Denver Moving Permit: Truck Parking, Fees & Rules

Permit Summary

Permit status

Permit required

Official permit name

Revocable Street Occupancy Permit (RSOP); Parking Meter Covering Permit (for metered parking)

Authority

City and County of Denver Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI), Right-of-Way Services

Fee

Denver's currently linked DOTI consolidated fee schedule (effective January 1, 2024) lists a $125 administrative review fee and a $50 issuance/inspection fee for residential street occupancy, plus applicable occupancy/closure charges depending on location and scope. Meter-bagging charges depend on meter location, number of meters, and days reserved. One-time container placement is $125 for the first five days, then $4.50 per additional day on residential streets or $7.50 per additional day on collector/arterial streets. Non-standard or expedited review and other applicable fees may add charges.

Processing time

The July 30, 2025 DOTI Right-of-Way application specifies minimum review times of five full business days for residential streets and ten full business days for collector/arterial roads, excluding the submission day. DOTI says meter-bagging requests can take up to 72 hours to process and should be filed at least one week ahead; same-day meter service is unavailable. Incomplete applications or complex traffic control can extend review.

Inspection required

Sometimes

Moving Permit Scope

Permit Scope

DOTI regulates temporary occupancy or reservation of Denver public right-of-way for moving trucks and vans, including curbside parking lanes. At unmetered locations the moving-truck pathway is a street occupancy request; at metered spaces it is a parking-meter covering request. A separate right-of-way occupancy approval may be needed for associated closures or additional occupation. Containers have a distinct provider-obtained permit process.

Moving Equipment Covered

Moving trucks and vans parked in the street; where relevant, portable storage pods, dumpsters, roll-offs, and other containers placed in the public right-of-way. A trailer or similar item with wheels and a license plate is not covered by Denver's annual dumpster/container permit category, although street-occupancy or meter permission may still apply.

Vehicle Eligibility Rules

Denver's moving-truck guidance expressly covers both trucks and vans and selects the application route by whether the location has parking meters. The residential vehicle-specific parking permit is not a substitute for curbside moving authorization: Denver's resident-permit conditions exclude vehicles over 22 feet and storage containers and trailers. DOTI must approve the requested occupancy and its traffic-control setup.

Moving Container Rules

Containers or pods in the public right-of-way require a Revocable Street Occupancy Permit obtained by the local container company, which first needs a Denver ROW Dumpster License. One-time permit applications use E-Permits and an applicable traffic control plan. Containers must fit in the parking lane, remain at least 20 feet from corners, ramps, alleys and entrances, avoid sidewalks, tree lawns, traffic lanes, hydrants, no-parking and loading zones, and display permit and company details. They need reflective markings or lit barricades and are subject to city inspection. No more than 180 days of placement in any consecutive 12 months at an address; annual permits do not cover arterial/collector or metered placements.

Parking & Reserved Space

Reserved space size

DOTI does not publish a single standard curb length for a moving truck or van; the requested work/parking area is depicted in the traffic control plan or by individual meter numbers. For a one-time container RSOP, DOTI allows up to 40 linear feet of parking lane and no more than two containers per application; metered container requests specify two meters.

Location Restrictions

Requested moving-truck spaces must be within DOTI-approved curb/parking areas, not an unauthorized travel, bicycle or pedestrian route, crosswalk, alley access or posted restricted zone. Work or closures affecting collector/arterial roads, downtown and other high-use areas may require enhanced DOTI review or coordination. Containers have the additional 20-foot clearance, parking-lane and access restrictions described in moving_container_rules.

Metered Parking Rules

Metered moving locations require a Parking Meter Covering Permit and specified meter numbers. DOTI accepts online meter-bagging requests through https://denvergov.cmrpay.com/dashboard/landing; its instructions direct requests made less than 72 business hours ahead to the Parking Meter Request Form emailed to dotipermitoperations@denvergov.org. Yellow bags reserve spaces for the permittee; red bags prohibit all parking, even loading. The city checks meter availability, and fees depend on the meters and dates. There is no charge for meters on city holidays. A separate ROW occupancy permit may also be needed when the activity occupies or closes additional public right-of-way.

