Learn more about RPZs

In Bath, a residents’ parking zone (RPZ) is a designated area where on-street parking is controlled and enforced and where eligible residents and businesses can buy permits to park in the zone.

RPZs aim to improve the environment and ensure that scarce parking is allocated fairly. In summary:

operating hours are typically 8am to 6pm, seven days a week
eligible residents can buy up to two permits per household to park in their zone during operating hours
permit numbers are reduced for properties with off-street parking, such as driveways or garages
current residents' permits cost will vary depending on the vehicle’s emissions and size
short-stay bays (dual use and limited-waiting bays) are available for visitors using local amenities
visitor permits (digital or paper*) will also be available for residents to purchase for guests parking within the zone
tradespeople and some businesses can also obtain permits to park in permit-holder-only bays
concessions, including a free residents' permit, and dedicated parking spaces are available for Blue Badge holders
failure to comply with advertised restrictions could result in a Penalty Charge Notice

Where residents have raised concerns about parking availability, we consult on RPZs and consider them as part of a broader strategic vision to better manage on-street parking and support sustainable transport goals.

In congested areas, RPZs can:

ensure scarce parking is allocated fairly for the community
prioritise those that live in the area but also cater for visitors and local businesses
reduce incoming traffic and associated air pollution
deter commuters from parking in the area before walking into town
improve anti-social parking, such as pavement parking and parking on corners
improve access for emergency and delivery vehicles in narrow streets

RPZs are membership schemes that allow eligible residents and businesses to buy permits to park in the zone, but parking can still be hard to find (i.e. a permit does not guarantee you a space).

It is also worth noting that they can encourage vehicles to seek parking in neighbouring areas.

The ideal mix of parking allocation for an area is agreed after consultation with the community and parking officers. It will include a mix of parking bays lined and signed on the street:

Permit holder only bays: unlimited parking for permit holders during operating hours
Dual-use bays: short stay parking for non-permit holders during operating hours, or unlimited parking for permit holders
Disabled parking bays: to help secure the use of bays for people with a blue badge (near homes or shops)
Limited waiting areas: short-stay parking for non-permit holders
Pay and display bays: short-stay, paid-for parking for visitors more commonly in central zones

Yellow lines are often introduced to ensure order and improve visibility on corners. Double yellow lines and disabled parking bays operate 24 hours a day unless signage indicates otherwise.

You can apply for a residents' parking permit if:

you live in the zone and spend four or more nights per week at the property (checked against council tax data)
the property has less than two off-street parking spaces measuring at least 2.5m by 5m each
the property is registered on the Local Land Property Gazetteer (LLPG) and is liable for or officially exempt from council tax
the vehicle is registered with the DVLA at the address linked to the permit and has a valid MOT.

Additionally:

permits are limited to up to two per property and can only be used in your zone
properties with one off-street parking space are limited to one permit and properties with two off-street spaces are not eligible for permits
a single permit can apply to four vehicles but only one vehicle can park in the zone at a time (see Costs and managing your permit)
properties built or redeveloped after the zone’s start date may not be eligible
you must have a residents parking permit to park in the zone during operating hours which are 8am to 6pm, 7 days a week.

Charges for residents’ parking permits are vehicle specific and vary depending on the size of your vehicle and its emissions (or its engine capacity where emission data is missing from a V5C).

The current baseline cost of a residents’ parking permit is £120 per year but costs vary by vehicle. To get an indication of current permit prices and any additional costs or discounts, please visit our parking pages.

Please also consider the following terms:

1, 3 and 6-month permits are charged pro-rata of the annual charge, and a small surcharge is added to a one-month permit.
Currently, visitor permits are £15 per 100 hours (max 1000 hours in a rolling 12-month period).
Costs of other types of permits, such as trade and business vary, and details are also available on the permit parking web pages.
Permits are digital and managed via a MiPermit account. You do not need to display it in your vehicle.
A single permit can apply to up to four vehicle registrations but only one vehicle can use the permit at a time. The registrations must be added at the time of purchase.
The cost of permits covers the maintenance, administration and enforcement of the scheme.

Visitor permits allow visitors to park in permit-holder-only bays (as well as dual-use bays). Visitors can also park in short-stay bays (dual-use or limited waiting) without permits, usually free of charge for a limited time.

Residents can purchase visitor permits via MiPermit even if they do not have a residents parking permit (or a vehicle).

The current charges for visitor permits are currently £15 for 100 hours of visitor parking. Permits are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase, with a maximum rolling 12-month allowance of 1000 hours, per property.

Please note: From 1 April 2027 until 31 March 2028, Visitor Parking Permits will cost £20 per 100 hours. From 1 April 2028 they will cost £25 per 100 hours.