Frequently Asked Questions

Residential Permit Parking

I just moved into a permit zone. How do I get a permit if I haven’t got any mail yet?
Have your vehicle insurance changed to the correct address within the permit area at any ICBC/Autoplan office. Then bring in the valid vehicle insurance/registration, along with 2 other pieces of residential ID (e.g., rental contract/tenancy agreement, a change of address from the post office, driver's license with new address).

*We will accept the drivers license change-of-address box on the insurance papers checked ‘Yes’ as one piece of resident Identification for first time residents. Along with a rental contract/purchase agreement and the valid insurance papers with the correct address, we will issue a permit.

I am unable to attend the renewal site office to renew my permit. How do I purchase my permit?
You can ask a friend or relative to attend the renewal site office or City Hall on your behalf. They must bring in all of your required documents in order to purchase a permit.

I live in a permit zone but I drive a company car.
Bring in the current ICBC registration in the company name, indicating that the resident is the principal operator of the vehicle. and two pieces of residential ID (e.g., rental contract, utility bill, bank statement, BC drivers license).

If you are not the principal operator of the car, along with the residential ID, we will also require a letter on company letterhead identifying the license plate of the vehicle, as well as an item of company identification (e.g., paycheque, ID card, business card).

My car is registered to someone else.
If the car is registered to another person, the resident needs to bring in the vehicle registration that indicates that the permit zone resident is the principal operator of the vehicle, and two pieces of resident ID (e.g., rental contract, utility bill, bank statement, BC drivers license). We do not issue permits to borrowed vehicles.

I’m subletting a place in Vancouver. How do I get a permit?
The person who is subletting the residence needs to bring in their valid vehicle insurance along with 2 other pieces of residential ID, all displaying the address within the permit zone (e.g., rental contract/tenancy agreement, a change of address from the post office, driver's license with new address.

I receive regular homecare from someone who lives outside of the permit zone. How can I get a permit?
If you are a resident who requires regular homecare, we will require the vehicle insurance/registration of the homecare provider, 2 items of residential ID from the resident of the permit zone, and a letter from the resident’s doctor, indicating the need for homecare services. The resident will pay the annual permit fee for the permit area.

I drive a motorhome. Can I get a permit?
Vehicles that are over 2.2 meters in height and/or 6.4 meters in length, or have a weight over 5500 kg are not eligible for a resident parking permit. Please refer to the Street & Traffic Bylaw 2849, Section 20.1 – Large Vehicles.

Are parking permits transferable from one vehicle to another?
No. Parking permits are non-transferable and plate specific. Vehicles that display a permit that does not belong to a resident of the permit area are subject to towing.

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Temporary Permits

My car is going in to the shop for repairs.
If you have a permit on your car but you will be using a courtesy car temporarily, bring in the insurance for the courtesy car along with two pieces of residential ID and we will issue a temporary pass for the replacement vehicle at no charge.

I’m having out-town-visitors stay with me. How can they park in the permit zone while they are here?
Visitors from outside of the Lower Mainland (east of Hope, north of Squamish), can obtain a temporary visitors permit while they stay with someone who lives in a permit zone. Bring in the visitor’s vehicle insurance, and 2 pieces of residential ID (e.g., bank statements, bills, driver's license, etc.) from the person they are visiting within the permit zone. The fee for the temporary permit is $10.66 per week.
Note: we are unable to provide temporary passes for motorcycles.

I’m moving here from another province.
If you are moving into a permit area from out-of-province, you have one month to change your car insurance documents over to BC plates. We will issue a one month pass free of charge when the resident brings in their rental agreement and the out-of-province vehicle insurance/registration. Within the month, the resident must convert to BC insurance and then bring in their BC insurance & 2 pieces of current residential ID (e.g., rental contract, utility bill, bank statement, BC driver's license) to obtain a permanent decal for the year.

I don’t have a permit but I’m renting a car.
Bring in the rental contract for the car and two pieces of residential ID (e.g., rental contract, utility bill, bank statement, BC driver's license). The fee is $10.66 per week. If the rental car is a courtesy car being used while the permitted car is in for repairs, there is no charge (see courtesy car).

I’m from out of province and will be a student while in B.C.
Out of province residents attending school full time while in BC may be exempt from changing their vehicle insurance over to BC plates. The student must contact ICBC to see if they qualify, and arrange to have a student exemption form processed by ICBC. They can then bring in this approved student exemption form along with their out-of-province insurance/registration, and 2 pieces of residential ID (e.g., rental contract, utility bill, bank statement, BC drivers license), and we will issue a parking permit to the expiry date of the student exempt form. The permit area fee will be charged.
Note: (*While the student arranges to have a student exempt form processed by ICBC, we can issue a one month pass free of charge. To obtain this pass, the student would bring in the current vehicle insurance/registration and a rental contract.)

