How to Read the NYC Broom Parking Sign

Updated 2026-10-05

The red-and-white sign with a broom symbol is NYC's street cleaning sign. It means: no parking on this side of the street during these days and hours, so the Sanitation sweeper can reach the curb.

The parts of the sign

• NO PARKING + broom — a street cleaning (alternate side) regulation.
• Days — e.g. MONDAY THURSDAY means both days; EXCEPT SUNDAY means Monday through Saturday.
• Hours — the window you must be gone for, often 90 minutes, sometimes 30 minutes on commercial streets.
• Arrows — a double arrow ↔ means the rule applies on both sides of the post; a single arrow points along the stretch of curb it covers.
• Moon and stars — a night regulation, e.g. midnight–3 AM on busy commercial avenues.

No parking vs. no standing vs. no stopping

“No parking” still lets you stop to drop off or pick up passengers and to load or unload. “No standing” only allows quick passenger drop-offs. “No stopping” allows neither. Street cleaning signs are “no parking” signs.

It only covers its own side

Each curb has its own sign and usually its own days. Before you walk away, check the sign on the side where your car is — or let Broomday check it: it knows the posted rules for both sides of every NYC block.

Sources

NYC DOT parking regulations sign legend · NYC DOT 2026 calendar