees are not refunded unless the signs were not posted.
Rockville, MD
Temporary no-parking signs from the city
Rockville is its own city inside Montgomery County. If the truck has to park on a city street, Rockville will post temporary no-parking signs for a move.
- Submit the city's online request form at least five business days ahead.
- Residents, renters, and property managers can all request signs.
- The form asks for the address, the dates and times, and how much curb you need, from 15 to 50 feet.
- Standard hours are 8am to 5pm.
- The Parking Enforcement Unit contacts you to confirm the request and handles placing the signs.
- Questions go to the unit at 240-314-8920, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Montgomery County, MD
Bethesda and Silver Spring
Bethesda and Silver Spring are unincorporated, so the county runs their streets. As of October 2026 we have not found a county moving-truck permit that residents can apply for on residential streets.
- Downtown, use the building's loading dock and ask for its clearance height.
- Where there is no dock and the curb is metered, call the county's Division of Parking Management at 240-777-8740 well ahead of your move and ask about reserving meters for a moving truck.
- On residential streets the truck uses a driveway or a legal space near your door. Park your own cars in front of the house the night before and pull them out when the truck arrives.
- Takoma Park and the other incorporated cities and towns in the county set their own street rules, so check with the town if your address is inside one.
Move day
If a car is parked in your reserved space
A posted space is only useful if it is empty when the truck pulls up. Check it an hour before the crew arrives.
- In DC, call 311, ask for parking enforcement, and have your permit number ready.
- In Alexandria, call the police non-emergency line at 703-746-4444.
- Keep the permit and your dated photos of the signs on your phone.
- Tell your crew lead right away, so a second plan such as the alley or the nearest legal space is in place before the truck arrives.
Timeline
When to apply, counting back from move day
Lead times were last checked in October 2026 against DDOT, Arlington County, the City of Alexandria, and the City of Rockville. Fees and rules change, so confirm on the official page before you apply.
- DC, metered spaces. Ask for the meters to be taken out of service at least seven working days ahead, and post signs at least 24 hours before.
- DC, residential block. Apply about two weeks ahead, so the signs can be printed and posted 72 hours before.
- Arlington. At least five business days ahead.
- Rockville. At least five business days ahead.
- Alexandria. By noon, three full business days ahead.
- Any building. Reserve the dock and the freight elevator three to four weeks ahead, and reconfirm two days before.
FAQ
Parking permit questions, answered
Do I need a parking permit to move in DC?
Only if the truck will park on a public street. A DDOT permit with posted Emergency No Parking signs is the only way to reserve that space. With a loading dock, an alley, or a driveway you can skip it.
How far ahead should I apply for a moving permit?
In DC, apply about two weeks ahead so the signs can be posted 72 hours before the move, and allow seven working days if meters are involved. Arlington and Rockville need five business days. Alexandria needs your application by noon, three full business days ahead.
How much does a moving permit cost?
It depends on the jurisdiction. Alexandria charges $30 a day for a non-metered space, $40 a day for a metered space, and $10 a day for each sign. DDOT's FAQ lists a $50 fee plus any meter fees, and TOPS shows the current amount. Arlington lists its fee on the county fee schedule. Buildings set their own move fees and deposits, so ask the management office.
Where do I print DC's no-parking signs?
At a DDOT kiosk or the permit office. Kiosks are at police district stations around the city. The signs cannot be printed at home.
Can Lift & Chill help with permits and COIs?
We provide the certificate of insurance for your building at no charge, so send us the building's requirement sheet when you book. For street parking, give us both addresses and we will tell you which permit each block needs and settle with you who applies and who posts the signs.
What happens if I don't reserve parking?
The crew parks in the closest legal space, which can mean a long carry and a longer day. On a busy block the truck may have to circle, and a truck left in a travel lane or a restricted zone can be ticketed.
Is there a moving truck permit in Bethesda or Silver Spring?
As of October 2026 we have not found a Montgomery County moving-truck permit for residential streets. For metered spaces downtown, call the Division of Parking Management at 240-777-8740. Rockville is separate and posts temporary no-parking signs on request.
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