Terms and conditions for resident parking

(a) You can park in a designated resident permit zone (or all resident permit zones if stated) when you buy a permit/ticket. You must make sure:

• the vehicle registration number is correct
• the resident permit zone is correct
• the date and time have not expired

(b) You must make sure you give the correct vehicle registration details when you buy/renew a permit/ticket. If you need to change the vehicle details, you will need to contact us.

(c) Your permit/ticket is only valid in the permit holder only areas within the designated resident permit zone unless otherwise stated.

(d) If your permit states a specific area or road, it is valid only in the location(s) specified.

(e) Your permit/ticket is only valid until the date and time specified and must not be used thereafter.

(f) You cannot transfer a digital permit/ticket between vehicles. You cannot transfer a paper permit/ticket between vehicles if it has a specific vehicle registration number.

(g) Your permit/ticket does not allow you to park (unless otherwise stated):

• in car parks
• on yellow lines during restricted hours
• within limited or no waiting bays
• within on-street Pay and Display bays

(h) We may cancel your permit/ticket or prevent you from buying further permits/tickets if you misuse it.

(i) Your permit/ticket does not guarantee you a space or the unrestricted right to a space. We are not subject to liability in respect of theft of, or damage to, any vehicle in a permit bay or its contents or fittings.

(j) We, or Essex Police, may suspend the use of permit bays.

(k) You must park the vehicle wholly within a designated marked bay or the roadway in the permit zone designated by the signs.

(l) You must not use your permit/ticket for convenience parking in another part of the same zone for other purposes like shopping or onward travel.

(m) You must not park the vehicle:

• across a pedestrian kerb access or private dropped kerb access
• in a manner that affects the safety of other pedestrians or vehicles
• in a manner that blocks any side roads or adjacent properties
• in a suspended permit bay
• on any verge
• on the footway
• too close to a junction

(n) The times when anyone can park in resident bays without a permit/ticket vary from road to road. All resident parking restrictions still apply over bank holidays, unless specifically stated on the signs at the site of the restrictions.

(o) In all areas, the vehicle that the permit/ticket has been allocated to must be classed as a car, a motorcycle or a commercial vehicle. In addition, it must not:

• be more than 2 tonnes in Unladen Weight (ULW) in the Basildon, Castle Point or Maldon areas
• be more than 2.3 metres in height or 6 metres in length in the Brentwood area
• be more than 2.2 metres in height, 5.25 metres in length or 3.5 tonnes in Gross Laden Weight (GLW) in the Chelmsford or Rochford areas
• have 12 or more seats in the Chelmsford area

(p) You may receive a parking fine (Penalty Charge Notice or PCN) if you do not comply with these terms and conditions.

(a) You can only have a resident permit for a vehicle belonging to or hired by a resident within one of the resident permit zones. You cannot buy a resident permit for a non-resident or property landlords, both of which would need to purchase digital or paper tickets. We will monitor the number of tickets bought by property landlords.

(b) Your resident permit is only valid for a vehicle registered to the resident living at the address within the designated resident permit zone.

(c) You cannot transfer a digital permit between vehicles. You cannot transfer a paper permit between vehicles if it has a specific vehicle registration number. You must contact us if you want to transfer your permit to another vehicle.

(d) You must display your paper permit clearly throughout the period parked so that it can be clearly seen from outside the vehicle.

(e) If you lose your paper permit, you will need to contact us for a replacement permit. Any replacements requested for paper permits are subject to a fee.

(f) We may, at any time, ask for proof of ownership to confirm the validity of the vehicle. We would accept:

• a copy of the V5C registration document showing the vehicle is registered to the resident living at the address
• an insurance document showing the vehicle is insured against the address
• a letter from a hire or lease company confirming that the resident has permission to drive the vehicle

(g) You are responsible for making sure your permit is always current and renewed by the due date. You will be sent an email reminder of your renewal prior to the renewal date. You will be sent a letter reminder of your renewal prior to the renewal date if you do not have an email address.

(h) If you move to another address within a resident permit zone, you must contact us to transfer the details of your permit(s) to the new address.

(i) If you move to an address which is not in a resident permit zone, or you wish to cancel your permit(s) regardless, you must contact us.

(j) If you move to a property which is not included in a resident permit zone and do not notify us, we will cancel your permit.

(k) If you have a business permit, you can use it on any vehicle belonging to your company, an employee or visitor. If you abuse this privilege, we will cancel your permit.

(l) If you have a carer permit, you can use it for attending to a patient at their own property. If you abuse this privilege, we will cancel your permit.

(m) If you have a disabled permit, it is only valid within the designated bay. It is not valid in any other bay or zone. If you abuse this privilege, we will cancel your permit.

(n) If you have a dispensation or market trader permit, you can use it for attending your specifically requested location as part of your duties. It is only valid in the restricted area at the specific location requested between 8am and 6pm on the dates specified. It is not valid in a business area or a car park unless otherwise stated. You must always park safely and not block any side roads or adjacent properties. You must not keep any goods or materials on the road (except at the rear of the vehicle). You must not pass any goods or materials across the road in a manner that affects the safety of other pedestrians or vehicles. You must move the vehicle once your duties are completed or if we, or Essex Police, ask you to do so. If you abuse this privilege, we will cancel your permit. 

(o) If you have a doctor permit, it is only valid within the designated surgery bays. It is not valid in any other bay. If you abuse this privilege, we will cancel your permit.

