• Parking Permits 101
• Official General Rules
• Valid Permits
• Quick-Reference Chart

Parking Permits 101

If you're new to this site, or unsure whether a specific permit is used legally, the following pages provide the basics to permit and parking laws. While the rules may seem complicated at first, and there seem to be many exceptions to the rules, you will be able to figure out the problem by answering the following four questions:

1. Is the vehicle creating a safety hazard? Unless they are responding to an active emergency, no one can park on a sidewalk, in front of a fire hydrant, in a bus stop, crosswalk, intersection, or bike lane.
2. Is the vehicle parked in a No Permit Zone?   Permits are not valid in these areas, though these are often the areas with the highest concentration of permit users and abusers.
3. If the vehicle is not parked in one of the above situations, check to see if the permit is legal in NYC.  The only legal permits in NYC are pictured below.   While some statewide union-issued permits are legal in other cities, they are not allowed on the streets of NYC.   This includes Court Officers, Court Clerks, Corrections, and the Uniformed Firefighters Association, among others .
4. If they are using a valid permit, are they allowed to use it where they are parked (i.e. in the right location on the street, in accordance with the street signage, etc.)?   DOT Disability permits are the most permissive permits, though there are still places they can't park.   Law Enforcement permits are the next most permissive.   Most of the rest of the permits have strict restrictions.

Creating a safety hazard (for example, by parking in a crosswalk) is never allowed.

NYC No-permit zones (click to enlarge)

NYPD Unrestricted

NYFD

NY State Police

NYC Department of Investigation

NYS

NYC

NYS Justice

Federal Law Enforcement

District Attorney

NYPD Restricted (Self Enforcement Zone) Permits

Each NYPD precinct and division (e.g. Gang Unit, Transit Bureaus, Narcotics, etc) has the authority to obtain Restricted (aka Self Enforcement Zone) Permits, which are usually un-laminated and colored bright blue, pastel peach, or beige.   The precinct or division name is at the bottom of the permit.   These permits are only valid when used on the block faces immediately adjacent to the precinct or the division headquarters, and only in the parking spaces on the street (thus, painting parking spaces on sidewalks or in bus stops is illegal).   If the permit is used anywhere outside the Self-Enforcement Zone, for example, an officer from the 84 th Precinct in Brooklyn uses his permit anywhere but in the 84 th Precinct Self Enforcement Zone, then it is illegal.  

Department of Education Teacher Permits

New York City teachers and administrators are provided with parking permits that allow them to park near schools on streets with signage that indicates permits are valid.   These permits can never be used in vehicles that cause safety hazards and my not be used to park vehicles in playgrounds or on other school premises, except designated parking facilities.

Agency Business Parking Permits (ABPP)

The NYC DOT issues Agency Business Parking Permits (ABPP) to many of the over 50 New York City agencies, and may only be used on Official Business for 3 hours at all curbsides in listed in General Rule #1, but not those in General Rule #5.   There are No Permit Area versions of the Agency Business Parking Permit that allow the holder to park in the No Permit Areas in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Disability Permits (SPI)

People With Disabilities (SPI) May park at all curbsides in General Rule #1 and on Avenues in the Garment District. May Park in No Permit Areas, Blue Zone and in authorized spaces.

Clergy

Clergy permits may be used in “No Parking Zones” on roadways adjacent to hospitals for up to 3 hours and adjacent to the house of worship noted on the permit for up to 4 hours.

Annual On-Street Parking Permits (APP)

Annual On-Street Parking Permits may be used at designated location(s) on days and hours indicated for the specified amount of time.

Press

Press vehicles with NYPD issued permits may park at areas designated “No Parking” (without a rider), “No Standing Except Trucks Loading and Unloading”, and at Taxi Stand regulations while covering a news assignment for an unlimited period of time. Vehicles with NYP license plates (registered in New York or New Jersey) or NYP Press Permits are permitted to park at spaces specifically designated for Press vehicles.

Motion Picture:

New York State Parking Permit for People with Disabilities (Blue Hang-Tag permit) is not valid on city streets. It is valid in wheelchair marked spaces which in NYC are all off-street.

Single Use On-Street Parking Permit (blue permit) is valid only at the location and times written on the permit.

Diplomatic License Plates (A, C and D plates) may park in designated spaces, bust must park legally elsewhere. “S” plates must park legally at all times.   Diplomatic Permits much match license plates and must be permanently affixed to the windshield of the vehicle.   If the permit is not permanently affixed and match to the license plate, it is being used illegally.