Pedestrian zone permits

Pedestrian zones

A permit is issued by the relevant Department for Infrastructure (DfI) divisional office. 

This allows access for:

• people with a disability
• residents
• banking/ business purposes
• churches

A vehicle displaying an access permit is only authorised to drive in a restricted zone for as long as necessary. 

The specific hours of operation and exemptions that apply can vary from town to town, and even from street to street.

Drivers should pay particular attention to the signs at the entry points to each zone.

In a pedestrian zone, remember:

• pedestrians always have priority
• vehicles must be driven slowly, with due care and consideration of pedestrians
• never leave a vehicle where it would cause an obstruction or danger to pedestrians or other vulnerable users

and 

• always obey local traffic signs at the entrance/ exit to a pedestrian/ restricted zone, and traffic signs and parking/ waiting restrictions within the zone

Who can apply for a permit

A pedestrian/ restricted zone permit may be issued to:

• residents of properties in or beside the zone where the only way to access their property is through the zone
• churches where access is through the zone (for bringing equipment or goods in connection with the church)
• businesses and/ or individuals (not covered under residents' access) for off-street parking where the only form of access is through the zone
• businesses and/ or individuals for banking within the zone, where large sums of money and/ or the amount or weight of coins make it unsafe or impractical to visit the bank another way
• wedding car companies or undertakers/ funeral homes who, in exceptional circumstances, need access into or through the zone outside the specified loading and unloading hours
• tradesmen/ workmen carrying out essential repair work or maintenance within the zone outside the specified loading and unloading hours 
• people with a disability accessing facilities and/ or services within the zone
• local community transport providers and other such groups who provide essential transport services to people with severe mobility impairment or who live in areas with limited public transport services
• individuals in exceptional circumstances where the DfI Issuing Officer feels that access is needed but is not covered by any of the above

Restrictions on access times, number of permits allowed, supporting documents, and various other requirements are different depending on which type of permit you have. 

A short-term permit is valid for a maximum of two weeks. 

A long-term permit is valid for a maximum of 12 months. 

The expiry date will be printed on the front of the permit. 

Permits are issued to specific vehicles only and, except for people with a disability access permits, cannot be transferred to vehicles not listed on the permit. 

Permits are issued for access to specific restricted zones and are not transferable from one zone to another. 

Permits must be displayed so that the details are clearly visible, either: 

• on the inside surface of the windscreen
• side window facing the kerb

or 

• on the dashboard area immediately below the windscreen

Cancelled permits

Permits may be revoked where:

• the applicant’s circumstances mean they are no longer eligible for a permit

• the permit is fraudulently used 

  or

• a replacement permit has been issued in its place

Residents' access

Long-term permits may be issued for residents’ access. 

Homes which have vehicular access from streets or roads outside the pedestrian/ restricted zone are not eligible for a residents’ access permit. 

Supporting documents

You will need:

• proof you own or use a vehicle 

and 

• proof of residency

The following are accepted as proof of residency:

• Northern Ireland or Great Britain full driving licence or a Northern Ireland provisional licence, each bearing the photograph of the holder
• passport
• Senior Citizen’s SmartPass issued under the Northern Ireland Concessionary Fares scheme

or

• electoral identity card

If none of the above show residency matching that of the application, then further proof will be needed - a current rent book or utility or rates bill issued within the last six months.

Church access 

Long-term permits may be issued for church access. 

Applications may be considered from individuals (for example, ministers, elders and so on) involved in church work, which requires them to use a vehicle on a daily or weekly basis for bringing goods and/ or equipment to and from the church or church hall. 

The church premises must be accessed solely from a road or street within the pedestrian/ restricted zone. 

A maximum of three access permits may be issued to a church, with the option of including two extra vehicle registrations on each permit. 

Supporting documents

You will need:

• proof you own or use a vehicle 

and 

• a typed letter on headed paper from the church confirming that vehicle access is needed

Off-street car parking access 

Long-term permits may be issued for access to private off-street parking facilities. 

The parking facility must be accessed solely from a road or street within the pedestrian/ restricted zone. 

Applications for access to off-street parking places for residential properties are made under the residents' access option. 

Supporting documents 

You will need:

• proof you own or use a vehicle 

and 

• proof of usage of car park in the form of: 
  • a typed letter on headed paper, signed by the car park owner or representative confirming that you are entitled to use the car park and needs access to it daily 

or

• a copy of a contract or agreement between you or your employer and the owner of the car park, signed by the car park owner or representative confirming that you use the car park on a regular basis

Banking access 

Long and short-term permits may be issued for access into a pedestrian/ restricted zone to visit banks. 

Applications shall only be accepted where the bank is within the zone (for example, postcode, street name, and so on), and from individuals who bank over £5,000 and/ or a high percentage of coins each visit. 

Long-term permits may be issued where an individual or business needs access to the bank at least once a month. 

Short-term permits may be issued for one-off occasions, for example, depositing funds or proceeds from fundraisers, charity events, and so on. 

There is a maximum waiting time of 15 minutes on vehicles displaying a banking access permit in the restricted zone. 

Where two or more vehicles alternate on a regular basis to visit the bank (for security reasons), then the registrations of all vehicles, up to a maximum of three, may be sent with the application to be included on the permit.

Supporting documents

You will need:

• proof you own or use a vehicle 

and

• proof of banking over £5,000 and/ or a high percentage of coins per visit (a letter from the bank confirming this and how often these lodgements are is needed - long-term permits shall only be issued where access to the bank is needed at least once a month) 

Business access 

Long-term permits may be issued to wedding car companies or undertakers/ funeral homes. 

