The following Residential Parking Permits are available:

• Virtual Annual Resident’s Permit
• Annual Visitor’s Permit
• Visitor Scratchcards
• Care Worker’s Virtual Residential Parking Permit

Resident and visitor permits are processed by MiPermit on our behalf. You can submit Resident Permit, Visitor Permit and Visitor Scratchcard applications through the MiPermit website.

A virtual permit operates in a similar way as your road fund licence. Our Civil Enforcement Officers will be able to check with their hand-held computer whether a vehicle has a valid permit.

If you hold a Blue Badge, this will now act as your permit and there is no need to apply for a virtual permit, unless you are likely to remove the Blue Badge from the vehicle.  If you are likely to remove the Blue Badge from the parked vehicle, you may wish to consider buying a permit.

Parking Services is responsible for the administration of current on-street resident parking schemes.

The easiest way to apply for or renew your Resident’s Permit is online.

If you are unable to do this, please phone 0345 520 7007.

A Resident Permit does not guarantee a space and does not entitle drivers to contravene any other parking restrictions if they are unable to find a space in their permit zone.

To apply for, or renew, a resident’s parking permit online you must:

• Be eligible to purchase or renew the permit. You can find information about eligibility in the Parking Permits Terms and Conditions
• Have your Council Tax Reference Number. If you have recently moved into a property and have not received a Council Tax reference, email parking@somerset.gov.uk. Please provide a copy of your purchase, tenancy agreement or proof of residency to enable your account to be created on MiPermit with your email.
• Provide an email address and phone number
• Be able to pay for your permit using a credit or debit card registered to the same address that the permit is for
• Read the Parking Permits Terms and Conditions and agree to them

Paying for your permit online 

You will be asked to enter your credit or debit card details at the end of your application.

If your application for a Virtual Resident’s Permit is accepted, you will receive an email to confirm it is live.

Any annual Visitor Permits or Visitor Scratchcards will be posted to your home address within 5 working days.

If we have any questions about your application, we will contact you by email or phone.

If you are not eligible for a parking permit, you will receive an email notification and we will refund the fee back to your credit or debit card.

Permit costs

• First Virtual Resident Parking Permit £60
• Second Virtual Resident Parking Permit £100
• If you have an off-road space, you are only entitled to one Virtual Resident Permit, which will cost £60
• Annual Visitor Parking Permit £60 Visitor scratchcards are £3 for 10 (you can buy up to 100 scratchcards per calendar year)

Discounts

The permit cost is discounted for low emission vehicles as follows:

• Vehicles with emissions up to 100g CO2/km – 100% discount
• Vehicles with emissions between 101g -110g CO2/km – 50% discount
• A discount is available only on the first permit application

The correct Vehicle Excise Duty Band will need to be input at application, and a copy of the V5C document uploaded – this will be verified by Somerset Council.

Renewing your permit

We will email you a reminder to renew your permit four weeks before your permit’s expiry date.

All permits must be renewed each year. You can apply to renew a permit up to one month before the expiry date. If you change your vehicle or move house, you must update the details online or by phoning 0345 520 7007.

Parking permits are administered on our behalf by MiPermits.

Getting your property added to a permit zone

If your property is outside a permit zone, you will not be eligible to be added as this would be unfair to the residents of the zone who have a restricted supply of on-street parking. If you feel your street could benefit from residents parking, please see the section ‘Getting a new resident parking scheme for your area’ on this page for details about applying for a new resident parking zone.

If your property is a new build within an existing resident parking zone, you will not be eligible for resident parking permits. Parking should have been considered by the developer at the planning stage. Similarly, if a single property within a resident parking area is converted into multiple units, the property will retain only the original allocation of permits for the single property on a first come, first served basis. The supply of on-street parking places has not changed, and it is not fair or reasonable to increase the number of eligible properties due to subsequent development.

See all parking restrictions on a map in Somerset, including resident parking.

How to get a new permit for your car if you have just changed your vehicle

If you have already registered for a virtual permit through MI Permit, you can amend your vehicle details by logging into your account and making the necessary changes. Your new vehicle will be updated immediately.

For residents living in the following towns  

• Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge
• Chard
• Frome
• Minehead
• Taunton
• Wells

These towns are part of ‘whole town parking reviews’ – this means that all existing restrictions and proposed new ones are being considered together to see if they work. This work is ongoing.

We have revised our policy about how residents can request that resident parking schemes are introduced or changed.

