The benefits of parking controls
What is a Controlled Parking Zone?
A Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) is an area where all of the kerbside space is managed by way of yellow lines and/or parking places.
What are the benefits of a CPZ?
In alignment with the Council’s City Mobility Plan, parking controls help to reduce vehicular dominance and improve the quality of our streets by encouraging visitors to consider more sustainable travel options. In turn, this improves road safety, reduces levels of harmful emissions, and improves travel efficiency.
Parking controls ensure that parking is managed for the benefit of local residents. Long-stay parking by non-residents is discouraged, leaving more space for residents and their visitors. Maximum lengths of stay create a turnover of parking that benefits businesses, improving accessibility for customers.
By introducing parking controls on a zonal basis, rather than only on streets where issues are occurring, the Council can mitigate against the risk of parking issues migrating from one street to the next.
Consultations
As part of the legal process related to the introduction of a new CPZ, the Council must carry out public consultation. You can view our Latest Updates in Your Area page for further information, or you can view our Frequently Asked Questions.
Parking Permits
Parking permits allow holders to park in certain bays or parking areas, helping to maintain parking access for local residents and businesses.
Residents' Permits
Residents’ parking permits allow holders to access permit and shared-use parking bays within the parking zone where they live. Permit parking restrictions help to maintain parking availability for residents while reducing indiscriminate parking by non-residents.
You can read more information and guidance on residents' parking permits or find out how to apply for a resident’s parking permit.
Permit parking areas
Permit parking areas (PPAs) differ from permit parking bays, in that only residents of a certain road (or roads) may park in a PPA. Whilst there are no road markings, signs will show that parking is permitted only by specific permit holders. Residents who hold a PPA permit may park elsewhere in the wider zone; however, only those with a specific PPA permit may park within it.
Parking permits for visitors
Visitor parking permits are available to all residents within the new parking zones, offering reduced parking charges for your guests and visitors. Visitor parking permits can be used in permit and shared-use parking places, with each permit valid for 90 minutes. Visitor parking permits are sold in books of ten. Blue Badge holders are entitled to double the number of permits at half the price.
Parking permits for businesses
- Up to two Business or Retail Parking Permits are available to retailers, businesses and office premises where a vehicle is essential to the daily operation of the business throughout the working day.
- An unlimited number of trades parking permits is available to trades businesses, such as plumbers and electricians, where vehicles are essential to the daily operation of the business throughout the working day.
- Up to eight Garage Parking Permits are available to specific garage premises where there is a requirement for customers' vehicles to be stored on street before and after servicing.
For detailed information, including eligibility criteria and application details, you can visit our retail, trades, business and garage permits page.
Essential user and carers' parking permits
Essential User Permits (EUPs) are available to qualifying healthcare workers, with the legal process due to commence to introduce Carers' Permits. For further information on these permits, you can visit our Essential User and Carers' parking permit page.
Pay and display
Currently, pay and display and shared-use parking bays may be used by drivers purchasing parking time and by residents' permit holders who live in the parking zone within which the bays are located. Trades permit holders may also use both of these bay types, whilst Retail and Business permit holders may use permit and shared-use bays. Use of these parking bays by Trades, Retail and Business permit holders is subject to the conditions on our retail, trades, business and garage permits page.
The signage at pay and display and shared-use parking places indicates the maximum stay period and directs drivers to the nearest ticket machine, or provides a location code for the RingGo cashless parking service. In some parking zones, payment is by RingGo only, where details will be provided on parking bay signs.
For information regarding parking prices and the times of parking restrictions in Edinburgh's parking zones, you can visit our parking prices and times page.