Details can be found here on the regulations and general rules governing controlled parking zones (CPZs).

You can also download a copy of our new parking guide, which gives detailed information about parking in Wandsworth.

It should be noted that separate parking regulations apply on the Transport for London Road Network (or TLRN, formerly Priority Red Route) and on some Housing Estates.

Transport for London Road Network (TLRN, formerly Priority Red Route)
Red routes are part of the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN). On many major roads in London yellow lines have been replaced with red lines. For example, in Tooting, the A24, Tooting High Street, is designated as part of the TLRN. Waiting restrictions on these roads and their "run-offs" into side roads, are enforced by the Metropolitan Police Traffic Warden Service under the direction of TfL, not by the Council's enforcement contractor. Your CPZ resident, visitor or business permit will not allow you to park on the TLRN. Illegal parking on the TLRN may result in a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) being issued. If you would like further information about the TLRN, please visit TfL's website at
www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/finesandregulations/949.aspx

Housing Estate Parking Regulation Schemes
Some housing estates have their own parking regulation schemes (PRS), which require vehicles to display a Housing Estate permit for the estate in which they are parked. CPZ resident, visitor and business permits are not valid on housing estates where a PRS applies. For more information about PRS, please visit the Housing Department's website or see Are you applying for the right permit? for details of the differences between PRS and CPZs.

Individual zones may have variations or additions to the 'general' rules below. Please check the CPZ maps for each zone for further information.

The sign on the left shows that you are entering a Controlled Parking Zone. This means that during the hours of control, stated on the sign, all on-street parking is controlled. It also means that parking is only permitted in designated parking spaces and the remainder of the kerbside space is subject to yellow line restrictions.

Hours of operation
Parking controls operate at various times throughout the day, either between Monday to Friday or Monday to Saturday. Please click on the CPZ maps link above, and then select the appropriate CPZ area for more specific details. Outside of these times permits are not required and visitors are not required to pay to park. You should always check the signs displayed and not assume what times the parking controls operate.

Parking bays
Parking spaces are identified by white markings on the road. There are a variety of different parking bays in most CPZs, such as resident bays, business bays, shared use (permit holder/pay and display) bays and pay and display only bays. Signs alongside each parking bay describe who may park there and show the times of control. Motorists should always check the signs within the bay in which they have parked and should not assume that the restrictions are the same on both sides of the street.

Restrictions in controlled parking zone permit holder and shared use (permit holder/pay and display) parking spaces do not apply on Sundays, Public and Bank Holidays. However, motorists who leave their cars in bays that are only available for part of the day should ensure that they do not park there whilst the yellow line waiting restrictions are in force, as yellow line restrictions are operational and enforceable on Bank Holidays. These parking bays are mainly found in bus lanes, and have yellow lines operating during morning and afternoon peak hours. Legalised (sign-plated) disabled bays and doctors' bays are also enforceable on Sundays and Bank Holidays. 

In certain circumstances the Police or the Council may suspend bays. Find out how to arrange the suspension of a parking bay.

Single yellow line restrictions
Within a CPZ single yellow lines do not have sign plates unless they operate at different times to the CPZ. Therefore, all single yellow lines without time plates are operational at the same times as the CPZ. Single yellow lines with time plates will usually operate for longer - you must check the sign plate before parking. Single yellow line restrictions are operational and enforceable on Bank Holidays. 

Double yellow line restrictions
The Department of Transport carried out a review of traffic and parking signs. As a result of this review, double yellow lines, which prohibit parking "at any time", no longer need to be sign plated. In view of this change, motorists are asked to remember that:-

• All double yellow line restrictions in the borough operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including Bank Holidays.
• They are enforceable whether or not there is a timeplate in the vicinity indicating no waiting "at any time".
• Double yellow lines are sited for safety reasons, in areas where parking could cause a serious obstruction, so please avoid parking where these restrictions apply.

This is the exit sign to show you are leaving the controlled zone. Restrictions for that zone apply until you pass the "Zone Ends" sign. However, you should be aware that some restrictions, such as yellow line waiting restrictions, may apply outside controlled parking zones. You should also be aware that many sub-zones in Wandsworth are immediately adjacent to each other, and look out for further zone entry signs and bay signs, before assuming an area is unrestricted.        
Please note, controlled zones apply only to the public highway, they do not apply to private roads including some Council estate roads. If you are unsure whether your road is public highway please telephone the Parking Helpline (020) 8871 8871.

Bus lanes
Information about Bus Lane Penalty Charge notices is available on the 'How to appeal a PCN' page and general information is also available on the 'Bus lane faq' page.

Business permits
Businesses may purchase Individual Zone permits, which may  only be used in the sub-zone where the business is based, or All Zone permits, which are valid in every CPZ throughout the borough. Both types of permit are available at a discounted rate for liveried and/or "greener" vehicles.