I live in a permit zone and I’m borrowing a friend’s car while they are away. Can I get a permit?
If a permit zone resident is borrowing the car of a friend who is leaving town, we require the vehicle registration, 2 items of resident ID, and an official travel itinerary or ticket showing the vehicle owner’s name and the duration of their absence. The fee is $10.66 per week.
Note: Without an itinerary or travel ticket in the vehicle owner’s name, a temporary permit will not be issued to residents who are borrowing a friend or family member’s car.

I have a housesitter staying at my place while I am on vacation. Can they get a permit?
Yes. We require the valid vehicle registration of the housesitter, 2 items of residential ID showing the resident's address in the permit zone, an official itinerary or travel ticket showing the resident's name and the duration of the resident's absence. The fee is $10.66 per week.
Note: without an itinerary or travel ticket in the resident’s name, a temporary permit will not be issued.

I’m having renovations done on my apartment. Can I get a permit for the workers who are doing the renovations?

Yes. For construction or renovations done to a home, one transferable paper permit can be issued for a period of up to three months at a cost of $5.33 per day. The resident must supply:

1. the valid vehicle insurance from at least one of the contractors that will be working on site
2. one piece of the resident's recently dated residential identification from within the permit zone
3. documentation showing the work being done in the form of a building permit or work order

The construction permits are intended for renovations on individual residential households only and are valid from 7am-8pm. These permits are not for commercial development.

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Replacement Decals

I have a permit on my car but I’ve changed vehicles.
Permits are non-transferrable and plate specific. If you have changed vehicles, remove the decal from the old vehicle, bring the decal in along with 2 pieces of resident ID and the current insurance for the new vehicle and we will issue a permit for your new car at no charge.

I have a permit on my car but I’ve changed plates.
Permits are non-transferrable and plate specific. To avoid being ticketed, residents who change their license plates after purchasing a resident parking permit should immediately contact the Neighbourhood Parking & Transportation Branch via 3-1-1 so that the correct information can be updated in our database.

My car was written off and I need a permit for my new vehicle.
If the permit has been destroyed, bring in the current vehicle registration, the ICBC paperwork indicating that the old vehicle is a write-off, and 2 pieces of residential ID and we will replace the decal at no charge. If you still have the decal, simply return it with the new vehicle insurance for a free replacement.

My vehicle/decal was stolen and I need a new permit.
Bring in the current vehicle registration, the police case file number of the stolen vehicle/stolen decal, and 2 pieces of resident ID and we will replace the decal.

I had my windshield replaced and no longer have the permit.
Bring in the current vehicle registration, a receipt from the windshield replacement company and 2 pieces of residential ID and we will replace the decal.

I've affixed my parking permit to my windshield but it seems to be "peeling" off all by itself. What should I do?
If you have purchased and affixed a residential permit to your windshield and it seems to be peeling off, please remove it from your windshield and return it to City Hall for a replacement decal at no charge. You will also be asked to show your vehicle registration to verify the decal matches your plate.
Please let the Customer Service Representative at City Hall know why you are returning the decal so that we can record the information for our records.

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Fees

Do I have to pay full price for the permit even though I moved in halfway through the year?
No. Parking permits are prorated quarterly throughout the permit year.

I’m moving out of the permit zone. Can I get a refund?
Yes. If the parking permit from your vehicle is returned, you will get a prorated refund. There is no refund if the permit is returned in the last 3 months of the permit year.

How much is the annual fee for a Resident parking Permit?

Annual prices subject to change

FAQ / Did You Know?

Can I reserve space on the street by putting buckets or cones on the street?
No. City Streets are for public use and cannot be reserved by placing objects on the street. Items that are placed on City property may be removed by City of Vancouver staff.

I have a boat/trailer. Can I park it on the street?
A boat/trailer cannot be parked on the street unless it is securely attached to a vehicle. The overall length of the vehicle and trailer combined cannot exceed 6.4 meters in length and/or 2.2 in height. For more information, see the Street & Traffic Bylaw 2849, section 20.

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Comments or questions? Send e-mail to engineering@vancouver.ca

© City of Vancouver, Engineering Services
Last Modified: Monday, January 9, 2012