Apply for a resident or visitor parking permit

Each residents parking zone in Leicester may have different parking capacities, therefore in zones that have limited parking some properties may not be entitled to permits, even if they are included in the list of eligible addresses. These properties include houses converted into multiple flats, HIMO properties that have also been converted, student accommodation and hostels. Parking Services will look and consider each application on an individual basis.

Any change of property or new development in the residents parking area of Leicester City may not be eligible for permits.

Permit holders can park in any residents parking bay within the zone indicated on the permit as long as the permit is clearly displayed in the vehicle. Please be aware submitting an application or purchasing a permit and waiting for it to be sent is not sufficient for you or your visitor to park in a resident’s bay. A valid permit must be displayed at all times. Failure to clearly display a valid permit could incur a Penalty Charge Notice.

Parking spaces are not allocated to individual permit holders. Purchasing a permit does not guarantee a parking space or space outside the permit holder’s residence.

Permits for visitors can only be used by genuine visitors or contractors working on your property. Vehicles displaying parking permits should be parked as close to the residents address or the address being visited where possible. If parking is not available on the actual street, vehicles should be parked in the next nearest parking space available and within a 3 street perimeter of the address. Permits cannot be given or sold to anybody else. If found that permits are not used in accordance with the Terms & Conditions you may lose the right to apply for further permits.

Permits do not allow parking in limited waiting bays, pay & display bays, on single or double yellow lines or loading restrictions within the residents parking zone. All parking restrictions must be complied with.

There are five types of permits available

Residents permit 

A resident’s permit is vehicle specific and issued to residents who drive a vehicle which is kept in a residents parking zone. Up to four resident’s parking permits can be issued per household in all residents zones except zone C. In zone C – Bede Island only one resident’s permit can be issued per household.

• Cost: £25 (valid for one year)

Blue badge holders who drive a vehicle which is kept in a resident parking zone receive these permits free of charge.

You will receive 5 visitor scratchcard permits (or 5 free visitor vouchers in Zone K) when you are issued a residents permits for the first time and on renewal. You can use these scratchcards when changing a vehicle or in a courtesy car.

Annual visitor permit

An annual visitor permit is not vehicle specific and can be used by any visitor. Only one annual visitor permit can be issued per household.

• Cost: £30 (valid for one year)

Residents of State Pension age and residents who require regular carer attendance receive this permit free of charge.

An annual visitor permit cannot be used instead of a resident's permit.

In Zone K only an annual visitor permit for those over state pension age and those who require regular care are available. Paid annual visitor permits are not available.

Visitor scratchcard permit

• Cost: £2 per scratchcard

Up to 30 scratchcards can be issued per household per month and are sold in batches of 5, 10, 15 or 30. Scratchcards do not expire and are valid for 48 hours after activation.

Visitor scratchcard permit for new residents

Visitor scratchcard permits for new residents who are moving into a resident’s parking zone. New residents can purchase 5 visitor scratchcards by providing one proof of residency (instead of two). These permits are issued only once

• Cost of 5 scratchcards: £10

Visitor vouchers

Visitor vouchers are available in Zone K only. 

• Cost: £25 (one booklet of 25 vouchers. Only one booklet is permitted per household per year)
• Voucher is valid for one hour and for single use only

• Resident permit: Two proofs of residency and one proof of vehicle ownership
• Free resident's permit for Blue Badge holders/drivers: Two proofs of residency, one proof of vehicle ownership and both sides of Blue Badge
• Annual visitor permit: Two proofs of residency
• Free annual visitor permit for residents of State Pension age: Two proofs of residency and one proof of State Pension age
• Free annual visitor permit for residents requiring regular carer attendance: Proof of requiring regular carer attendance
• Visitor smartcard: Two proofs of residency
• Visitor scratchcard: Two proofs of residency
• Visitor scratchcards for new residents: One proof of residency for new residents
• Visitor vouchers: Two proofs of residency

What proof documents do you accept?

