Nuisance parking and new parking restrictions

If parking is causing a problem, you can report it. Where there is evidence of an ongoing issue, we'll consider whether a solution is available.

Report nuisance parking

Who you report nuisance parking to depends on the situation.

Parking on double yellow lines and where other restrictions apply

You can report vehicles parked where drivers ignore parking restrictions or where they obstruct dropped kerbs. See report illegal parking. 

To check parking restriction rules, see parking contraventions.

Blue Badge holders and parking restrictions

Blue Badge holders may park where parking restrictions apply for up to 3 hours, including on double yellow lines, if they display a Blue Badge and parking clock correctly.

We can only issue a penalty charge notice if:

• the vehicle is obstructing a dropped kerb
• the badge is not displayed correctly
• the information on the badge is incorrect

Find out where you can park with a Blue Badge on our Blue Badge scheme.

Causing an obstruction where there are no restrictions

If a parked vehicle is causing an obstruction and there are no parking restrictions in place, you should report it to the police.

This includes:

• parking that puts children or other road users at risk
• parking within 10 metres of a junction
• blocking a driveway
• parking on a verge or pavement where pedestrians, wheelchair users or people with prams are forced into the road

To report obstructive parking, call 101.

Where waiting restrictions apply, vehicles parked on a verge or pavement may be subject to enforcement action. See Report illegal parking.

Parking on grass verges and pavements

Abandoned vehicles

If you think a vehicle has been abandoned, you can report an abandoned vehicle.

New parking restrictions

By law, we can only introduce new parking restrictions where there is no more suitable solution and there is evidence they are needed.

We may consider new parking restrictions where:

• evidence shows they would improve road safety
• the police have raised road safety concerns

The law also says that most types of restrictions need a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO).

How we may respond to a parking problem

If an investigation shows that parking restrictions are needed, there are different options available depending on the problem and the location.

• double yellow lines where parking creates a road safety risk
• double yellow lines near junctions where vehicles are parking within 10 metres of a junction
• yellow lines with time limits where parking causes problems at certain times of day
• limited waiting bays to support access to shops and local facilities
• taxi bays where there is a clear need and enough space
• bus stops where parked vehicles regularly prevent buses from pulling in safely
• loading bays where businesses need space to load and unload goods

To tell us about a location where you think there is a road safety problem that new parking restrictions might help with, use our online report it form. Choose road (carriageway) then parking. 

To find out how we make decisions about new road safety projects, see road safety improvement projects.