This policy sets out how we will deal with requests for new on-street parking restrictions or amending existing controls. It is important to note there is no ‘one size fits all’ answer. Highway safety issues will be most important and any proposal must be financially viable.

What you can request

There are two main types of parking restrictions.

Restrictions that stop parking or waiting. These include:

• Double yellow lines
• Single yellow lines
• Loading bans
• School Keep Clears
• Verge and footway parking bans

Restrictions that allow parking or waiting. These include:

• Disabled parking bays
• Permit parking (for example, residents or business)
• Loading bays
• Coach parking bays
• Limited waiting bays
• Pay and display bays

We receive requests to introduce or amend parking restrictions from:

• Residents
• Police
• Developers
• District Councils
• Town Councils
• Parish Councils

Before implementing any scheme, the views of everyone who could be affected by the proposal will be considered by consulting widely, as it may be necessary to extend the area of control from the original request.

Getting a new Resident Parking Scheme for your area

When we receive a request for resident parking restrictions, we will send you an acknowledgement.

To make sure our resources are used efficiently, only schemes that have demonstrated support from an appropriate representative number of local residents, 60%, will be accepted.

This evidence could be submitted as a simple petition with enough signatures to the following address:

Parking Services
Somerset Council
County Hall
Taunton
TA1 4DY

Or, residents can contact us as individuals by letter or email. The total number of requests will be considered the same as a petition. The request will be added to the list of new requests so that a review of the area can be undertaken.

We will prioritise scheme requests in the following way:

• Order of request.
• Level of support and requests from residents.
• Impact on residents and the area.
• Ability to co-ordinate work with other Highway and Traffic schemes in the area.
• Financial viability.

Details of requests and progress of schemes will be reported through the Highway Improvement Board.

The process

The initial request or petition must demonstrate that 60% of the residents support the implementation of residents parking or changes to the current parking arrangements.

Following an assessment and the processes mentioned above, we will undertake a review of the area. During this review, other roads in the area may be assessed, to identify issues such as displacement (cars moving to nearby streets to find unrestricted parking), business, visitor attractions, town centre improvements, traffic flows, congestion, parity of availability and charges (based on the concept of ‘polluter pays’).

The review will take a ‘holistic view’ to make sure the scheme is ‘right first time’, particularly in terms of displacement. The need to consider displacement is highlighted in a Local Government Ombudsman complaint. The complaint found the documentation sent out by a Council (London Borough of Ealing) as part of the consultation exercise was “deficient in not drawing the attention of the recipients to the possibility of displacement parking on streets left out of the CPZ, which means that they were given insufficient information to make an informed decision on whether they wished their street to be included.”

The review may identify a residential area with adequate off-street parking as being unsuitable for a resident parking area. If non-resident parking is a problem, a safety-based solution may be appropriate, for example, yellow lines during school run times.

Initial consultation

This will usually involve a public meeting that all residents in the identified area will be invited to, with a questionnaire to be completed.

For a mixed scheme, such as in a town centre, where business and retail properties are in the consultation area, they will be involved in the consultation to make sure the needs of their visitors and customers are considered.

The aim of the consultation is to identify whether most residents would support the introduction of parking controls. The consultation will also identify the cause of problem parking that usually results in residents being unable to park near their property.

Once they have been presented with the controls that could be introduced, the consultation will also ask residents say what they think the design of the scheme to be.

If most residents support the need for controls, a draft scheme, based on the specific needs of the residents and the surrounding areas will be prepared.
Our policy is to proceed with a scheme development when the initial consultation response rate is more 60% with most respondents in favour of parking controls. A lower rate may be acceptable where a unanimous response is received.

The consultation may result in no viable solution being identified, particularly if there are too many residents’ vehicles for the available road space.

Informal consultation

After the initial consultation, a draft scheme will be prepared based on a highway assessment of the area. The scheme will take account of resident feedback received during the initial consultation process. Details of the draft scheme will be circulated to residents and interested parties for further comments.

Details of the informal consultation will help with the design of the final scheme and enable the Traffic Regulation Order to be drafted.

The consultation process may also identify other places in the wider area where residents may not want controls to be introduced. These could be removed even if controls in the original requesting location go ahead.

Formal consultation

Once the legal documents have been prepared, the draft Traffic Regulation Order will be published for formal consultation. Formal consultation of a Traffic Regulation Order takes the form of an advert in the local paper and Public Notices placed near the proposed restrictions (where appropriate). Local residents and any other interested bodies will also be sent notification letters. Local Councillors, emergency services, the Freight Transport Association, the Road Haulage Association, the Chief Constable and local public transport operators are notified of the proposals.

