Once you've bought your Residents Parking Permit, use this guide to know how to use it correctly, and what to do if you need to manage your permit using our online system, MiPermit.
Select any topic, to find out more about common parking permit usage issues.
How to use your permit
View our On-street Parking Permit Terms and Conditions for full details of how we will manage all of our on street parking permits. This includes the following aspects of parking control and permit use:
- Permit eligibility
- Where you can and cannot park
- Operational hours for Residents Parking Zones
- Permit entitlement for each zone
- Permit costs and the annual review process
Residential parking permits allow you to park in permit holder only and dual use bays, on streets within the RPZ where you live, where signage permits. To avoid getting a parking fine, you should take care to read signs carefully, know the limitations of your Residents Parking Permit, and your responsibilities when using it:
- Your permit does not allow you to park in other residential parking zones.
- You can't use your permit to stay longer in time-limited bays, or to park free of charge in Pay & Display only areas.
- You must also comply with all other parking regulations, such as yellow lines.
- It is your responsibility to ensure that you check all signs and road markings before you leave your parked vehicle.
Yellow lines
Double yellow lines apply at all hours and on all days.
Look for signage or check the regulations of the RPZ to explain the meaning of single yellow lines within it.
There may be a sign showing the hours of operation. Where not explicitly signed, the operational hours of a single yellow line will be the same as the Zone the location falls within. Zones operate 7 days a week but their operational hours can differ by zone. The operational hours are advertised by signage at the vehicular access entry and exit points to each zone.
Find out more about the operational hours for each Resident Parking Zone in our On-Street Parking Permit Terms and Conditions.
Your Residents Parking Permit is digital, not a paper permit to display in your car. When you have bought your permit online, it will be active immediately (unless you have bought it in advance and set it to become active at a later date), and you don't need to worry about displaying anything in your car when you park.
If you have pre-registered more than one vehicle when you purchased your permit, only one can be active and valid on the permit at a time. You should manage your active vehicle through your MiPermit account.
If you buy Visitor Parking Permits, they may not operate in the same way. Check what you will need to do on our Visitor Parking Permit page.
On-street parking space is extremely limited in these zones. Therefore, Bath Central Zone and Zone 6 resident permit holders can also park free of charge in the adjacent Charlotte Street Car Park overnight, between 5.30pm and 10am daily.
How to change, cancel or renew your permit
Changing to a vehicle in the same or a lower emissions band
If you change your vehicle to another in the same or a lower emissions band, you will need to update your current permit to ensure you can park the new one in the residents permit zone.
You should do this promptly by contacting Parking Services by email at parking@bathnes.gov.uk or calling 01225 477133.
A £10 administration charge is payable for any vehicle registration mark changes that are accepted.
Changing to a vehicle with higher emissions
If your new vehicle is in a higher emissions band than any vehicles already registered to the current permit, the permit must be cancelled and a new permit purchased. This will be charged based on a combination of the rate for the vehicle with the highest emissions classification and the largest size.
We cannot provide a refund for this cancellation. We therefore recommend buying a short duration permit (1, 3 or 6 months), if you're expecting to change your vehicle for one with higher emissions.
If you need to cancel your current permit and purchase a new one, you can do this directly in MiPermit.
Moving to another RPZ within B&NES
If you are moving to a property which is entitled to a B&NES Residents Parking Permit, then we may be able to transfer your Mipermit account and any valid permits to your new address.
You would not need to cancel your permits. If you would like us to do this, please email parking@bathnes.gov.uk or call us on 01225 477133.
Moving to any other property
If you move away from B&NES, or to another property with no B&NES parking permit eligibility, you must cancel your Residents Parking Permit as soon as you leave. We cannot transfer your permit to the new owner of your property, and you must not continue to use it after your move.
You can do this online by logging into your MiPermit account. Please note that we don't offer refunds on any time remaining on your permit.
You can use our online service to cancel or renew most parking permits. This takes a couple of minutes and takes effect immediately.
You can renew your permit up to one month before the expiry date. If you are renewing an existing permit, all you need is your Council Tax reference and payment details. You must renew before the expiry date, or you may get a parking fine.
Mipermit will send reminder emails. However, due to spam filters and factors that may be outside our control, we recommend not relying on this to remember to renew.
You can find guidance on any changes you need to make to your permit on your online MiPermit account.
Log in to MiPermit to manage your permit
Report vehicles parking without a permit
If you suspect someone is parking in a residents zone without a permit, you can report it to us at FixMyStreet. Due to data protection laws, we cannot confirm to you whether someone else's car has a valid permit, but if we find an issue, we will take action where we can.
Remember that Residents Parking Permits are digital, so most cars will have nothing on display to show that they can park in resident-only bays.