Cars & Driving · New York City
ParkNYC Starts With the Six-Digit Zone, Not a Guess
Before paying for metered parking in Queens, match the ParkNYC six-digit zone to the side of the block where the car is parked.
Published June 24, 2026 · Last verified June 24, 2026
A ParkNYC payment is just as good as the zone number behind it. DOT’s parking-meter page warns that the meter number is different from the ParkNYC zone number, and that ParkNYC zone numbers are always six digits.
NYC 311 adds the practical detail: each side of each metered block has its own six-digit zone, posted on meters, signs, and in the ParkNYC app. If a driver cannot identify the zone number, 311 says to pay at the meter. That is especially useful on Queens commercial corridors where one quick stop can involve bus lanes, loading areas, meters, and different rules by side of street.
Read the sign, confirm the six-digit zone for your side, and compare it with the ParkNYC app before starting the session. Keep the zone, plate, start time, and payment confirmation together. If the zone cannot be confirmed, pay at the meter as NYC311 directs.