Durham City Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ)

CPZ Residents Permits User Guide (PDF, 739 KB)

CPZ Temporary Residents Permits User Guide (PDF, 741 KB)

Who can have a permit

Permits are for eligible residents only. If the applicant does not live in the property, then they will not be entitled to the permit and any permits issued will be withdrawn.

Permits are vehicle specific. You cannot transfer between vehicles, and need to get a replacement permit if you get a new vehicle. The vehicle must be registered in the name of the person applying for the permit. If you change your vehicle, you can apply online to amend the vehicle registration on the permit. An administration fee of £5 applies, and a maximum of one change is allowed in every six month period.

Permits will not be issued for passenger vehicles weighing over 7.5 tonnes or those longer than six metres.

How many permits you can have

Households can have a maximum of two permits.

If you have off street parking, the number of permits will be reduced by the number of places available. This off street parking may not be attached to the property and may be in the form of detached garages or parking spaces.

Properties which are multiple occupancy, such as a house sub-divided into flats, will be treated as one residence and will be eligible to apply for two permits unless it is split into several discrete flats and is registered with us as such. In this case, each flat will be entitled to one permit.

Where you can use the permit

The permit allows you to park in both permit holder only areas and pay and display bays. They can only be used in the zone in which your property is located.

Suspensions for weddings and funerals

You can apply to have permit holder only regulations suspended during weddings and funerals. However, you must apply in advance.

Evidence needed

Proof of residence:

• permanent residents: Council Tax document (dated within 12 months of application)
• temporarily residents/tenants: a copy of the signed tenancy agreement
• if a rolling tenancy agreement is used, a supporting letter from the landlord or their agent must be provided confirming that the agreement has not expired

Proof of vehicle ownership:

• vehicle registration document
• authorised bill of sale or invoice (dated within 3 months of application)
• current hire/lease agreement
• valid certificate of insurance showing applicant as policyholder or named driver

CPZ Visitors Scratch Card User Guide (PDF, 585 KB)

CPZ Visitors Virtual Vouchers User Guide (PDF, 702 KB)

Households can choose to purchase either virtual vouchers or paper scratchcards. Virtual vouchers are recommended as they are easy to manage online and there is no requirement for visitors to park up and obtain a paper scratchcard - it can all be done through the resident's online account.

The following are available:

• one block of 36 x 3 hour visitor vouchers every 28 days for £9
• 2 books of 18 x 3 hour paper scratchcards every 28 days for £4.50 per book

Visitor vouchers

The vouchers allows visitors to park in both permit holder only areas and pay and display bays within the zone of the resident's property. Three of the 3 hour vouchers can be used for a full day's parking (the 10th hour is free). There is no limit on the number of vouchers that can be used to allow a visitor to stay all day or for a number of days.

• A new application will be required with accompanying documentation every 12 weeks.
• Any unused vouchers will remain available for the resident to book, i.e they do not expire.
• The voucher is vehicle specific and may be activated online in advance or within five minutes of parking. The parking time must be entered upon booking and this cannot be amended.
• Hotels and guesthouses may apply for up to 3 blocks of visitor vouchers every 28 days.

Note: you are able to purchase up to 3 months of virtual vouchers at a time, however, only 36 vouchers can be used within any 28 day period. For example, if you use 36 vouchers within the first 7 days, you will not be able to access and use any of the remaining vouchers, until the first 28 days have passed, at which time, you will then be able to access the 2nd batch of 36 vouchers. The 3rd batch of 36 vouchers will become available for use 56 days after the original purchase date.

Your visitor does not need to display a permit on their vehicle's dashboard as we have the information held electronically. If you do not know your visitor's vehicle registration in advance and are unable to book, then as soon as they arrive, you should obtain their vehicle registration and enter it into your permit account. This will need to be within five minutes of their arrival to prevent a parking fine being issued to the vehicle.

Please note that once the session has been booked, there is no option to amend or delete the session should the visitor arrive at a different time or cancel the visit.

For your convenience, you are able to save vehicle registrations for your regular visitors and give them an alias such as "Mum".

Please note that private tenants must have at least 28 days remaining on their tenancy agreement in order to obtain further visitor vouchers. 

Paper scratchcards

Scratchcards allow visitors to park in both permit holder only areas and on street pay and display bays, and can only be used when visiting the property to which the scratchcards were issued.

A new application will be required with supporting documentation every 28 days. Please note that only one application is permitted every 28 days. If only one book is purchased, the applicant will not be able to purchase any further books until the 28 day period has finished.

Any unused scratchcards will remain available for the resident to use, i.e. they do not expire.

