CVC 21113(a)Civil notice: contested with the issuing agency

Parking on Public Grounds Without Authorization

Driving, stopping, parking or leaving a vehicle standing on the driveways, paths, parking facilities or grounds of public property the section lists, such as a public school, a state or county park, a municipal airport or a transit district.

Reviewed by the TicketClear teamLast reviewed October 10, 2026

Fine: check your noticeDMV Points: None

This guide is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. TicketClear is a self-help document preparation service — we are not attorneys and do not represent clients. Review all prepared documents carefully before submitting. Fine amounts are estimates and vary by county and surcharge schedule.

Parking and toll-evasion tickets are civil notices

This kind of ticket is not a court traffic case and is not contested by Trial by Written Declaration. You contest it with the agency that issued the notice: first an initial review, then an administrative hearing, and after that you can appeal to the superior court (Vehicle Code 40215 and 40230). Deadlines are short and run from the date on your notice, so check it.

Driving onto these grounds is different. If an officer gave you a court citation for driving a vehicle there, rather than a notice for stopping, parking or leaving it standing, it is a court infraction: the 2026 Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedules list CVC 21113(a)(1), unlawful driving on public grounds, at $234 with no DMV point, and you can contest it by trial by written declaration (Vehicle Code 40902).

What is a Parking on Public Grounds Without Authorization ticket?

CVC 21113(a)(1) says a person shall not drive a vehicle or animal, or stop, park, or leave standing a vehicle or animal, whether attended or unattended, upon the driveways, paths, parking facilities, or grounds of the places it lists. They include public schools, state universities, state colleges, and tax-exempt educational institutions; state parks; county parks; municipal airports; transit districts and other public transportation agencies; property under the direct control of a city's legislative body; state, county, or hospital district institutions or buildings; harbor districts; housing authorities; and state grounds served by the California Highway Patrol. Under (a)(2), these activities may be performed with the permission of, and subject to any condition or regulation imposed by, the governing body or officer in charge of the place.

What the Law Says

(a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a person shall not drive a vehicle or animal, or stop, park, or leave standing a vehicle or animal, whether attended or unattended, upon the driveways, paths, parking facilities, or the grounds of any of the following: (A) A public school, state university, state college, or an educational institution exempted, in whole or in part, from taxation. (B) A unit of the state park system. (C) A county park. (D) A municipal airport. (E) A rapid transit district, transit development board, transit district, public transportation agency, county transportation commission created pursuant to Section 130050 of the Public Utilities Code, or a joint powers agency operating or managing a commuter rail system. (F) Any property under the direct control of the legislative body of a municipality. (G) A state, county, or hospital district institution or building. (H) Any harbor improvement district or harbor district formed pursuant to Part 2 (commencing with Section 5800) or Part 3 (commencing with Section 6000) of Division 8 of the Harbors and Navigation Code. (I) A district organized pursuant to Part 3 (commencing with Section 27000) of Division 16 of the Streets and Highways Code. (J) State grounds served by the Department of the California Highway Patrol. (K) Any property under the possession or control of a housing authority formed pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 34240) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 24 of the Health and Safety Code. (2) The activities described in paragraph (1) may be performed with the permission of, and upon and subject to any condition or regulation that may be imposed by, the legislative body of the municipality, or the governing board or officer of the public school, state university, state college, county park, municipal airport, rapid transit district, transit development board, transit district, public transportation agency, county transportation commission, joint powers agency operating or managing a commuter rail system, or state, county, or hospital district institution or building, or educational institution, or harbor district, or a district organized pursuant to Part 3 (commencing with Section 27000) of Division 16 of the Streets and Highways Code, or housing authority, or the Director of Parks and Recreation regarding units of the state park system or the state agency with jurisdiction over the grounds served by the Department of the California Highway Patrol.

What the Officer Must Prove

1You drove, stopped, parked, or left standing a vehicle upon the driveways, paths, parking facilities, or grounds of a place listed in CVC 21113(a)(1)

Arguments Commonly Raised for Parking on Public Grounds Without Authorization

General information: arguments drivers commonly raise for this code section. Whether any applies depends on your own facts.

Permission

CVC 21113(a)(2) says these activities may be performed with the permission of, and subject to any condition or regulation imposed by, the governing body or officer in charge of the place. If you had permission, such as a permit, describe it and include a copy.

The place

The section covers the driveways, paths, parking facilities, or grounds of the places it lists. If you were somewhere else, describe where.

Signs for special conditions

CVC 21113(b) says the governing board, legislative body, or officer shall erect or place appropriate signs giving notice of any special conditions or regulations imposed under the section, and keep a written statement of them available for examination. If you were cited for breaking a condition, such as a permit rule, describe the signs that were posted and include photos.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

✗Not keeping a copy of any permit you had
✗Not photographing the location and any posted signs

What this code section covers (general information)

CVC 21113(a) — Parking on Public Grounds Without Authorization. Driving, stopping, parking or leaving a vehicle standing on the driveways, paths, parking facilities or grounds of public property the section lists, such as a public school, a state or county park, a municipal airport or a transit district.

This is a fixed-rule section: it describes a specific act or limit. The question is whether the facts show that act: what happened, where, and how it was observed or measured.

Eligible for Trial by Written Declaration: no — parking and toll-evasion penalties are civil notices reviewed by the agency that issued them, not court infractions.

This is general information about CVC 21113(a). It is not advice about your citation, and TicketClear does not evaluate anyone's facts. Whether any of it applies depends on your own facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed California attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions About Parking on Public Grounds Without Authorization

Can I park on these grounds with permission?▼

Yes. CVC 21113(a)(2) says the activities in (a)(1) may be performed with the permission of, and subject to any condition or regulation imposed by, the governing body or officer in charge of the place.

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