Glossary of Terms - resident visitor vouchers

Resident visitor voucher definitions 

Resident visitor voucher

Resident visitor vouchers allow friends and relatives to park in residential and shared-use bays whilst visiting residents who live in controlled parking zones (CPZ).  

Estate permit

Permission is given by the local Neighbourhood Offices for off-street parking within the estate where you live.  To park on -street you need a resident permit or visitor voucher for the controlled parking zone (CPZ) the estate is located in.  

Bay types 

Shared use parking bay

Allows flexible parking for a variety of permit holders. These include resident permit, business permit, visitor voucher and pay and display holders. Always check street signs for details. 

General permit parking bay

Similar to the shared use bays, general permit bays also allow flexible parking for a variety of permit holders. These include resident permit, business permit and visitor vouchers. Always check street signs for details.  

Resident holder only parking bays

Mainly reserved for residents who live in controlled parking zones (CPZ) and their visitors. A valid resident permit or resident visitor vouchers must be displayed to park in these bays. Always check street signs for details.   

Business permit parking bays

Mainly reserved for business permit holders within the controlled parking zones (CPZ),  resident parking not allowed. A valid business permit must be displayed to park in these bays. Always check street signs for details. 

Pay and display parking bays

Short-stay parking generally in commercial areas. You will need to buy and display a valid ticket from the machine to park. Check machine for full details.  

Suspended parking bays 

Yellow warning signs will indicate that bays are temporarily out of use. The yellow signs will be put over the parking bay signs five days prior to the suspension to advise when the suspension starts and finishes.  

Disabled only parking bays

For disabled drivers only. The driver would need to display a valid blue badge or companion badge to park in a disabled bay.

Doctors bays

Generally found outside doctors surgeries for use by doctors only. The driver would need to display a valid doctor's permit to park in a doctor's bay. 

For further information about the different bay types in the London Borough of Hackney, visit the understanding parking restrictions page. 

Controlled Parking Zones 

A Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) is a number of streets where parking is  restricted to vehicles with the correct permit or voucher to park in that zone. Each zone has specific conditions and hours of operation, always check the street sign for details. If your vehicle is not displaying a valid permit or voucher you run the risk of getting a parking ticket or being towed away. Controlled parking in Hackney gives priority to residents, local businesses and their visitors. 

For more information on Controlled Parking Zones please visit the Controlled Parking Zones page.  

Permit usage and conditions of use 

Permit / visitor voucher number

Every permit and visitor voucher record has a unique identification reference number beginning with RS or RES (for resident permit) and VIS (for visitor vouchers) followed by 4 to 8 digits. Whenever you contact us about your permit or visitor voucher or whenever you would like to renew your resident permit or visitor voucher online, you will need to quote this reference number.  

Resident visitor voucher types

Hackney council currently offer two types of resident visitor vouchers.  

Book of 10 vouchers which last from between five to eight hours depending on the controlled parking zone (CPZ). 

48 hour vouchers which allow the user to park for 48 hours from the time of arrival. 

Valid bays

Resident visitor vouchers are only valid in residents, shared use and general permit bays. They are not valid for parking in business permit bays, pay and display bays, yellow lines or off street (housing estates, car parks). 

Visitor voucher duration

Visitor vouchers allow residents' visitors to park in residents, shared use or general permit bays for between five to eight hours or 48 hours depending on the controlled parking zone (CPZ) and type of visitor voucher purchased.  

If you intend to park longer than the duration allowed by your resident visitor voucher then two or more vouchers must be displayed covering the period or when one voucher expires display another. 

Maximum of 10 books per month

Residents are only entitled to a maximum of 10 vouchers or book of vouchers every calendar month. If you are a Blue Badge holder or over 60 you may obtain two books of visitor vouchers per month at half price, as long as you include a copy of your Blue Badge or appropriate proof of age (such as NHS card, passport of Freedom Card) when you complete the form and send in the appropriate documents. 

Height and weight restrictions

Whether your vehicle is commercial or private it must not be no more than 2.27 metres high, 5.25 metres long or 3.5 tonnes when empty. 

Suspended bays

Resident visitor vouchers are not valid for parking in suspended bays. 

Eligibility requirements

To apply for a resident visitor voucher in Hackney, your permanent address must be in a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) and you must reside at the address for a minimum of five days a week.