Proof of residency

• Utility bill (less than 3 months old)
• Telephone bill (less than 3 months old)
• Payslip (less than 3 months old)
• Bank statement (less than 3 months old)
• Benefits notification letter (less than 12 months old)
• Signed current tenancy agreement
• Council tax bill (less than 12 months old)
• Valid driving licence

Proof of vehicle ownership

Please provide one of the following documents, showing your name, address in the zone and a vehicle registration number:

• DVLA registration certificate V5C
• Insurance policy schedule showing your name as a main policy holder or named driver
• Lease/hire/finance agreement (please also provide your insurance schedule)
• Letter from your insurance company confirming that the vehicle is kept at your address
• For company vehicles: letter on company headed paper stating vehicle is kept at your address and a copy of company’s motor insurance certificate

Proof of State Pension age

Please provide one of the following documents, showing your name, address in the zone and a vehicle registration number:

• Valid passport
• Valid driving licence
• State Pension notification letter from DWP
• Birth certificate

Proof of requiring regular carer attendance

Please provide the following:

• Care plan showing your name and address or;
• If your relative is caring for you, please provide
• A letter from DWP confirming that you receive one of the following (the letter must show your name and address):
  • Personal Independence Payment - daily living component;
  • Disability Living Allowance - the middle or highest care rate;
  • Attendance Allowance or
  • Armed Forces Independence Payment
• In addition you will need to provide a letter from the DWP confirming that your relative is in receipt of Carer’s Allowance (the letter must show your name).
• If your carer is in receipt of the State Pension, please provide their pension letter showing that a carer’s premium/addition is being paid.

One proof of residency for new residents (not available in Zone K)

New residents moving into a residents parking zone can purchase 5 visitor scratchcards by providing one  proof of residency (instead of two). Please provide one of the following:

• Tenancy Agreement
• Mortgage statement
• Solicitor property sale confirmation letter

You can apply online for a permit.

If we have your valid e-mail address, we will e-mail you renewal instructions up to 45 days prior to your permit expiry date.

If we do not have your valid e-mail address, you will not receive a renewal notification as we do not post them.

Visitor permit scratchcards and visitor vouchers do not expire, therefore you do not need to renew them. If you need further scratchcards please submit a new application online by selecting the permit application option.

You can also renew a permit online.

All permit replacement requests must be submitted online. You will need your permit number and PIN number, which can be found in a letter which came with your permit.

We do not replace lost or defaced visitor permit scratchcards.

Lost and defaced resident’s permits and defaced annual visitor permits are replaced free of charge. To receive a replacement, please post a defaced permit to Parking Services, PO Box 8459, Leicester LE1 8AW. Once received, we will post you a replacement.

Please note

leaving a resident’s permit in a sold/replaced vehicle is not considered as lost and you will have to purchase a new permit.

There is a £10 charge for replacement of lost annual visitor permits.

Only two replacements of lost annual permits will be issued at the discretion of the council. If you lose your permit a third time, we will not replace it and you will need to wait until the permit expires to apply for a new one. Any fraudulent use of permits will lead to enforcement action.

All permit replacement requests must be submitted online. You will need your permit number and PIN number, which can be found in a letter which came with your permit. 

If the permit has been left in a vehicle that has been sold, we will be unable to process your request for a change of vehicle. You will need to submit a new application online for your new vehicle.

After submitting an online request please email your proof of new vehicle along. Please also write ‘CANCELLED’ clearly across the permit using a dark colour marker pen and then take a photo. Cut the permit diagonally into four and take a second photo. Also attach the two photos of the destroyed permit when the proof of new vehicle is emailed to us.

Please then post the destroyed permit to us to the address below:

• Parking Permits, PO Box 8459, Leicester, LE1 8AW

Please note, you will not be able to park in the residents parking zone without a valid permit or with the permit with a registration number for your previous vehicle. You will need to park outside of the residents parking zone until you have received and displayed your new permit.

If you move address you must contact us. A residents parking permit is based on the address of the property and you will no longer be entitled to use the residents parking permit. If you have moved to a different zone you will be required to return the permit before we can process an application for a new address.

If you have moved within the same zone you will still be required to submit a new application and you will need to return the permit to us.

All cancellation requests must be submitted online. You will need your permit number and PIN number, which can be found in a letter which came with your permit.
After submitting an online request please post the permit to Parking Services, PO Box 8459, Leicester LE1 8AW and a refund (if applicable) will be issued to the card used to pay for the permit for the number of full calendar months left to run on the permit.

However if you acquired a new card since paying for the permit, you will need to provide your bank account details:

• Name and surname of the bank account holder;
• Name of the bank;
• Sort code;
• Bank account number

We will then issue a refund to your bank account.

Refunds are issued for the number of full calendar months left to run on the permit. However, we do not usually issue a refund, if the refund amount is under £5. We do not cancel or refund visitor scratchcards or visitor vouchers.