Frequently Asked Questions

Permit parking schemes help residents, local businesses, and their visitors/customers park more easily in their neighbourhood. Parking restrictions manage who can park on the street, and for how long. 

 Permit schemes typically work across a zone, usually containing about 10-15 streets. Residents of eligible properties within a zone can buy permits which allow them to park in the local streets.

 A parking permit applies to a particular permit zone and permit holders can park in any of the designated areas (signed with a zone prefix) where permit holders are permitted. Vehicles without a valid permit will be subject to a maximum stay time limit. This prevents all day commuter parking, freeing up spaces for local people and short-stay visitors. Visitors to local properties can be given visitor vouchers which act as a temporary permit, that allows them to park for a period of time.

 Some roads may be reserved for permit holders only in particularly congested residential areas. 

A permit scheme gives local people/ organisations priority for on-street parking, making it more likely local people, their visitors and customers can find a space quickly and easily.

However, local residents and businesses are required to pay for permits and visitor vouchers, and there are limits on the number of permits and vouchers each household/ business can buy.

A. Residents:

Residents who are eligible for parking permits are defined when a scheme is first created, but it’s generally properties which fall within the boundaries of a zone. Periodically there maybe reasons why the issue of permits to a property are restricted, and this includes through planning requirements (e.g. change of use).

Each eligible applicant is entitled to one residential parking permit. You cannot have more than one permit in your name. There is a maximum of two resident permits per property in the majority of zones. In some cases, other restrictions may apply. Contact us for further information.

 B. Visitors:

To cater for visitors of residents living in permit areas, we provide a scratch-card system where upon application, an allocation of 50 are provided per year. Upon activation each scratch-card is valid for a 24 hour period and these are non-transferrable.

Residents are eligible to apply for a free set of 25 with an additional 25 after 6 months that are chargeable.

 C. Businesses:

In some permit areas businesses permits are available to support operational activities. Permits will only be issued if there is an operational business need, not for commuting purposes.

 A majority of business are only allowed a maximum of two permits and there are charges apply. Further information is available on our website.

 D. Carers:

Where residents have medical conditions that require regular visitors to support them at home, they can apply for a carers permit which is provided to the resident, who is responsible for the permit. The permit is passed onto the carer at each visit to be placed on display in their vehicle and returned to the resident at the end of the visit.

 E. Contractor Permits:

Where residents are having trades people undertaking works at their properties, a contractor’s permit is available where a clear operational need can be demonstrated for their vehicle to be parked whilst the work is undertaken.

The application is made by the contractor undertaking the works and weekly charges apply, with a maximum limit of 4 weeks. Details of the charges and application process is available on our website.

To ensure the permit schemes operate effectively their costs are covered by charges for permits which pay for things like enforcement and administration.

Charges for permits are set when the schemes are first introduced, but reviewed annually to ensure they remain relative to the cost of providing the service. Current fees and charges are available on our website and these are reviewed annually as part of the councils budget setting process.

If residents need a permit for an existing or new permit area, the simplest way is to make an application to the county council is through our website. We will need proof that you reside at an eligible address and that the vehicle is in your name is also registered at the property.

Residents who cannot complete an application on-line can also bring their documents to their nominated libraries, where staff will help with their application.

A charge is made for permits to cover the costs of enforcing and administering the scheme. The Council has a policy that the costs of permit schemes should be covered by those that benefit from them, and not subsidised from wider Council funds.

Where permit schemes are introduced, signed bays or areas define where a permit can be used and usually a prefix for the permit will correspond with the same prefix on the signs.

No. A controlled parking scheme on the public highway cannot reserve specific spaces for individual users and therefore we cannot guarantee particular parking space. However, by preventing long-stay parking by non-residents in your area, a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) makes it much more likely that residents are able to find parking spaces near to their homes.

Contractors permits are available to tradespersons or businesses who can demonstrate a clear operational need for their commercial or non-commercial (i.e. a vehicle created and adapted to carry goods) vehicle to be parked in a restricted area whilst work is undertaken. Applications are made on-line by the contractor undertaking the work, and weekly charges apply, up to a maximum of 4 weeks.

Residents who are in possession of a blue badge, do not need to apply for a resident permit. So long as the blue badge is valid and on display holders can park in permit bays/ permit areas without time limit. The maximum 3 hours still applies for parking on single and double yellow lines, and users need to check where they can park through their blue badge guide.

Technology has advanced to allow the issue of permits virtually by means of a central computer system and enforcement officers are able to check a central database quickly and efficiently to see whether a valid permit is held.

Sending out physical permits in the post proved too be costly and created issues for residents where there were postal strikes etc. The new systems are easier, more reliable and residents can still check and report vehicles parking in contravention on-line using our permit checker.

Where residents move out of a property, resident permit refunds are given on the remaining months left on a valid permit and the holder should notify the Residential Permits Team by email.

Permit parking schemes are enforced under powers given to local authorities under the Traffic Management Act 2004, and vehicles parking in contravention of restrictions may risk being issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). Residents can use an on-line checker to see whether vehicles have a valid permit for the vehicle and report cars they believe are parked illegally.

No. The business permit aims to make parking easier for rate-paying business owners who require vehicles for operational reasons. It is not meant to provide subsidised parking for employees. Time limited non permit holder bays are normally available to cater for customers of businesses.

Residents only need to apply for a parking permit if they have a need to park on the road. Eligible properties can still apply for their allocation of visitor permits.

No. Any resident of an eligible property aged 17 years or over is entitled to 50 Visitor permits per year. It is not just car owners.

Residents aged 70 years or above do not pay for their second set of visitor permits. Proof of age is required at the application stage.

Provided no obstruction is caused, legitimate delivery vehicles will be able to park without permit for as long as necessary in permit spaces or on yellow lines while loading or unloading provided there are no loading restrictions in place at that location.

If we introduced a parking scheme in a busy road, many people will park further out -perhaps in your road if they can park there for free. It may be in your interest to be part of the zone rather than just sit outside it - but of course, this is matter for you to consider.

We will only install yellow lines where parked vehicles would cause danger or obstruct other motorists or pedestrians using the highway. We put yellow lines only where they are absolutely necessary.

To enable a CPZ to be enforced, it is necessary to install road markings and signs in some roads. However, we are very conscious of the appearance of the street scene, so we try to keep signage to an absolute minimum.  We also try to locate signs in places that minimise the visual impact from properties.