You do not need to own a vehicle to apply for a resident visitor voucher.

Untaxed vehicles 

Vehicles displaying resident visitor vouchers must also display a valid tax disc at all times.

Persistent evaders

If you have three or more outstanding parking tickets you may be refused a resident visitor voucher until you have paid the fines in full.

Penalty Charge Notice

A parking ticket is a 'Penalty Charge Notice' (PCN) for the fine you have to pay if you park without a valid permit or voucher or break any other condition of the Traffic Management Act 2004.  

Lost, stolen or damaged permit

You will need to buy a new resident visitor voucher where it is lost, damaged or stolen.  

Refunds

Resident visitor vouchers are non - refundable and non - transferable. 

Preventing fraud

The Council will not hesitate to take preventative, remedial or punitive actions against anyone or any organisation suspected of fraud or attempted fraud, including not displaying a valid tax disc or persistently evading parking fine.  

Three year rule

From 1 July 2007, proofs of address and vehicle registration are now valid for three years. You will only have to make a full application for a resident visitor voucher every three years or at any time your details change.

If your details have not changed since you applied for your current resident visitor voucher account, you do not need to resubmit your supporting documents.

Whenever there are any changes to your personal details or address, you must resubmit your proof of address documents. Failure to do so will mean your resident visitor voucher will be invalid and you will be at risk of receiving a penalty charge notice (parking ticket).  

Documentation

The following documents must be attached or uploaded with the application when applying:

Residential documentation

For proof of address you will be required to submit a photocopy of one of the following documents:

• Council tax bill for the current financial year.
• Rent Book issued by the Council or a Housing Trust.
• Legally drawn up tenancy agreement valid for the full life of the permit (hand-written documents are not accepted). 
• Mortgage/solicitors letter confirming completion.
• Utility bill, no more than 3 months old (mobile phone bills are not accepted).
• Bank statements, no more than 3 months old (credit card statements are not accepted).<

Change of address details 

It is important you inform Hackney Parking Services of any changes in your residential address.  

Change of address 

If you change your residential address within the same Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) and your voucher is still valid, you will need to advise us of the changes with correct proof of documents via post to Parking Services or by visiting the Parking Shop.   

If you move to a different Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), you will need to provide to Parking Services:

• All unused books of resident visitor vouchers or 48hr vouchers to be replaced with new books or visitor voucher for your new controlled parking zone (CPZ) address.
• Completed Resident visitor voucher application form.
• Correct proof of documents for the new address.
• Submit the documents above to Parking Services via post or by visiting the Parking Shop.  

Car Free Development and Section 106 

Hackney is committed to creating a safer, cleaner, greener place to live.  In doing so it has created some car free developments. If you want to apply for a permit and are not sure if you live in one of these areas please call us on 020 8356 8877.  A Car Free Development will be under a Section 106 agreement and will be included in your lease or deeds. 

Planning contributions, also known as section 106 agreements, are legally binding agreements typically negotiated between local authorities and developers in the context of planning applications.  

Online permit information 

Online application lead time (for first time applicants and returning applicants) 

Apply for residents visitor voucher online 

After submitting your resident visitor voucher application online, we will aim to review your application within 3 working days.  

An email will be sent to you once the application has been verified, and you will be provided with instructions on how to pay for your resident visitor vouchers. You will be required to make a payment within 5 days or your application will be cancelled. 

Upon the receipt of payment, we will aim to post your resident visitor vouchers within 3 working days. This is subject to the volume of resident visitor voucher applications we receive. 

Reapply for a residents visitor voucher online 

If you are required to provide documentation because you are outside the three year rule, we will review your application within 3 working days. An email will be sent to you once the request had been verified, and you will be provided with instructions on how to pay for your permit. You will be required to make a payment within 5 days or your application will be cancelled. 

Upon the receipt of payment, we will aim to post your resident visitor vouchers within 3 working days. This is subject to the volume of visitor voucher applications we receive.  

If you are not required to provide documentation as you are inside the three year rule, upon receipt of payment we will aim to post your resident visitor vouchers within 3 working days. This is subject to the volume of resident visitor voucher applications we receive.

Back to top

Page updated: 7 Oct 2011