A maximum of three access permits may be issued to a wedding car company or undertaker/ funeral home, with the option of including two additional vehicle registrations on each permit. 

A valid reason must be submitted with the application form for requesting additional registrations on a permit.

Supporting documents

You will need:

• proof you own or use a vehicle 

and

• proof that access is required

A letter from the company should confirm that access is required to: 

• their own premises, where these premises are accessed through the restricted zone (proof of address required) 
• a residence whose only vehicular access is through the zone (including buildings such as residential/ care homes for older people and hospitals/ hospices

or 

• a church, where the desired vehicular access is through the zone

Essential maintenance/ repairs to buildings access

Short-term permits may be issued for essential maintenance (usually one-off items) and essential repair work on buildings. 

Permits may only be issued where: 

• the location of the work is within the restricted zone

and/ or 

• the only access is from a road/ street within the pedestrian/ restricted zone

Only essential vehicles shall be granted access. 

A maximum of three access permits may be issued to each firm, with the option of including two extra vehicle registrations on each permit. 

Supporting documents

You will need:

• proof you own or use a vehicle 

• details of access hours requested and destination in the form of a typed letter on headed paper signed by the employer

  and 

• proof of need to carry out work in the form of either: 

  • a copy of a contract or agreement between the applicant and the employer, signed and dated by the employer

    or

  • where no formal contract exists, a typed letter on headed paper signed and dated by the employer confirming that the applicant is employed to carry out essential maintenance or repairs on the named premises 

Blue Badge holder access 

In Belfast city centre, a vehicle lawfully displaying a Blue Badge is allowed unrestricted access to the pedestrian/ restricted zones in Donegall Place, Castle Place and parts of Castle Street and High Street without a permit. 

Blue Badge holders are not authorised to drive through any of the other streets within the Belfast city centre pedestrian/ restricted zone.

In other areas Blue Badge holders may be eligible for long-term permits to access services and/ or facilities. 

A person with a disability permit allows access as follows: 

• general access into all zones up until 11.00 am, Monday to Saturday
• an additional four hours per week during afternoons, outside specific loading/ unloading times and in two-hour slots, can be applied for by Blue Badge holders who find the general morning access time up to 11.00 am to be unsuitable

In exceptional circumstances, where these increased access times did not suit and were leading to cases of extreme hardship, every effort would be made to treat applications for access outside these times sympathetically. 

Applications should be made to the local divisional manager. 

Applications for access to zones on Sundays, should not normally be a problem. 

However, access during busy shopping periods, for example in the run-up to Christmas, would require more detailed consideration. 

When you apply you should give the reason for access (for example, shopping, dentist, doctor) along with approximate location. You should also detail the required times of access on the application form.

Applicants who put forward a strong case for access to more than one restricted zone may be considered for a second permit. However, a separate application should be made to the relevant Issuing Office. 

Where the permit holder’s preferred transport is taxi, the permit may be temporarily transferred to the taxi under the following limitations:

• the driver of the taxi must hold a valid taxi driver licence and their vehicle must have a valid taxi licence
• the permit is only valid when in use for the transport the person with a disability

and

• the valid hours as stated on the permit will apply to the taxi

The access permit and the Blue Badge must be displayed together when accessing the restricted zone, whether in a private vehicle or licensed taxi. 

Supporting documents

You will need:

• a valid Blue Badge issued by the Department for Infrastructure

Community transport access 

Long and short-term permits may be available to local community transport providers and other such groups who provide essential door-to-door transport services to people with severe mobility issues or who live in areas with limited public transport services. 

A maximum of three permits may be issued to each organisation. 

Supporting documents 

You will need:

• proof of ownership or usage of vehicle
• proof of the organisation’s address is required in a typed letter on headed paper, signed by a representative of the organisation confirming the address 

and 

• proof of vehicle registration with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency under the small bus permit scheme

Miscellaneous access 

Miscellaneous permits shall be issued for short-term use only. 

Supporting documents

You will need: 

• proof of ownership or usage of vehicle

and 

• depending on the purpose of the permit, other supporting documents requested by the Issuing Officer

How to apply for a permit

You can apply for a pedestrian/ restricted zone permit at this link: 

• Apply for a pedestrian zone permit

Once an application has been received, it can take up to two weeks to issue a permit. It may take a little longer if you need to give more information.

If you are refused a permit

You can appeal if you are refused a permit. 

Appeals must be made to the Issuing Office within two weeks of receiving a refusal letter. 

Only written appeals will be accepted.

How to renew a permit

Renewal notices are not sent out to permit holders. 

You will need to apply for a renewal permit if: 

• your permit expires

or 

• your details change (for example, name, address or vehicle details)

Lost or stolen permits

You must tell the relevant Issuing Office immediately, where the Issuing Officer will advise you on how to apply for a replacement permit. 

If a permit has been mislaid and is subsequently found after the issue of a replacement, the original permit must be returned to the issuing office as soon as possible. 

Who to contact

If you require any further information, contact one of the following Department for Infrastructure issuing offices.

Eastern Division

For permits in Belfast or Lisburn, contact:

• email: dfiroads.eastern@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

Northern Division

For permits in Antrim, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, or Limavady, contact:

• email: dfiroads.northern@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

Western Division

For permits in Enniskillen, Londonderry, Omagh, or Strabane, contact:

• email: LondonderryandStrabane@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

More useful links

• Blue Badge scheme
• Motoring, travel and transport for disabled people