Glossary of terms - resident permits

Resident permit definitions

Resident parking permit - vehicle and parking zone specific permission to park in the street where you live.

Estate permit - permission issued by local Neighbourhood Offices for off-street parking only within the estate where you live. To park in the street you need a resident permit for the parking zone the estate is located in.

Bay types

Shared use parking bay - for flexibility of parking 'pay and display' spaces combined with a variety of permit types. Always check street signs for details.

Permit parking bay - all permit holders can park in their home CPZ, except for companion badge holders and pay and display users. Always check street signs for details.

Resident holder only parking bays - generally in residential areas in front of homes, no other parking permitted. Always check street signs for details.

Business permit parking bays - generally in commercial areas, for business use only, resident parking not allowed. Always check street signs for details.

Pay and display parking bays - short-stay parking generally in commercial areas where you need to buy a 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 three 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.

Controlled parking zones

Controlled parking zone

A controlled parking zone 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 is given to our residents, local businesses and their visitors.

Permit usage and conditions of use

Permit number - every permit has a unique identification reference number beginning with RS or RES followed by 4 to 8 digits. Whenever you contact us about your permit you will need to quote this reference number.

Permit duration - permits are available for three, six and twelve months - it is more cost effective to buy a permit for longer periods. However, we reserve the right to restrict permit duration to three months, if you cannot provide all the necessary documents.

One permit per motorist - you can only have one resident parking permit in your name, even if you have more than one vehicle.

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.

Eligibility requirements - to apply for a Resident Parking Permit in Hackney you must be aged 17 or over and your permanent address must be in a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ). You can only have one Resident Parking Permit in your name, even if you have more than one vehicle.

Persistent evaders - if you have three or more outstanding parking tickets you may be refused a permit until you have paid the fines in full.

Penalty charge notice - a 'penalty charge notice' (PCN) is a parking ticket 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 permit unless you can provide a crime reference number. With a crime reference number we will replace your permit free of charge.

Refunds - if there is at least three months remaining on your permit you can claim a refund for each full calendar month left. We charge £10 to process a refund.

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. You may be given a parking ticket or have your vehicle towed away.

Three year rule for supporting documents

Your documentary proof of address and vehicle ownership are valid on our system for three years from the date you first submit them, provided your address and vehicle details do not change.

Whenever you change address or vehicle, you will need to submit new documentary proof of address and vehicle ownership. Your resident parking permit must always correspond with your current address and vehicle, otherwise it will be invalid meaning you will be likely to receive a penalty charge notice (parking ticket).

Please note that your supporting documents must be valid for the full lifetime of your permit. So, if the copies of your documents we have will be more than three years old before your permit expires, you will need to submit them again to renew your permit, as in the example below.

Documents submitted on 27 November 2008 (valid until 27 November 2011) for a permit starting on 1 December 2008:

accepted for first year renewal to 1 December 2009
accepted for second year renewal to 1 December 2010
not accepted for third year renewal to 1 December 2011 as the documents expire on 27 November 2011

The 'three year rule' does not apply to foreign registered vehicles and all three-month permits issued. All customers who purchase a resident parking permit for three months will have to resubmit supporting documents when renewing their permit.

If you replace your vehicle you will need to update your permit details and hand in your permit. If your new vehicle is in a different pricing band, you will either receive a refund or have to pay a surcharge based on the remaining lifetime of your permit. There is also a £10 administration charge. If you need a short term replacement permit, please contact us to make new arrangements.

Supporting documents

The following documents must be attached or uploaded with your application

Documentary proof of address in a controlled parking zone

Please submit one of the following:

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 three months old (mobile phone bills are not accepted)
Bank statement, no more than three months old (credit card statements are not accepted)

Please note: We do not accept a driving licence as proof of address

Documentary proof of vehicle ownership

Please submit the following:

If you are the vehicle owner:

Full Vehicle Logbook (V5C)-the address must match your insurance details . And
Valid Insurance Certificate (cover notes are not accepted)

If you have recently changed your vehicle and only have a V5C/2 or a bill of purchase, we can only issue a three month permit until your documents are complete.

If you are a student:

Vehicle Logbook (V5C): A full logbook showing your name and address. And
Insurance Certificate: Cover notes are not accepted. And
Letter from College or University: Stating that you reside in a Hackney address.