The formal consultation period is for at least 21 days from the start of the notice.

Full details of the scheme will be made available at County Hall, local district and town councils, and online.

Objections to proposals

Any objections to the proposals and comments of support must be made in writing to the address specified in the notice or sent by email during the consultation period. All objections must be considered and dealt with regardless of where the objector lives.

The results of the consultation will be considered in liaison with the local County Councillor, whose support will be sought on the scheme and determining any objections.

Decision to implement

Once the consultation period has closed; all objections and comments will be considered. If the scheme is to be abandoned or amended, residents will be told the decision, and the reasons for the decision, in writing.

The decision to confirm the scheme and formally seal the Traffic Regulation Order and determine any remaining objections will be made by the relevant authorised officer following consultation with the local Councillor and the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, if necessary. If appropriate, the Traffic Regulation Order will be referred to the Traffic Regulation Order sub-committee for approval.

They will all need to be satisfied that all required procedures have been followed and that the proposal is supported by the local County Councillor.

All residents and those that objected during the formal consultation process will be notified of the Council’s decision on the Order.

Once the decision to implement has been made, any lining and signing works will be arranged, along with any pay and display machines that may be needed.
Where necessary, residents will be provided with details of how to get any required permits.

After the Traffic Regulation Order is sealed and the signing, lining, installation of machines is finished, the necessary formal notice will be placed in the local newspaper advising the date the scheme will come into effect.

Local residents will be notified of the start date of the restrictions and when the Council’s Civil Enforcement Officers (traffic wardens) will start regular patrols.

You can find background information on this policy here on our Democracy Somerset website 

Care Worker Parking Permits are virtual permits managed by MiPermit on our behalf.

The virtual permit operates in a similar way as your road fund licence. Our Civil Enforcement Officers will be able to check with their handheld computer whether a vehicle has a valid permit.

There are resident parking schemes in Burnham-on-Sea, Bridgwater, Minehead, Street, Taunton, Wells and Yeovil. Care Workers parking to visit clients in these areas need to hold a Virtual Care Worker’s Permit, which costs £10 a year. The permit will not enable parking in car parks or on yellow lines.

Virtual Care Worker Permits are valid in all resident permit areas for up to two hours at a time.

Misuse of a permit, such as using it when not on duty, may lead to the permit being cancelled.

The easiest way to apply for, or renew, your Virtual Care Worker’s Permit is online.

If you are unable to do this, please phone 0345 520 7007.

To apply for, or renew, a Virtual Care Workers Parking Permit online you must:

• Be eligible to purchase or renew the permit. You can find information about eligibility in the Care Worker Parking
• Permits Terms and Conditions
• Provide an email address and phone number
• Provide proof that you are employed by an approved care provider
• Be able to pay for your permit using a credit or debit card registered to the same address as the employer
• Read the Terms and Conditions and agree to them

Paying for your permit online

You will be asked to enter your credit or debit card details at the end of your application. If we have any questions about your application, we will contact you.

If you are not eligible for a parking permit at the time of application, we will refund the fee back to your credit or debit card.

Renewing your permit

All permits must be renewed each year. You can apply to renew a permit up to one month before the expiry date.

We will email you a reminder to renew your permit four weeks before your permit expires.

Permits can be renewed online:

or you can phone MiPermit on 0345 520 7007

There is no period of grace between expiry and renewal.

If you change your vehicle, you must update the details online or by phoning 0345 520 7007

If you change employer, you must cancel your current virtual permit and reapply through your new employer.

Change of details and replacement permit requests  can be managed online or by phoning MiPermit on 0345 520 7007 or email  contact@mipermit.com for information. 

Non-Resident Landlord’s permits allow landlords who own property within a Resident Parking Zone to park in the zone, while visiting the property. The permit is not valid in car parks.

Permits are available for one zone, up to three zones, and all zones in any one district. The permit is valid for one specific vehicle at a time, but two vehicle registration numbers can be shown on the same permit.

Landlords who need to park in one or more Resident’s Parking Zone can apply for a permit. The landlord must be able to provide evidence that they own a rental property in each zone that they apply for.

The landlord cannot apply for a permit in any zone they live in. We must be satisfied that the landlord does not live in the zone but owns a rental property in the zone.

Cost

Annual Non-Resident Landlord Permit costs

• One zone in a district £150
• Up to three zones in a district £300
• All zones in a district £600

How to apply

Complete the Non-Resident Landlord’s Parking Permit application form and send it with your cheque and evidence documents.

