Watford Borough Council

Residents permits - Frequently Asked Questions:

Who qualifies for a residents permit?

Residents living within the controlled parking zones may qualify for a residents permit, lasting for one year, if they own a vehicle, or have regular daily use of a company vehicle.

Please note that although the Council makes every effort to issue reminder letters at the appropriate expiry time, residents are advised that it is their responsibility to renew them before the expiry date.

Exempted Properties

Some new developments and house conversions within the controlled parking zones have been exempted from the scheme. The reason for this is that there is already a shortage of parking, particularly in the town centre. In many cases there simply is not enough space to accommodate ever-increasing numbers of cars on the public highway and often the residents living close by object to the planning proposals on these grounds.

The developers of these properties have been granted planning permission on the understanding and agreement that they will be self sufficient in terms of parking, or car free developments, and have entered into a legal agreement with the Council.

Permits and visitor vouchers will therefore not be available to residents of these developments. The planning permission will have an informative on it which indicates that there is a related planning obligation. The relevant planning permissions and planning obligations are open to public inspection at the Planning Department.

How many permits can I have?

Residents are only allowed one permit each, up to a maximum of two permits per household.

How much do they cost?

The first permit in a household costs £20 a year and the second £40 a year. Residents who are also drivers with disabled badges will get the first permit in the household free of charge.

For motorbikes/ scooters a permit will cost £20, whether it is the first or second permit in the household.

How do I prove residency?

If your name appears on the electoral register at the relevant address, this will be sufficient.

If not, or if you have asked that this information is not made available for public inspection, you will need to supply one of the following which clearly states the relevant address.

• a tenancy agreement (minimum 6 months duration)
• a solicitors letter confirming recent completion of a house purchase (dated within last 3 months)
• a current council tax payment card or bill (dated within last 3 months)
• a pension or DSS benefit book

If none of the above can be provided, a utility bill issued within the last three months.

This authority is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information that you provide on application forms for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.

For further information, see the Council’s website data protection page or contact the Council’s Data Protection Officer or Audit Manager

Does my vehicle qualify for a permit?

You must be the registered keeper or the permanent user of the vehicle that you nominate.
If you are the regular user of a company car, a lease car or a hire car, it may also qualify. The size of your vehicle must not exceed 5.25m long and/or 2.3m high.

What form of proof will I need?

One of the following will be required which must contain your current address:

• a vehicle registration document
• insurance documents showing the applicant as driver and including the registration number of the vehicle
• in the case of a newly acquired vehicle, an official bill of sale or invoice (hand written receipts will not be accepted)
• company letter lease or hire agreement

Applications forms can be obtained at The Parking Shop or can be sent to you on request if you telephone 01908 223507.

What if I change my car?

As before, you will need documentation and you must also return your existing permit to the Parking Shop before a replacement can be issued. A charge of £7 will be made for the second and any subsequent change in any one year.

What about courtesy cars?

If your car is in for repair and you are given the use of a courtesy car, you can bring your existing permit to the Parking Shop where it will be exchanged for a temporary permit for a maximum of 2 weeks. On completion of the work, your existing permit will be returned to you. If you need a courtesy/hire car for longer, follow the change of registration process or use visitor vouchers.

Match Day parking scheme

Residents living in full controlled parking zones E, F, J, K, L, S and T will also get the benefit of the Match Day Parking Scheme at no extra cost. For full details, see the separate details for the Match Day Parking Scheme which include details of enforcement hours.

“Match day only” permits are not available in zones E, F, J, K, L S and T, nor are the match day visitor vouchers. Residents living within these zones should use their normal allowance of hourly/six hourly visitor vouchers when matches are being played.

Special permits

There are a small number of residents for whom the normal permit criteria would not be appropriate for their needs. Initially, these residents will be encouraged to use their allowance of visitor permits but if this is not practical, you are advised to write to the Parking Service Manager at the Parking Shop and your request will be given individual attention.

Unpaid parking penalties

All permit holders are advised that new permits will not be issued if there are unpaid parking penalties for the relevant vehicle. Residents are also asked to note that it is Council policy to tow away any vehicles, which have 3 or more unpaid penalties.

Visitor vouchers (Zones A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J, K, L, S, T)

Residents living in the full controlled zones can buy books of scratch card vouchers for use by their visitors or tradesmen, which can be used in their particular zone.

These vouchers must be validated by scratching off the day, date, month and time of arrival, including am or pm. Vouchers last for either one hour, four hours or one day but two can be used consecutively, if required. Each council tax household is entitled to a maximum of 400 hours plus 15 one-day vouchers per annum (pensioners are entitled to double this allowance). In addition to this, each household also has an allowance of two one-week permits, per annum (again pensioners allowance is doubled).

Visitor vouchers & 1 day permits are only sold in complete books as follows:

• 1 hour vouchers in books of 40 @ £3.50 per book (half price for pensioners)
• 4 hour vouchers in books of 20 @ £7 per book (half price for pensioners)
• 1 day vouchers in books of 5 @ £3.50 per book (half price for pensioners) 

On production of proof of residency, as described in the permit section above, you can buy any combination of 1 hour/4hour books up to your total allowance of 400 hours per council tax household (800 hours for pensioners).

They can only be used within your zone and refunds are not given so you are advised to buy only what you need.

Long stay permits

Residents living in the full controlled zones can also purchase 2 week-long permits, per annum, for visitors staying for longer periods. Each permit lasts for one week and costs £3.50. These permits are only valid for your own zone and are for the specified weeks only. (Pensioners are allowed 4 and pay half price).

Please note: These vouchers are not to be resold, any misuse may lead to their cancellation and future allocations may be at risk. Serial numbers are logged at the time of purchase.

Application forms are available at the Parking Shop or they can be posted to you, on request, if you telephone 01908 223507, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6.30pm.

Business permits

If you have a business within controlled parking zones A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J, K, L, S or T, you may qualify for a business permit lasting for one year which can be used only in your own zone.

How many can I buy and how much do they cost?

Only one permit per business is permitted but you can have up to two vehicle registration numbers printed on it provided that they are both operational vehicles. However, the permit can only be used on one vehicle at a time. These business permits cost £300 in zones A,B, C, D, E, F, G and J, or £150 in zones K, L, S or T.

How do I qualify?

Qualifying businesses must demonstrate that they have:

• no space to park vehicles within the grounds of their premises
• an operational vehicle(s) registered to the business
• are registered for business rates

Operational vehicles are vehicles that are essential to your business because they are needed for deliveries and collections on an intermittent daily basis. Vehicles that are used simply for getting to work do not qualify as operational vehicles.

What proof do I need?

• business rate demand or payment receipt
• registration document for vehicle in the name of the business

What if I change my vehicle?

As before, you will require documentation for the vehicle and you will also have to return your original permit before a replacement can be issued. A charge of £7 will be made for the second and any subsequent change in any one year.

Your duties as a permit holder:

It is your duty to ensure:

• your permit is valid
• your permit has not expired
• that the registration number is correct
• your permit is used in accordance with the conditions of issue

Withdrawal of a permit

 A permit may be withdrawn or invalidated if:

• it is found that a permit is not being used in accordance with these guidelines
• it is found that a person is no longer eligible to hold a permit
• the permit is altered or defaced in anyway or passed to unauthorised users

All applications can be made at the Parking Shop or an application form will be posted to you, on request, if you telephone 01908 223507.

For more information contact:
The Parking Shop
71/73 Market Street
Watford WD18 0PS
Tel: 01908 223507
Fax: 01923 248902