The paper scratchcard must be scratched off with the relevant date/time of arrival and displayed clearly in the windscreen.

Evidence needed

Proof of residence:

• permanent residents: Council Tax document (dated within 12 months of application)
• temporarily residents/tenants: a copy of the signed tenancy agreement
• if a rolling tenancy agreement is used, a supporting letter from the landlord or their agent must be provided confirming that the agreement has not expired

If you are a private tenant, you must have at least 28 days remaining on your tenancy agreement in order to obtain further scratchcards.

Where and when you can use a permit

Permits for three, six or twelve month periods are available. The permit allows carers to park in both permit holder only areas and pay and display bays.

The resident should keep the permit and it should be displayed in the carer's vehicle when required. Carers' permits may only be given to those calling at the permit holder's address. It is the householder's responsibility to ensure that their permit is retrieved from the carer's vehicle at the end of their stay.

Carers' permits can only be used in the zone in which the resident's property is located. 

Who can apply for a permit

You are eligible for a carer's permit if you are:

• registered blind
• receiving Higher Rate Mobility or Disability Living Allowance (16 to 64 years of age) or Attendance Allowance (65 or over)
• receiving War Pensions Mobility Supplement
• a permanent user of a wheelchair
• aged 85 or over and have a severe walking difficulty
• suffering from dementia
• suffering from a terminal illness
• suffering from certain neurological disorders which developed after 65 and affect mobility or require help from another person, including strokes, Parkinson's Disease or Motor Neurone Disease
• under two but requiring bulky medical equipment to be carried at all times.

Apply for a carer's permit

Evidence needed

Proof of residence:

• driving licence (renewals only)
• rent book
• utility bill (dated within 12 months of application)
• council tax document (dated within 12 months of application)
• a signed tenancy agreement

Proof of eligibility:

• confirmation from our Adult Sensory Support Team that the applicant is registered blind
• a letter confirming applicant receives War Pensions Mobility Supplement
• confirmation from a local centre that the applicant is a permanent user of a wheelchair
• proof of age if aged 85 or over and have a severe walking difficulty
• certification from medical authority that the applicant suffers from dementia, a terminal illness or a neurological disorder 
• proof the applicant is a parent/guardian of a child under two that requires bulky medical equipment to be carried at all times
• confirmation from the Department for Works and Pensions that the applicant receives Disability Living Allowance (including Mobility Component Higher Rate or Care Component) or Attendance Allowance

CPZ Business Permits User Guide (PDF, 571 KB)

Who can apply for a permit

Eligible businesses within the CPZ may be able to apply for a maximum of one business permit per business address. The permit is for use by one business vehicle only and is vehicle specific. Permits are non-transferable between vehicles.

You can change which vehicle is registered online, There is a £5 administration fee for each change and one change is allowed in every six month period.

Where you can use the permit

The permit allows parking in pay and display bays and permit holder only areas within the CPZ. 

Business permits can be used in any zone within the CPZ.

Evidence needed

Proof of business address:

• current business rates bill (dated within 12 months of application)
• if the property is owned by the business, a utility bill (dated within 3 months of the application date), is required
• if the property is rented/leased to the business, the lease agreement

Proof of vehicle ownership: 

• vehicle registration document
• authorised bill of sale or invoice (dated within 3 months of application)
• current hire/lease agreement
• valid certificate of insurance with applicant as policyholder or named driver
• if the company holds a fleet insurance document, an accompanying letter is required from the policy holder to confirm the applicant has permission to drive the vehicle

Blue Badge holders can park in permit holder only areas without charge or time limit.

CPZ Construction Permits User Guide (PDF, 395 KB)

The permits are for use in any of the building contractor's vehicles. Permits cannot be used in vehicles weighing over 7.5 tonnes or those longer than six metres.

Where and when you can use a permit

The permit allows builders to park in permit holder only areas. Permits are not available if the property is located within a street that has a pay and display option. A maximum of two permits will be issued per residential property for a maximum period of one month in any twelve month period. An extension may be offered where the building project is subject to planning permission. 

Construction permits are vehicle specific. Up to three registered vehicles may be assigned to one permit, but only with one vehicle active at a time. This will be managed by the account holder.

Construction permits can only be used in the zone in which the residential property is located.

Permit holder suspensions

You can apply to have permit holder only regulations suspended during building and demolition works, excavations in or adjacent to a parking bay and work by utility companies in or next to a parking bay. You must apply in advance.

Applying for a permit

The resident or the building contractor may apply for the permit.

No evidence is needed to apply for a construction permit.