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Yes. NYC DOT's sign chart says you may stop to drop off or pick up passengers at a No Standing sign. What you may not do is wait there, or load packages. At a No Stopping sign, passenger stops are not allowed at all (NYC DOT Parking Regulations).
DOT's own chart
This is the whole answer in one table. A No Standing curb is a passenger curb: someone gets in or out, and you leave.
The catch: no waiting
The pickup itself is legal; waiting is not. A rider who is "two minutes away" can turn a legal stop into an illegal one. Ways to avoid it:
- Message the rider when you are close and ask them to be at the curb.
- Circle the block if they are not there. Don't sit with hazard lights on.
- Find a legal waiting spot: a metered space you pay for, a relief stand if you are on a break, or (seated and ready) the space in front of a hydrant if no sign forbids it — see can a taxi wait at a fire hydrant.
DOT also says that when more than one sign covers the same spot, "the more restrictive one is the one in effect." If a No Stopping sign and a No Standing sign cover the same stretch at the same hour, treat it as No Stopping.
Hotel loading zones are No Standing zones
DOT: "Hotel Loading Zones are designated by No Standing signs. They allow drivers to quickly drop off and pick up hotel guests and to load and unload baggage" (NYC DOT Loading Zones). So outside a hotel you can help with bags, but you still can't park and wait for a guest who hasn't come down. The same DOT page lists "Taxi Stands, No Standing, and For-Hire-Vehicle (FHV) Only regulations" as curbs that allow passenger pick-up and drop-off only. FHV drivers must still never pick up at a taxi stand.
What TLC can add
A parking or standing ticket from the police goes to the vehicle. TLC can also charge you, the driver, under rule §80-13(a)(1), which covers laws on stationary vehicles (TLC Chapter 80):
Points count toward TLC's Persistent Violator Program, so repeated waiting tickets add up.
What to do next
Check any sign in the curb sign decoder, or read the full curb rules guide. Related short answers: can I drop off passengers in a bus lane, can I double park to pick up a passenger, where are taxis not allowed to cruise, can I pick up a street hail on my way home and can green cabs pick up in Manhattan. The violation itself is explained on 80-13(a)(1). More on the places hub.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between No Standing and No Stopping?
At a No Standing sign you may stop briefly to pick up or drop off passengers. At a No Stopping sign, DOT says you may not stop for passengers at all.
Can I wait a few minutes in a No Standing zone if I stay in the car?
No. DOT's sign chart says waiting is not allowed at No Standing signs. The passenger should be ready at the curb.
Can I load the passenger's luggage in a No Standing zone?
DOT's chart says No Standing does not allow loading or unloading packages or merchandise. Hotel Loading Zones, which use No Standing signs, do allow guest pickups and baggage.
Does 'No Standing Anytime' mean no pickups?
No. It means no standing at any hour, so the passenger-stop rule applies at all hours too. You may still let a passenger in or out quickly.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- NYC DOT: Parking Regulations (sign FAQ) nyc.gov
- NYC DOT: Loading Zones (Hotel Loading Zones) nyc.gov
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 80 (PDF dated June 5, 2025), §80-13(a)(1) nyc.gov
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TLC Help is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission or OATH. Explanations on this site are general information, not legal advice. Legal representation is provided by independent attorneys and OATH-registered representatives in our network.