Evidence required:

• The landlord owns property in the relevant Resident’s Parking Zone, but does not live there (for example a Council Tax bill)
• The vehicle belongs to them or is registered at their home address (for example a V5)
• You can choose the start date for the permit providing it is at least 5 working days after the date you post the form.

The application form has guidance notes about the eligibility for the permit.

Renewing your permit

A reminder will be sent to renew your permit four weeks before your permit expires. This will be sent by email if we have your email address.

All permits must be renewed each year. Permits expire on the date printed on them.

You can apply to renew a permit up to one month before the expiry date. There is no period of grace between expiry and renewal.

For renewals we only need proof of the rental property’s address, providing the vehicle registration remains the same.

Please note that Non-Resident Landlord permits and annual renewals must be applied for by post.

Lost permits

If you lose your permit, please contact us for a replacement, a £10 fee will be charged for this service.

No replacement can be provided if two vehicle registrations are on the permit. The full fee will need to be paid to reissue the permit for a further year.

Refunds

If you no longer need the permit, it can be returned for a refund of any remaining full months. Refunds are only available for amounts of more than £10.

Change of vehicle

If you change your vehicle, please write to us with a copy of your new V5 (registration) document and your current permit, and we will issue an updated permit free of charge.

If we find that a permit is not being used for its intended purpose, following investigation, we reserve the right to cancel the permit without a refund. 

Business permits allow businesses within Resident Parking Zones to park in these zones. The permit is not valid in car parks.

Permits are available for each zone. The permit is valid for one specific vehicle at a time, but two vehicle registration numbers can be shown on the same permit.

The Business Permit is only valid for use on vehicles which are registered to the business and are needed to carry out a function of the business (for example a permit could be used for a florist’s delivery van required to make individual deliveries throughout the day). Permits are not valid for vehicles which are parked at the business address all day.

Cost

An annual Business Permit costs £150 per zone.

How to apply

Complete the Business Parking Permit application form and send it with your cheque and evidence documents.

Evidence required:

• The business is in a Resident’s Parking Zone (for example a utility bill)
• The vehicle is used by the business (for example an insurance document or V5)
• The vehicle is necessary for the business (for example a covering letter on headed paper)

You can choose the start date for the permit providing it is at least five working days after the date you post the form.

The application form includes guidance notes on eligibility for the permit.

Renewing your permit

A reminder will be posted to you four weeks before your permit expires. This will be sent by email if we have your email address.

All permits must be renewed each year. Permits expire on the date printed on them.

You can apply to renew a permit up to one month before the expiry date. There is no period of grace between expiry and renewal.

For renewals we only need proof of the business address, providing the vehicle registration remains the same.

Please note that Business permits and annual renewals must be applied for by post

Refunds

If you no longer need the permit, it can be returned for a refund of any remaining full months. Refunds are only available for amounts of more than £10.

Lost permits

If you lose your permit, please contact us for a replacement. A £10 fee will be charged for this service.

No replacement can be provided if two vehicle registrations are on the permit. The full fee will need to be paid to reissue the permit for a further year.

Change of vehicle

If you change your vehicle, please write to us with a copy of your new V5 (registration) document and your current permit, and we will issue an updated permit free of charge.

If we find that a permit is not being used for its intended purpose, following investigation, we reserve the right to cancel the permit without a refund. 

If your property is outside a permit zone, you will not be eligible to be added as this would be unfair to the residents of the zone who have a restricted supply of on-street parking. If you feel your street could benefit from residents parking, please see ‘Getting a new resident parking scheme for your area’ for details of how to apply for a new resident parking zone.

If your property is a new build within an existing resident parking zone, you will not be eligible for resident parking permits. Parking should have been considered by the developer at the planning stage. Similarly, if a single property within a resident parking area is converted into multiple units, the property will retain only the original allocation of permits for the single property on a first come, first served basis.

The supply of on-street parking places has not changed, and it is not fair or reasonable to increase the number of eligible properties due to subsequent development. 

Councils have had their budgets significantly reduced over the last few years and this is set to continue. This year alone we are having to make significant savings to make sure we live within our means.

Somerset Highways looks after 6,600km of roads in the county, and carefully prioritises work in line with the limited budgets available. This involves making some very difficult decisions to make sure that our resources are directed where there is clear evidence of significant problems or incidents.

Requests for changes to parking restrictions will therefore no longer be dealt with individually but will form part of a wider town or village parking review. The parking review programme is being developed and we will hold individual requests on file to be considered as part of the wider town or village review.