Business permit
1. Eligibility
- A business situated in a permit parking street or Zone will be eligible for a business parking permit for vehicles directly related to the business
- Eligible vehicles must be owned by the company, registered in the company’s name with insurance documentation also registered to the business address. Note - the Business Parking permit must be used for undertaking the company’s business only
- Each business is entitled to 2 (two) business parking permits at any given time
2. Permit details
The permit will contain the name of the street or zone in which the vehicle is entitled to park, the expiry date of the permit, the vehicle registration number and a permit number.
3. Proof of eligibility
Each application will be checked for eligibility:
- The vehicle registration document and insurance documentation which must show that the vehicle is registered at the applicant’s business address
- Business address confirming eligibility will be checked against The Highland Council records
4. Display of permit
The permit is to be displayed in a transparent licence holder on the left hand side of the front windscreen or dashboard of the vehicle in such a position that all details of the permit are clearly visible to an authorised person.
5. Non-eligible vehicles
- The permit does not cover vehicles over 7.5 tonnes GVW, mini buses and the unattached parking of trailers, caravans or other towed vehicles
- Vehicles registered in the name of a member of the company’s staff
6. Permit costs (costs will be reviewed annually)
A business parking permit will be as per our parking fees and permit charges, or such other sum as the Council may determine and be valid for 12 months.
7. Replacement cost of lost or damaged permits
- A lost or damaged permit will be replaced at a cost of 50% of the initial purchase price or such other sum as the Council may determine
- Replacement of a business permit due to a change of vehicle, within the current life of the permit, will be free on surrender of the previous permit
8. Conditions of use
Permits are offered in terms of and subject to the provisions of:
- The Highland Council (Prohibition and restriction of waiting and loading and parking places) (Decriminalised parking enforcement and consolidation) Order 2016 as amended and
- The Highland Council (Off-Street parking places) (Decriminalised parking enforcement and consolidation) Order 2016 as amended
- The business parking permit is non-transferable and must be surrendered if the applicant is no longer in business at the address shown on the application form.
- The business parking permit is only valid for the permit bays on the street or zone stated on the permit and application form.
- Failure to fully display the parking permit during the permit period or in such a manner that details of the permit are obscured is a contravention and will lead to a Penalty Charge Notice being issued.
- Failure to comply with conditions (a) and (b) is a contravention of use and will lead to a Penalty Charge Notice being issued and the permit may be withdrawn.
- Duplicate permits may not be used. A duplicate permit must be surrendered to the Council. Use of a duplicate permit is a contravention of use and will lead to a Penalty Charge Notice being issued and the permit being withdrawn. (see part 12)
9. Annual renewal of permits
- Each permit will be valid for 12 months. Permits may be renewed up to 1 month before the expiry date, in which case the new expiry date will still be 12 months after the existing expiry date. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that a renewal is applied for in the due time
- To renew a permit the check of eligibility as defined in section (3) will be carried out
10. Refund
Issued parking permits are non-refundable for less than 3 months validity and will be refunded in whole months remaining.
11. Appeals
Any appeals with regard to the issue of parking permits will be referred to the Parking Services Manager.
12. Offences and penalties
It is a criminal offence under section 115 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, for any person to lend or allow to be used a permit with intent to deceive; or for any person to make or have in their possession any document so closely resembling a permit as to be calculated to deceive; or for any person to forge or alter a permit. If such an offence is triable on indictment the maximum penalty is 2 years imprisonment. If such an offence is triable summarily the maximum fine is currently £2,000.
It is also a criminal offence under section 115 of the 1984 act for a person to knowingly make a false statement in order to obtain a permit for himself or any other person. The maximum fine for such an offence is currently £2,000.