(p) If you have a driveway permit, it is only valid in the road where your address is located. It is not valid in any other road. If you abuse this privilege, we will cancel your permit.

(q) If you have a Hylands Parking Saver, it is only valid in the three car parks surrounding the Hylands Estate in Chelmsford (London Road car park, The Stables Visitor Centre car park and Writtle car park). It is not valid in any other car park. You can also use it to pay for discounted cashless parking and discounted season tickets in these car parks. If you abuse this privilege, we will cancel your Hylands Parking Saver.

(r) If you have a leisure permit, it is only valid in the Riverside and Waterloo Lane 2 car parks in Chelmsford. It is not valid in any other car park. If you abuse this privilege, we will cancel your permit.

(s) If you have an M permit in the Basildon area, it is only valid within any designated “M” bays. It is not valid in any other bay. If you abuse this privilege, we will cancel your permit.

(s) If you have a members permit, you can use it for attending a resident in their home as part of your duties. You can also use it in resident bays and off-street surface car parks within the designated borough/city/district. It is not valid on yellow lines or in on-street Pay and Display bays (unless paying and displaying). If you abuse this privilege, we will cancel your permit.

(t) If you have an on-duty permit, you can use it for visiting residents or performing Council duties. You can also use it on single yellow lines, in resident bays and in off-street surface car parks within the designated borough/city/district. It is not valid on double yellow lines or in on-street Pay and Display bays (unless paying and displaying). If you abuse this privilege, we will cancel your permit.

(u) If you have a police permit, you can use it for visiting residents or whilst carrying out official business on behalf of Essex Police. You can also use it in resident bays and off-street surface car parks within the designated borough/city/district. It is not valid on yellow lines or in on-street Pay and Display bays (unless paying and displaying). If you abuse this privilege, we will cancel your permit.

(v) If you have a staff permit, you can use it for visiting residents or performing Council duties. You can also use it in resident bays and off-street surface car parks within the designated borough/city/district. It is not valid on yellow lines or in on-street Pay and Display bays (unless paying and displaying). If you abuse this privilege, we will cancel your permit.

(w) If you have a various permit, you can use it on any vehicle in accordance with the same terms and conditions as a resident permit. If you abuse this privilege, we will cancel your permit.

(x) If you have a visitor permit, you can use it on any vehicle in accordance with the same terms and conditions as a resident permit. It is only valid for a visitor visiting your address for a maximum of four hours. If you abuse this privilege, we will cancel your permit.

(y) If you have a worker permit, you can use it on any vehicle belonging to your company, an employee or visitor. It is only valid within the parking bays of the specified zone between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday. If you abuse this privilege, we will cancel your permit.

(z) Refunds are not available for permits in the Basildon, Brentwood or Castle Point areas. In the Chelmsford, Maldon and Rochford areas, you are entitled to a refund. This will be calculated as one twelfth of the permit price, multiplied by the number of whole months remaining until the permit expires. Any refunds requested for permits in the Chelmsford, Maldon or Rochford areas are subject to a £5 administrative fee.

(a) You are responsible for making sure the ticket is always current.

(b) Your ticket is only valid for use by visitors visiting the resident living at the address within the designated resident permit zone. They must enter the address connected to the ticket immediately once it has been displayed.

(c) You must display your paper ticket so that all details are clearly visible and easily readable from the outside the vehicle.

(d) Your paper ticket must be displayed within five minutes of arrival and must not be pre-dated or pre-timed.

(e) Visitors to residential properties in Maldon who want to park overnight must scratch off a time from 10.30pm onwards. This will be valid up to 8am the following day.

(f) Your paper ticket will be invalid if:

• more than one of each Day, Date, Month, Hour or Minute panel is scratched off
• any amendments are made to the information

The Hour and Minute panels do not need to be scratched off if the front of the scratch card says “All-Day”. This will run up to midnight on the Day, Date and Month that has been scratched off.

(g) Refunds are not available for digital or paper tickets.

(a) We are a Data Controller for the purposes of data protection legislation. All personal information is held and processed in accordance with this. You can refer to our Privacy Notices for details. You can contact us if you need the privacy notice in an alternative format.

(a) We are required by law to protect the public funds we administer. We may share, and may be required to share, information we hold with other public bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds. This is in order to prevent and detect fraud.

(b) The Audit Commission appoints the auditor to audit our accounts. They are also responsible for carrying out data-matching exercises. They carry out at least one data-matching exercise each year and involve all local authorities. They also include other public bodies such as the Department for Work and Pensions.

(c) Data-matching involves comparing one body’s records against other records held by the same or another body to see how far they match. The information matched is usually personal information, such as:

• name
• date of birth
• address

Computerised data matching allows them to identify potentially fraudulent claims and payments. When they find a match, there is probably an inconsistency which requires further investigation. They do not assume any evidence of fraud, error or other explanation until they carry out an investigation.

(d) We have to take part in a data-matching exercise run by the Cabinet Office’s National Fraud Initiative to help prevent and detect fraud. We have to provide particular sets of data to the Cabinet Office for matching for each exercise, as set out in the Home Office guidance.

(e) The Audit Commission uses its powers in Part 2A of the Audit Commission Act 1998. This means that when they carry out a data-matching exercise they don’t need consent of the individuals concerned to use their data.

(f) You can view data-matching carried out as part of the NFI, which is subject to a Code of Practice.

(g) You can view further information on the Audit Commission's legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular information.