Residents' parking zone permits

Parking zone permits

Resident, carer and business permits are virtual permits and are linked to a single vehicle only.

A virtual permit means the vehicle registration is registered and can be checked to make sure that it has the right to park within the zone.

Visitor permits are paper-based scratchcards with a window to scratch off for each day. These permits must be displayed on the dashboard of the car and can be transferred between various cars during the single day of use.

Special permits (for example, for contractors doing work in a zone) will be virtual and also linked to a vehicle registration. Applicants for these special permits should contact the relevant Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Road Divisions.

Permits may be cancelled where the permit has been proved to have been fraudulently used.

A permit is not transferable from one residents' parking zone to another.

If no longer needed, a permit should be returned to the office which sent it out.

A permit may be suspended and/ or withdrawn at any time.

Resident permit

If you live in the residents' parking zone area, you can apply for a resident permit.

A resident permit costs £30.00 a year. 

Permits are issued free of charge to:

• Blue Badge users who are residents within a parking zone

and

• residents of zones either wholly or partially within a Neighbourhood Renewal Area

Resident permits are valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

Permits may be issued for motorcars, motorcycles and light goods vehicles (under 3.5 tonnes). They will not and cannot be used for caravans, trailers or heavy goods vehicles.

Unused resident permits cannot be returned, as refunds are not available.

Tenants and Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs)

If you’re a tenant in the residents’ parking zone area, you will need to provide your tenancy agreement and your V5C(NI) document for your vehicle.

A household which has been split into a House in Multiple Occupancy (HMO) but that only has one Unique Property Identification Number and therefore one rates bill, will only be eligible for one resident permit for the household.

Visitor permit

If you’re a resident or business within the zone you can apply for one book of 25 visitor permits every quarter.

A £12.50 fee will have to be paid.

These scratchcard-style permits must be displayed clearly in the vehicle.

If you are 65 years or over, you will qualify for an additional book of permits per quarter, free of charge.

Visitor permits have no expiry date but are valid for one day’s operation when in use.

Unused visitor permits cannot be returned, as refunds are not available.

Business permit

If you’re a business owner with a non-domestic property within the residents’ parking zone and don’t have access to off-street parking, you can apply for a business permit.

Only one business permit can be sent out to each business.

A business permit costs £30.00 a year. 

Business permits are valid for one year after their processing date.

Unused business permits cannot be returned, as refunds are not available.

Apply for a permit

If you want to apply for either a resident, visitor or business parking permit (including renewals) you can download the relevant form at these links:

• Resident parking permit application form
• Visitor parking permit application form
• Business parking permit application form

Applications, along with all the relevant and supporting information asked for on the form, should either be posted or emailed to:

Department for Infrastructure
Parking Enforcement Processing Unit
PO Box 84
Omagh
BT78 9AN

• email: roads.parking@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

If you want an application form posted to your home address, contact:

• email:  roads.parking@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk
• phone:  0300 200 7895

Appeals

Applications can only be processed when all relevant information, and supporting information, has been supplied.

While there is no statutory right of appeal against not getting a permit, an appeal may be made to:

Parking Enforcement Manager
PO Box 84
Omagh
BT78 9AN

For an appeal to be successful, it must be shown that:

• existing policy and guidelines have not been complied with

or

• an exceptional need exists that has not been considered as part of the application

Blue badge holders

Blue badge holders who are residents within a zone can apply for a permit free of charge.

Any Blue Badge users who do not have a valid permit will be able to park within the pay and display area of a scheme free of charge, provided their Blue Badge is on display.

Contractors

Contractors can hire parking spaces within the zone by applying for a special permit for builder’s vehicles or skips.

These permits cost £50.00 a week for each space.

To hire a parking space, contact the relevant DfI Roads Division.

Healthcare staff or carers

Parking for healthcare staff or carers attending to a resident living within the parking zone is free of charge, as long as they have a carer permit.

Carer permits will be issued by the Department of Health.

Company vehicles

Supporting information must be provided by residents requesting a permit for a vehicle provided by their employers.

To request a permit for a company vehicle, a letter must be produced on company-headed paper in the following format:

• 'This letter is to confirm that [applicant’s name] is an employee of [company name] and is supplied with [vehicle make, model, with registration number] for his/ her sole business use.'

Penalty Charge Notices

If you park illegally within the residents’ parking zone and get a Penalty Charge Notice, you can either pay it or challenge it.

You can find out more in the parking enforcement section.

Funerals and other events

Residents within the zone can apply for parking spaces to be suspended for short periods of time depending on the circumstances.

Applicants for these special permits should contact the relevant DfI Roads Division. 

You need to give 24 hours’ notice to organise the suspension of parking enforcement.

Permit terms of use 

Resident permit, business permit and visitor permit holders can park in any parking bay within the zone, free of charge.

A permit does not guarantee availability of parking spaces.

Non-permit holders will be charged a fee for parking in a pay and display bay.

Any 10-minute maximum stay bays or loading bays are free of charge and are for only for anyone who is actively loading and unloading.