Double red lines

You are never allowed to park on double red lines. Double red lines indicate an area where it is dangerous to park, where your vehicle is a hazard to other road users, or where it would cause congestion or impede traffic flow. These are enforceable 24 hours a day.

Single red lines

You can’t stop on a single red line between 7.30 am to 6.30 pm Monday to Friday, and between 8.30 am and 6.30 pm on Saturday. Overnight parking is allowed. Outside peak times, you need a Council Greenway permit for special parking exemptions – call the police at 0131 226 7273 to apply for a permit.

Double yellow lines

You can’t park on double yellow lines at any time. You may load or unload on double yellow lines as long as there are no kerb stripes (click here for an explanation of kerb stripes).

Single yellow lines

Usually, you can’t park on single yellow lines between 8.30 am and 5.30 or 6.30 pm Monday to Saturday, depending on the area – check street signs to be sure. You may load or unload on single yellow lines as long as there are no kerb stripes (see below for an explanation of kerb stripes).

Double kerb stripes

Double stripes on a kerb mean there is no loading at any time.

Single kerb stripes

Single stripes on the kerb means you can’t load or unload at certain times (check street signs).

Greenways

A Greenway is a lane dedicated for buses, taxis and bicycles. Greenways allow buses to travel quicker and easily on main roads running into and out of the centre of Edinburgh. This makes bus services more reliable and roads safer for cyclists. You may not drive other vehicles in this lane during designated hours.

Greenways are patrolled by Police Traffic Wardens. Parking attendants patrol the rest of Edinburgh.

Cycle lanes

In addition to Greenways, there are also some small cycle lanes in Edinburgh. As the name and size indicate, these lanes are solely for cyclists’ use.

Pay and display machines

A pay and display machine indicates short-term, paid parking. *Please note
that the arrows and signs show the ticket machine location, not the direction of public parking bays.  Click here to learn more about pay and display.

Residents’ parking bays

Only those with valid residents’ permits and season tickets may park in these reserved bays during operating hours. Please pay particular attention to the arrows on signs to see in which direction you should park. Residents’ parking bays are also marked with “Permit Holders Only”. Click here to learn more about residents’ permits.

Disabled parking bays

Only those with a valid blue badge may park in bays marked with “Disabled”. Click here to learn more about blue badge/disabled permits.

Motorcycle bays

Edinburgh has about 120 parking bays reserved just for motorcycles, marked with “Solo M/Cs”. Click here to learn more about motorcycle parking.

Loading bays

Loading bays indicate spaces where you may load and unload goods. Check signs for hours of operation. Click here to learn more about loading bays.

City Car Club bays

Bays designated for City Car Club vehicles. Click here to find out more about the City Car Club, a car-sharing program.

Other bays

There are also specifically reserved coach, police, doctor, bridal and diplomatic bays in Edinburgh.