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Cambridge business parking permits

A business parking permit enables vehicles essential to the operation of a business to park in a designated resident only parking area within a scheme's operational hours.

Each Resident Parking Scheme has different operational hours.

Please note that business parking permits:

  • Are valid for one year from date of issue
  • Require annual renewal
  • Are specific to the scheme area your business is located within
  • Can have up to three vehicle registration numbers on one permit
  • Can only be used by one vehicle at any one time
  • Are specific to the vehicles listed on the permit and cannot be transferred to other vehicles
  • Do not reserve or guarantee the availability of a parking space

Who can apply for a Cambridge business parking permit

If your business is located within a Cambridge Resident Parking Scheme, you may apply for a permit if:

  • Your business has no access to off-road parking
  • You can show that a vehicle is essential to the operation of your business

Due to on-street parking demand, we can't issue business parking permits in the following scheme areas:

  • Brunswick
  • Kite
  • Park
  • Regent

Cost of permit

Visit our Cambridge Resident Parking Schemes page to find out how much a business parking permit costs in your scheme area. 

Check if your business is eligible before applying

Please contact the Parking Permits Team by emailing parking.permits@cambridgeshire.gov.uk to find out if your business is eligible before completing the online application form.

Apply online

Once the Parking Permits Team has confirmed your business is eligible, you may apply for a business parking permit online.

When you apply, you need to pay for your permit and provide a scanned image or readable photograph of the following:

  • A business rate bill as proof of your business
  • Certificate of Motor Insurance for business use (for each vehicle)
  • The Vehicle Registration Document (V5C) (for each vehicle)

By completing our online form, you agree to our general terms and conditions.

After we have approved your application, we print permits on secure stationery and post them to you. Please allow five working days from the date of application to receive your permit. 

Renewing your permit

When your permit is due to expire, we will send you a renewal notice letter with instructions on how to renew. 

On receipt of your letter, or up to 28 days before your permit expires, you can renew and pay for your permit using our online service.

Further information

Resident parking areas

  • Within all schemes, parking bays are marked and signs located next to those bays
  • Only vehicles displaying a valid permit can park in these areas during that scheme's operational hours
  • A permit doesn't reserve or guarantee the availability of a parking space.
  • The permits are specific to the scheme area you apply for

Your scheme area may include:

  • Resident parking bays - if you are a resident, you may park for as long as you want when displaying a valid permit.
  • Shared / joint use bays - these provide short-stay, non-permit parking for people using local facilities. The waiting limit doesn't apply to permit holders.
  • Pay and display bays - these provide short-stay, non-permit parking for people using local facilities. You need to purchase and display a valid ticket or use the cashless parking option. Follow on-site instructions.

You must display permits on the inside of the vehicle windscreen during a scheme's operational hours so that Civil Enforcement Officers can easily see the details. Failure to do so may result in the issue of a Penalty Charge Notice.

If your address is not currently active on our system, please email the Parking Permits Team at parking.permits@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

As a business parking permit is vehicle specific, you need to inform the Parking Permits Team if you change your vehicle via parking.permits@cambridgeshire.gov.uk so we can issue a new permit.

There is no additional cost for this, but you need to provide a scanned copy or readable photograph of the Certificate of Motor Insurance for the new vehicle so we can action the change.

You also need to return the old permit to us. You can either:

You can obtain a paper application form by contacting the Parking Permits Team at parking.permits@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

If your parking permit is lost or stolen, you need to inform the Parking Permits Team by emailing parking.permits@cambridgeshire.gov.uk and we will send a replacement.

Where a business no longer requires their permit they should return the paper permit to the Parking Services Team to receive a refund. We make refunds for each whole quarter remaining on the permit after we deduct an administration fee.

To return the paper permit, you can either:

Permits are not required on a bank holiday.

If you need a courtesy car or hire vehicle because your own is temporarily off the road, please contact the Parking Permits Team on 01223 727 900 to obtain a temporary parking permit.

Policy, terms and conditions

You can contact us by:

Cambridge Parking Permits
Cambridgeshire County Council
PO Box 121
CB1 2WW