Resident permits
Each resident who lives within the CPZ who keeps and uses a vehicle may apply for ONE parking permit. A resident permit allows the holder to park in any Resident Permit Holder space or Shared Use space within their sub-zone.

Resident Visitor permits
When other methods of visitor parking are not suitable, residents may purchase Resident Visitor permits for use by their long-staying guests.

Permit display
Permits must always be displayed when the vehicle occupies a parking space where a permit is required during the controlled hours. Failure to display a valid permit may result in the issue of a Penalty Charge Notice.

Although a reminder letter will be sent when a permit is due to expire, we accept that it may not always be received (e.g. due to postal strikes). Therefore, it is the responsibility of the permit holder to ensure that they renew their permit in good time, by applying for their new permit at least two weeks before the old one expires.

Resident permit holders whose circumstances have not changed since their previous application are required to sign a declaration confirming this, and are not required to re-supply proof of vehicle ownership and residency on renewal. However, resident permit holders who previously applied for a three or six month permit as they were not able to supply the required proofs of residency and vehicle ownership (e.g. because they had just moved into the area), and permit holders whose circumstances have changed since the permit was issued (e.g. change of address) must supply the required proofs on renewal.

Permits are not transferable as they show the registration number of the vehicle for which they are issued. Therefore any change of vehicle or loss of permit must be reported to the Permit Administration Team (020) 8871 8871 immediately, who will arrange for a new permit.

Motorcycles are not required to display a permit and can park free in most parking bays.

Drivers/Passengers with disabilities are not required to display a permit providing that a valid Disabled Blue Badge is displayed.

Shared use bays
In most of the roads in a CPZ where controls operate all day, visitors are permitted to share bays with permit holders by purchasing a ticket from a Pay & Display machine. Most shared use bays offer visitor parking for either 2 or 4 hours according to location, although longer and shorter maximum stays are available in some areas. All Pay and Display machines accept a variety of coins and will only allow purchase of up to the permitted maximum stay for that parking bay. They will accept overpayment but will not give change or extra time.

The regulations require that a motorist displays a pay and display ticket or permit immediately upon parking, although in practice, a five-minute period is allowed to enable motorists time to obtain a ticket or visitor permit, return and display it. Motorists are also allowed five minutes from the expiry time on a pay and display ticket before a Penalty Charge Notice is issued. 

Enforcement
Enforcement of the permitted parking spaces, the yellow line waiting and loading restrictions and other parking offences (except those on Red Routes) is carried out by the Council's Parking Enforcement Contractor working for and on behalf of Wandsworth Council. The Contractor employs uniformed Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) who regularly patrol the zone in order to minimise illegal parking. The CEOs also take notes to detect permit abuse, 'meter feeding' (motorists returning to put more money into the Pay and Display machine) or the return of a vehicle to the same parking space within the 'no return' period, which are offences.
Vehicles contravening the parking regulations will be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). 

More information on meter feeding is available on our 'Frequently Asked Questions' (FAQs) page.

More information on Penalty Charges. In certain circumstances vehicles may also be removed.

You can report parking contraventions online

More information about parking enforcement in Wandsworth

Motorcycles
Motorcycles may park free of charge and without time limit in any Resident, Business or Shared Use space within the zone. This means that residents and businesses do not need a permit for a motorcycle. Motorcycles must be parked at right angles to the kerb and with the back wheel facing the kerb. Motorcycles should not park on the footway. In addition, solo motorcycle bays are provided in zones throughout the borough, and motorcyclists are asked to use these whenever possible in consideration for other road users.  See a list of motorcycle bays  

Drivers/Passengers with disabilities
A person with a disability may park his/her vehicle without payment or time limit in any permitted parking space in the zone (resident, business or shared use) provided that a valid Blue Badge is displayed and the bay in question has not been suspended. Blue Badge holders are allowed to park for up to 3 hours on single and double yellow lines, except where loading restrictions are in force, provided the blue time clock is displayed with the Blue Badge and set to the time of arrival. In addition, there are designated disabled parking bays in many CPZs.

Trade vehicles
Many plumbers, electricians etc. pay to park their vehicles in a Pay and Display bay whilst carrying out work in the controlled zone. Others use Resident Visitor permits supplied by the resident. However, most tradespeople find Trades Permits, which can be purchased in advance, to be the most convenient method of parking for longer periods. Trades permits are available from the Parking Shop and the Town Hall. These are daily or weekly permits which may be purchased by the tradesperson upon proof of work and cost the same as Resident Visitor permits.

Overnight Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) Waiting Ban
There is an overnight waiting ban on heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), which applies from 6.30pm to midnight, and from midnight to 8am, seven days a week, throughout Wandsworth. This prevents large vehicles (with a gross weight of 5 tonnes or more) from being parked overnight on the public highway.

