Where can I park in the city centre?
I’m visiting for a couple of days, where can I leave my car and what charges are there?
What are the different parking areas in Edinburgh and their differing parking charges?
Do parking restrictions apply on holidays?
How do I apply for a residents’ permit?
How do I report incorrect parking?
Where should I never park?
Is there a grace period before a parking ticket is issued?
How do I find out if my vehicle’s been impounded or moved?
Why do we need parking regulations?
Where are the Park & Ride sites?
Where is coach parking available?
Where can I park my minibus in the city centre?
Where can I park in the city centre?
You can find out more on pay and display bays by viewing our Short-term parking information.
You can find out more on car parks and park and ride sites by viewing our Long-term parking information.
I’m visiting for a couple of days, where can I leave my car and what charges are there?
There are a range of parking options no matter where you are staying within the city. There are several car parks in and around Edinburgh City Centre. Our map of Edinburgh City Centre Car Parks (pdf,410kb) includes locations, operational hours and the number of spaces.
On the streets of the city Edinburgh there are over 6200 pay and display spaces in the central controlled parking zone, In order to pay and display, motorists purchase a ticket from an issuing ticket machine to display on their vehicle. Parking time can be purchased from 15 minutes to a maximum of 4, 6 or 9 hours depending on the area (please note that in 9 hour parking bays a minimum amount of 3 hours parking time must be purchased at a cost of £3.00). Each ticket issuing machine carries details of tariff rates and maximum stay periods. Please read the information the ticket machines before purchasing a pay and display voucher.
Please note that pay and display tickets are not transferable, and can only be used for the relevant bays.
The peripheral and outer zones extend from the outer boundary of the city centre and their operating hours are 0830 to 17.30 Monday to Friday.
Edinburgh is split into 2 two main parking zones with a further extended (outer) zone which came into effect in November 2006.
The original zone is called the Central Controlled Parking Zone which covers the city centre and has parking restrictions from 08.30 to 18.30 Monday to Saturday. Between those hours you have to purchase a ticket to park in a pay and display bay and you cannot park where there are further restrictions such as residents' bays and yellow lines.
The areas outside the Central Controlled Parking Zone are called the Peripheral Parking Zone and the Outer Zone and their operating hours are from 08.30 to 17.30 Monday to Friday. Please note on some streets there are also restrictions between 08.00 and 13.30 on Saturdays.
In the Controlled Parking Zones all kerbsides are marked out as either a parking bays (residents, pay and display, shared etc) or by yellow line parking restrictions.
The hours of control and the days on which they apply for each zone are shown on large Zone Entry signs which are placed on all roads at the entrance to a zone. The hours of control are also shown on the Pay and Display Machines within the zone.
Parking Charges in Central and Peripheral Zones
A table with the parking tariffs and stay periods in Edinburgh is also available. Parking Charges (pdf 18kb)
Zone 1 - Tariff charge £2.00 per hour - Maximum stay 4 hours
Parking time bought in increments of 50p per 15mins
Times of restriction - 0830 till 1830 Monday to Saturday
Zones 1A, 2, 3 and 4 - Tariff charge £2.00 per hour - Maximum stay 3 or 4 hours depending on the street
Parking time bought in increments of 50p per 15mins
Times of restriction - 0830 till 1830 Monday to Saturday
Zones 5, 5A, 6 and 7 - Tariff charge £1.20 per hour - Maximum stay 3 or 4 hours depending on the street.
Parking time bought in increments of 30p per 15mins
Times of restriction - 0830 till 1730 Monday to Friday
Zone 8 - Tariff charge £1.20 per hour - Maximum stay 4/6 hours depending on the street.
Parking time bought in increments of 30p per 15mins
Times of restriction - 0830 till 1730 Monday to Friday
Outer Zones (S1 to S4 and N1 to N5) - Tariff charge is £1.00 per hour - Maximum stay ranges between 1, 4, 6 and 9 hours depending on the street. Please note that in 9 hour bays a minimum amount of 3 hours parking time must be purchased at a cost of £3.00.
Times of restriction - 0830 till 17.30 Monday to Friday.
*Please check ticket machines for specific information in case of local variation
Yes. However, on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and Easter Monday, vehicles may park in public parking bays free of charge and on single yellow lines (outwith any loading prohibition).
How do I apply for a residents’ permit?
To receive an application or renewal form, call 0131 469 3291, or pick up one up from the Residents’ Permit Section, The City of Edinburgh Council, 249 High Street. We are open from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm on Tuesday, and from 8.30 am to 3.40 pm on Friday.
How do I report incorrect parking?
Please contact Parking Operations on 0131 469 3698 during office hours.
You should NEVER:
- park in a bay specially reserved for people with disabilities, a doctor, the City Car Club or in a taxi rank, diplomatic bay - these spaces are prohibited 24 hours a day seven days a week
- park on zebra crossings or zig zags
- park on a footway (pavement)
- double-park beside another parked car
- park on a double yellow line with two kerb stripes.
Both parking attendants and traffic wardens give a grace period before issuing a ticket in certain circumstances. If you are parked on a yellow line during a loading prohibition or in a disabled bay or residents’ bay without displaying the correct documents a grace period will not be given.
Grace periods in Edinburgh
Loading private vehicles from yellow lines, 5 minutes.
Loading commercial vehicles from yellow lines, 10 minutes.
Failure to display Pay & Display voucher, 5 minutes.
Expired Pay & Display voucher, 5 minutes.
How do I find out if my vehicle’s been impounded or moved?
Call the police switchboard at 0131 311 3131. The police are notified of all impounds and relocations
You can find out more information on Parking Regulations to find out why they are essential.
You can find out more information on Park and Ride sites in the Edinburgh area.
Dedicated coach parking bays (pay and display) are present in Regent Road and Johnston Terrace.
Minibuses that carry twelve passengers or less and can fit fully within the bay markings can park in public parking bays throughout the city. Any vehicle outwith these specifications must park in a coach parking bay in Johnston Terrace or Regent Road, or outwith the controlled parking zone.
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