Types of parking restriction
We enforce all parking restrictions that appear in the Highway Code.
We have listed the most common restrictions to help you better understand and comply with them.
We have obtained the images from the Department for Transport and have used them in line with the Open Government Licence.
These bays allow parking for Blue Badge holders only during the restricted times. These may be time restricted or allow parking for badge holders all day depending on the signage at the location.
You can visit Essex County Council's website for more information on using your Blue Badge.
A clearway means that no stopping is allowed at any time.
This is the strongest level of parking restriction possible, as there are no exemptions.
There are no road markings to show a clearway, but there are large signs when you enter the area and smaller repeater signs throughout the zone.
These are zones that show a restriction applies where we can't place normal road markings and/or continuous signage.
They usually indicate 'no waiting' restrictions, but you must always read the signage fully to understand the restriction at that particular location.
These mean 'no waiting at any time' and only allow parking in specific instances. You can load or unload on them providing this is continuous and a Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO) observes this taking place.
If you are a Blue Badge holder, you can park on them for up to three hours if you display your badge and clock.
These are sections of the pavement that have been lowered to allow vehicles to move between roads and properties.
You can visit Essex County Council’s website for more information on how to apply for a dropped kerb.
These bays are reserved for Electric Vehicles (EV) that must be plugged in to, and charging at, a nearby charging point.
These are often with a maximum stay period, so that other EV drivers can access the facility.
These bays allow you to park for a limited period of time.
One example of this could be a sign that says ‘Maximum stay of 2 hours, no return within 3 hours’. This means that you can park for up to two hours but may not return to that location (including to other bays with that restriction) within three hours.
If you are a Blue Badge holder, you can park on them all day if you display your badge and clock.
A loading ban will apply where there is a single or double yellow line 'no waiting' restriction which has adjacent yellow kerb markings.
Single kerb markings indicate that a loading ban applies during certain times, shown on a nearby timeplate. Double kerb markings mean that a loading ban applies at all times.
Parking when a loading ban applies is not permitted for any vehicle.
These bays allow any vehicle to carry out loading or unloading.
If you use one of these bays, you must carry out the loading or unloading continuously and our Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) must see it taking place during their observation period.
You must move your vehicle after you have finished.
These bays allow goods vehicles to carry out loading or unloading to local businesses.
No other vehicles are allowed to park in these bays during the restricted times. This will be made clear on the timeplates at the location.
If you use one of these bays, you must carry out the loading or unloading continuously and our Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) must see it taking place during their observation period.
You must move your goods vehicle after you have finished.
You can only park in a business permit bay if you have an appropriate business permit.
You can apply to us for a business permit for your business.
You can only park in a resident permit bay if you have an appropriate permit. This includes a resident permit, visitor ticket or a permit for carers or traders.
You can apply to us and find further details via our permits page.
Some residential permit schemes are zones rather than individual bays. These are known as Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) and only have signage on entry to the zone and smaller repeater signs within the restricted area, rather than bay markings.
These zig-zag restrictions are used around the entrances to schools.
These stop the picking up or setting down of children during restricted times, which tend to coincide with the school’s start and finish times.
This means 'no waiting' during the times shown on a nearby timeplates. During the restricted times, you can load or unload on them providing this is continuous and a Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO) observes this taking place.
Blue Badge holders can also park on them for up to three hours when they display their badge and clock.
These bays are reserved for licensed Hackney Carriages or private hire vehicles only. The times this will apply are detailed on the timeplates at the location.