Business parking permits
Apply for, renew, or replace a virtual business parking permit.
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New parking permit process
The way we process resident and business parking permits has changed. Read about the changes.
If you created an account before 24 November 2024, you must create a new one. When you register for a new account, you may need to re-upload a copy of the required recent proof of your residency and a copy of your vehicle registration document (V5C).
Businesses that can apply for a parking permit
Businesses can purchase business parking permits within a controlled parking zone (CPZ) where the loss of a locally parked service vehicle is considered to cause hardship. They are available only in certain zones.
A permit will only be issued if there is an operational business need, not for commuting purposes.
Requirements
The permit can only be used:
- with a vehicle required for daily operational use
- during business opening hours from the business premises concerned.
The vehicle must be an essential and operational part of that business. Used only for:
- the carriage of goods
- the provision of a service.
The vehicle must be registered in the name of, or leased to, the business or a full-time employee. The council will require applicants to produce evidence to verify eligibility.
How businesses can use permits
Business permits enable the holder to park their trade vehicle in ‘Permit Holder bays’ only within the CPZ of issue. Please note this does not include 'Resident' Permit Holder' bays
It is not possible to allocate specific bays to individual traders, and it cannot be guaranteed that a bay in a particular area will be available.
Vehicles that are eligible for permits
Permits are for use in the vehicles owned by or hired or leased to a business or registered to employees of the business and must be one of the types below.
- A passenger vehicle adapted to carry no more than 12 passengers
- A light goods vehicle
- A dual-purpose vehicle
The vehicle must not exceed 2.25 tonnes (2250kg) or 2 metres in height, 5 metres in length and 2 metres in width.
How much they cost
Permits have varied costs by month;
- 3 months - will increase to £50.50
- 6 months - will increase to £95.00
- 9 months - will increase to £145.00
- 12 months - will increase to £190.00
There are no refunds, so please consider carefully the period for which the permit is required.
There is a £25 fee to make changes to a permit.
Adding multiple vehicles to a single permit
In a few zones, a permit can be used for more than one vehicle. For example, where more than one staff member will need to use a vehicle for qualifying reasons. These types of permits are known as 'transferable'.
In transferable zones, you can add additional vehicles to your permit when you apply.
For transferable permits, a register must be maintained showing:
- time
- date
- name of user
- registration of vehicle
- purpose.
Business permit zone rules
Summertown (SM) Only
Businesses with fewer than 49 employees are eligible to apply for two permits; from 50 to 74 employees are eligible to apply for three permits; from 75 to 99 employees are eligible to apply for four permits; from 100 to 149 employees are eligible to apply for eight permits; from 150 to 199 employees are eligible to apply for 13 permits. For every additional 50 employees, a business will be eligible for a further five permits. These permits are transferable between approved vehicles.
Headington (HE) and North Oxford (NX) Zones
Businesses can apply for a maximum of two permits at any one time and these are transferable between approved vehicles.
Abingdon (AB) Banbury (BCW) Bicester (BC) Didcot (DT) Donnington (DN) Upper Wolvercote (WU) Woodstock (WS) Headington West (HA and HB), Jericho (JE), Norham Manor (NM) and Walton Manor (WM) Zones
Businesses with off-street parking or garage facilities are eligible for no permits unless such facilities can only hold one vehicle and the business requires more than one vehicle to be used in connection with its essential operation; in this case, only one permit will be issued. If a business does not have any off-street parking or garage facilities, a maximum of two permits can be applied for. These permits are not transferable.
Central (Area C Only)
Businesses can apply for a maximum of one permit at any one time, subject to there being no off-street parking or garage facilities available to that business. This permit is not transferable.
Divinity Road (DV), East Oxford (EO), Girdlestone Road (GR), Headington North (HN), Headington Quarry (HQ), The Lakes (LK), Magdalen Road North (MN), Marston South (MS), North Summertown (NS), Northway (NW), South Oxford (SO) and West Oxford (WO) Zones.
Businesses can apply for a maximum of one permit at any one time unless it can be shown to the council that it is essential for the businesses operation to have two permits. These permits are transferable with the exception of EO, DV, MN and SO where the permits are vehicle specific.
Apply for a new business parking permit
To apply for a permit you will need to create a business account on our parking website before you can apply for a virtual business parking permit. Allow ten working days for your application to be processed.
When leaving your vehicle in a permit-holder bay, make sure you know your controlled parking zone prefix. In Oxford, the zone is displayed on the on-street parking signs and is made up of two letters, such as 'EO' for East Oxford.
Documents you need to provide
You must upload several documents in support of your application. Use a scanner or take a photo with a smartphone.
The address given on the application form must be your place of trading. You must provide a letter from your place of business on headed notepaper that:
- shows the permit trading address
- explains the operational reason for requiring this permit
- the business operational days, e.g. Monday - Friday, 7am - 7pm.
Businesses must also provide:
- a copy of the most recent business rate demand for the business address
For permits in transferable zones
You can upload a list of all registrations and vehicle details to the application form. Or, you can type the details directly into the comments box at the end of the form.
Apply for a business parking permit
Renew a business parking permit
Log in to the business account to renew your virtual business parking permit.
You can set up an email reminder before your current virtual business permit is due to expire.
Renew a business parking permit
Replace a business parking permit
If you need to make a change to vehicles listed in your business account, there is a £25 fee.