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About dispensations

A dispensation is where a vehicle is given permission to park in a bay (or yellow lines) during restricted hours, without the need for us to put up a suspension notice.

You should contact Transport for London for any Red Route dispensations requests.

Dispensations can be arranged for up to 14 days (including weekends) in:

  • Marked bays
  • Yellow lines
  • Car parks

They can also be arranged to allow for vehicles over five tonnes to park in a location covered by the Overnight Waiting Ban.

Dispensations cannot be arranged:

  • Where a loading ban exists
  • For parking on a footway or grass verge (unless parking is allowed by signs and markings).

Each dispensation applies at a single location, and if you need multiple locations (up to three) then you will need to apply and pay for each separately.

Application costs

Parking bays

All parking bay suspensions are charged at our standard administration fee of £30.50, plus a bay per day charge, which varies depending on what CPZ the bay is in.

Parking bay dispensation prices
Item Zone Charge
Administration fee All dispensations £30.50
Charge per vehicle/day A1 and A2
Monday to Saturday 8.30am to 6.30pm
£9.40
  A1
Sundays and Bank Holidays 11am to 5pm
£4.20
  A3, B, C, CB, D, FW, H, HM, KS, M1, M3, M4, M5, M8, M9, R, T (Cedar Road, Bridgeman Road [part], Christchurch Avenue and Station Road [part] only), WR, WT, X, Z1, Z2, Z3, Z5 £7.40
  CR, F, G, KC, N, S, S1, S2, SF, SH, T1,T5 £5.80
  B1, B2, E, ES, ES1, J, KA, KB, M, S3, T,T2, T3, T4, T6, WC, WS, X1, Z4 £2

Yellow lines

Dispensations to park on yellow lines are charged at £58.50 per vehicle per day, other than for weddings and funerals.

Weddings and funerals

You can apply for a dispensation for up to three vehicles free of charge, for a wedding or funeral. This is for a limited period only and will only be granted if there are no parking bays close to the property. If there are bays close by you will need to apply for a parking suspension instead.

Additional vehicles will be charged at the standard rate.

How to apply

You must give at least seven working days notice of a dispensation.

By email

If you have trouble with this form, you can download our parking exemption postal application form(pdf, 31KB). Return your completed form to us by email parkingsuspensions@richmond.gov.uk or post 'Parking Permits, PO Box 466, Twickenham TW1 9JT'.

Payment

Payment will only be taken after we have confirmed your suspension and the cost. We will review your application and contact you to take payment by credit or debit card only (excluding American Express and Diners' Card). Credit card payments are subject to a handling fee. There is no handling fee for debit card payments.

You will be given a payment reference when your payment clears which you should make a note of in case of future queries. If you need a receipt then ask when you make payment. Your receipt will be emailed to the email address given on your application form.

Payment must be received before a suspension can be installed (where applicable).

After you apply

If your application is successful, we will contact you by email or writing to confirm the dispensation. You must check the confirmation details, as any changes must be requested at least five working days before the dispensation begins.

After we have received payment we will log your dispensation with our RingGo cashless parking system. The vehicle/s will then be allowed to park during the agreed date and time.

Rejected applications

We reserve the right to reject an application if the proposed dispensation does not conform to health and safety requirements, or will cause undue inconvenience to other road users or local residents.

When considering each application we will check the location:

  • is an appropriate size for your vehicle;
  • has no loading ban;
  • will not adversely affect traffic flow or will inconvenience other road users or residents;
  • will not cause a health and safety hazard; and
  • does not cover a footway or grass verge (unless parking is allowed by signs and markings).

Cancellations

If you wish to cancel a dispensation, you must let us know at least one working day before the dispensation period is due to begin. If you do not let us know within this time, we will not be able to refund any payment made.

Longer dispensations

If you need special parking arrangements, such as a dispensation to park anywhere in the borough or for long periods, you must contact us to discuss your requirements. You must give us at least seven days notice.

Filming in the Borough

To find out how to make parking arrangements for filming in the borough, visit parking information for filming.

Updated: 30 June 2024

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