If you have hired or leased the vehicle

Hire / Lease agreement: Hire / Lease documentation must show your name and address

If the vehicle is a company vehicle

Copy of Vehicle Logbook or Hire / Lease agreement in your employer's name. And
Letter from the Company on Company Headed paper confirming that you are the sole keeper and user of the vehicle

If the vehicle has been purchased recently

New keeper's supplement (V5C/2) or official bill of purchase showing your name and address.

Foreign-registered vehicles

In accordance with DVLA regulations, we can only issue a permit with a maximum duration of six months to a foreign-registered vehicle.
To renew your permit you must register your vehicle with the DVLA and provide proof of UK registration with a vehicle registration document (V5C).
Please note: all customers who purchase a resident parking permit for three months will have to resubmit supporting documents every time they renew their permit.

V5C / V5C2

A V5C is the legal term for a vehicle logbook which is required by law and available from the DVLA. The address must match the address on your insurance documents

In order to apply for a resident permit the car should be registered to a Hackney address.

If your details change you will be required to fill in a V5C2 which is your vehicle supplement. At the point of completing a V5C2 you will be able to get a three month permit until your vehicle documentation is complete.

Please ensure you include the second page of V5C as supporting evidence for permit application and renewal.

Change of vehicle and address details

It is important you inform Hackney Parking Services of any changes in your vehicle details or residential address. All changes are subject to a £10 admin charge.

Change of vehicle details

If you change your vehicle and your permit has expired, you will need to apply for a resident parking permit.

If you change your vehicle and your permit is still valid, you will need to provide to Parking Services:

Your valid resident parking permit
Completed Replacement Permit Application Form.
Correct proof of documents
Submit the documents above to Parking Services via post or by visiting the Parking Shop, for a replacement permit to be issued to you.

For change of engine size, you may be required to pay the difference or be entitled to a refund based on the difference in price for the remaining lifetime of the permit.

All change of vehicle details and refunds may incur a £10 administration charge.

Change of address

If you change your residential address and your permit has expired, you will need to apply for a resident parking permit.

If you change your residential address within the same Controlled Parking Zone and your permit 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 and your permit is still valid, you will need to provide to Parking Services:

Your valid resident parking permit to obtain a refund
Completed Resident Permit Application Form
Correct proof of documents.
Submit the documents above to Parking Services via post or by visiting the Parking Shop, for a replacement permit to be issued to you.

All change of address details and refunds will incur a £10 administration charge.

Fuel type and engine size

Hackney is committed to promoting a greener, cleaner borough for residents to live, and prices permits in relation to engine type and size therefore promoting the reduction of CO2 levels in the area.

You can identify the size of the engine and the fuel type by looking on your logbook (V5C).

Green fuel, hybrid and electric vehicles (LPG, and LNG)

From 1 July 2007, we started offering free permits for electric vehicles as well as a 50% discount for LPG, Hybrid and LNG vehicles on the cost of their resident permit. In order to receive these concessions a copy of the vehicle log book will have to be submitted.

Liquid Petroleum Gas is a low carbon emitting hydrocarbon fuel, and Liquid Natural Gas is fuel which produces less pollution but has comparable energy density to conventional petrol and diesel fuels. If you have converted your vehicle to run on LPG you will need to provide proof. This can either be an updated vehicle registration document (V5C/logbook) or your vehicle's LPG conversion certificate.

If the vehicle is hired or leased, the Hire/Lease agreement must state the fuel type of the vehicle for the discount to be applied. If the fuel type is not specified, you must provide proof of this by providing a copy of the vehicle log book obtained from the Lease/Hire Company or alternatively the document can be faxed directly to Parking Services by the Hire/Lease Company.

Foreign vehicles

In accordance with DVLA regulations, we will only issue a foreign-registered vehicle with a permit for the maximum of 6 months.

After 6 months you must register your vehicle with the DVLA and provide proof of UK registration with a vehicle registration document (V5C) to renew your permit.

Car free development

Hackney is committed in 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.

Section 106

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 start date (for first time applicants and renewals)

Your permit can only start from:

No earlier than five working days after the application date and
No later than six weeks from the application date

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

Apply for residents parking permit online

After submitting your Resident Parking Permit application online, Hackney Council 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 permit. You will be required to make a payment within 5 days or your application will be cancelled.

Upon the receipt of payment, Hackney Council will aim to process your permit within 2 working days. This is subject to the volume of permit applications we receive.

Renew residents parking permit online

If you are required to provide documentation because you are outside three year rule, Hackney Council will review your renewal request 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.