Loading and unloading
A vehicle is permitted to wait while delivering/collecting goods or loading/unloading goods or equipment. However there are two conditions: 1. It must be necessary for the vehicle to park where it does, not merely convenient. 2. The driver may only park for as long as is necessary to collect/deliver goods or load/unload.

If loading/unloading, delivery or collection is taking place, a vehicle may wait for a maximum of 20 minutes in any parking space. An exception to this is for furniture removal vans, which may wait for longer whilst being loaded/unloaded. A vehicle may wait on a yellow line as long as may be necessary (subject to a 40 minute maximum after 11am), except where loading/unloading is specially prohibited for example; on the approaches either side of a pedestrian crossing (identified by zigzag markings) or where there are yellow 'blip' markings on the kerb. These provisions do not cover: - popping into a shop - using a cash machine - stopping to visit a toilet. The improper use of hazard lights does not prevent a Penalty Charge Notice from being issued. Vehicles must be moved on instruction from a Police Officer, Traffic Warden or Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO).

Car-club bays
A new borough-wide car club became operational in Wandsworth on 9 July 2007. Parking bays that are marked by signs like the one on the right will be designated for the use of car club vehicles at all times in the following locations.

• Battersea SW11: Chivalry Road; Grant Road; Prince of Wales Drive (West).
• Battersea SW8: Prince of Wales Drive (East)
• Putney SW15: Chartfield Avenue
• Tooting SW17: Rectory Lane; Undine Street
• Wandsworth SW18: Magdalene Road; Podmore Road; Wimbledon Park Road.

For more information on the scheme please visit www.streetcar.co.uk or call 0845 644 8475 (lines open every day from 7am-10pm)

Footway parking
It is an offence, for which a Penalty Charge Notice could be issued, to park with one or more wheels on any part of an urban road other than a carriageway. The Council regularly enforces footway parking throughout the borough and where pedestrian safety is jeopardised, tickets are issued and vehicles are authorised for removal.

However, in a small number of streets, where the carriageway is too narrow to allow vehicles to park fully on the carriageway and there is a high demand for resident parking, the design of the controlled parking zone (CPZ) has included some degree of footway parking. This has been implemented only after a thorough review of all alternative options and where the footway was of a sufficient width so that the passage of pedestrians was not compromised.

In some uncontrolled areas (i.e. those where no CPZ has been introduced), particularly where the carriageway is narrow and the footway comparatively wide, residents routinely park their vehicles on the footway to allow traffic to pass and to avoid damage. As motorists park on the pavement to various degrees and in some cases force pedestrians to walk in the carriageway to pass, complaints of obstruction still arise. Complaints are also received from drivers who have been issued with a Penalty Charge Notice for parking on the footway. The Council is currently seeking to formalise footway parking arrangements in these areas by drafting detailed designs, in full consultation with local residents and businesses, which clearly indicate where you can and cannot park on the footway. In the few locations where an exemption to the ban on footway parking has been introduced, it is clearly indicated by signs and road markings.

Crossovers
Since September 2004, the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act has enabled local authorities to issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) to vehicles parked across dropped kerbs at junctions, and across driveways, both within and outside Controlled Parking Zones. A yellow line restriction is not required in order to issue PCNs to vehicles obstructing dropped kerbs. Enforcement action will only be taken against vehicles parked across driveways at the request of the occupier of the property.

An information leaflet about the dangers of corner parking was distributed in areas where parking close to junctions is problematic. At locations where this has not succeeded in stopping obstructive parking, enforcement action may be taken. Enforcement makes use of photographic evidence, which will be routinely provided under the parking enforcement contract when a PCN is issued, as well as CCTV evidence when appropriate.

Schools
Some parents choose to drive their children to and from school and like to get out and escort their children from the car to the gate, particularly if it involves crossing a busy road.
A shortage of parking spaces nearby can often compound problems. We would urge you to park in marked bays, but we realise this can be difficult. If you think that you are going to require more time than it takes to drop your child off, for example if you are going to speak to a teacher, then you must buy a pay and display ticket.

The observance of School Keep Clear markings is important for child safety. No driver should stop on the zig-zag markings during the stated times, including parents collecting/delivering children. The enforcement contractor is instructed to issue PCNs to any vehicle stopping on School Keep Clear markings. In addition, waiting restrictions apply during the zone operational hours.
The best way to alleviate parking difficulties around schools is to reduce the number of cars on the school run. The Council's School Travel Strategy promotes walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing for the journey to school, with a view to improving health, safety and the environment. Please visit the School Travel Strategy webpage to find out more.

 Read more in the new Citizen's Charter