Timing & Permit Duration

Application lead time

For unmetered occupancy, submit at least five full business days before a residential-street move or ten full business days before use of a collector/arterial street; do not count the submission day. For meter bagging, DOTI recommends at least one week ahead, says processing may take up to 72 hours, and does not offer same-day service. Meter requests within 72 business hours use the emailed form rather than the preferred online route; payment is due at least four hours before the start of meter use.

Maximum permit duration

Moving-truck street-occupancy permits are issued for DOTI-approved dates and times rather than a published fixed citywide move duration. Meter-covering permits specify their reserved dates and are generally not issued more than 90 days in advance (an advance-issuance limit, not a 90-day occupancy allowance). Container placement in the right-of-way may not exceed 180 days in any consecutive 12 months at an address.

Temporary No Parking Signs

No parking signs required

Sometimes

Sign posting lead time

For an approved closure of an unmetered parking lane, DOTI requires temporary No Parking signs at least 24 hours before the closure. Metered spaces use city-approved meter bags; DOTI recommends applying one week ahead and does not provide same-day bagging.

Sign Posting Rules

For unmetered parking-lane closures, the permittee places MUTCD-compliant No Parking signs with clearly consistent effective dates/hours as shown on the approved traffic control plan. DOTI's general procedures say signs should be no more than 150 feet apart; the standard residential 'Street – No Parking' plan illustrates roughly 20–25-foot spacing and TOW AWAY ZONE wording. DOTI's meter shop handles placement/removal of red or yellow bags on approved meters. Keep sidewalks and accessible paths clear; signs and barriers must follow the approved plan.

Enforcement & Street Restrictions

Enforcement / Towing Rules

Properly posted temporary No Parking/Tow Away Zones and red-bagged meters are subject to parking enforcement; DOTI states vehicles parked at red-bagged meters will be ticketed and towed. Yellow meter bags restrict use to the specified permittee. DOTI's unmetered parking-lane procedure requires at least 24 hours of advance sign posting. Unauthorized street/sidewalk/alley occupancy may result in additional enforcement and non-standard occupancy fees; right-of-way enforcement or parking dispatch is reached at 720-913-1600.

Traffic / Street Restrictions

A traffic control plan is required for a right-of-way closure, depicting travel and parking lanes, accessible pedestrian paths, bike lanes, signs, barriers and the requested work zone. Collectors and arterials require additional review and at least ten business days for occupancy-permit processing. DOTI must approve lane, sidewalk, bicycle, bus-stop or intersection impacts and may require specialized control or detours. The residential standard No Parking plan forbids blocking sidewalks. Downtown moves affecting regulated curb access or closures may require additional coordination.

What You Need Before Applying

Requirements

Obtain DOTI authorization before using or reserving public street/parking space for a moving truck or van. For unmetered locations, submit a right-of-way street occupancy request and traffic control plan through Denver E-Permits; DOTI's moving-truck FAQ also provides an email intake address. For metered curb space, request the affected meters through DOTI Permit Operations or its online meter-bagging system. Use only approved dates, times, locations and traffic control measures.

Exemptions

A move entirely on private property that does not use or reserve public right-of-way does not trigger DOTI's street-occupancy or meter-bagging process solely for moving. There is no blanket exemption for a moving truck or van parked in a Denver public street: DOTI expressly says a permit is required. A wheeled, licensed trailer is excluded from the annual dumpster/container permit category, but may still require street-occupancy or meter authorization.

Required Documents

For unmetered street occupancy: completed DOTI Right-of-Way/Street Occupancy Request form or worksheet with applicant/contact details, location, purpose, requested dates and times, plus an applicable traffic control plan showing the requested parking lane or closure. For metered locations: meter-bagging application or Parking Meter Request Form identifying contact information, reason, specific meter numbers (and alternatives), dates/times and requested bag type. Container companies must supply their Denver ROW dumpster-license information and relevant site/traffic-control details.

How to Apply

Go to Official Application

Official Sources

Last verified: October 9, 2026