Residential Parking Permits

Residential Permit Parking Areas are primarily to help secure available parking for a residential community while encouraging alternative parking plans for non-residents. Generally, these programs govern the parking restrictions in residential communities located near major employers, colleges, universities, medical institutions, and sports complexes.

When a Permit is Needed

Resident parking permit restrictions apply to all vehicles not registered as a part of the Residential Parking Permit Program. These include:

vehicles that belong to friends and family of local residents; and,
vehicles owned by residents but registered to an address outside of the neighborhood.

The City’s Residential Parking Permit Program does allow those residents with residential parking passes to purchase guest/visitor passes. See Guest Passes section below for more information.

New Applicants

Apply Online

The City of Raleigh offers an online portal option exclusively for residential parking permits. The portal makes it easier and more accessible to apply, purchase, and reapply for a residential parking permit without leaving the comfort of your home!

Easily manage virtual parking accounts and track your permit history through Passport’s online portal.
You no longer need to display a physical residential permit on your vehicle.
The digital system recognizes the license plate(s) tied to your account and will not require to display a physical permit.

Visit the Parking Permit Portal to begin your application.

Apply in Person

Download the Residential Parking Permit Application.

The following documents must be presented:

Valid driver’s license;
A valid vehicle registration card for each vehicle for which the applicant is the principal operator (no copies will be accepted); and,
Proof of residence (utility bill - water, gas or electric), ownership or tenancy.

If leasing, tenant must present a notarized affidavit signed by the landlord within the last six months or any utility bill associated the requested permit address.

Submit the application to the Raleigh Parking office:

The Dillon Building
310 W. Martin Street, Suite 109
Raleigh, NC 27610
Office hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Permit Costs

The cost for one permit is $20 per calendar year. No pro-rated discount is given for a partial year.

Any outstanding parking citations must be resolved before issuance of a Residential Parking Permit

Note: In lieu of car decals, Raleigh Parking will use the vehicles license plate to manage residential permit holders that are a part of the program.

If requested, a physical decal can still be provided to the approved applicant.

Guest Passes

Guests passes provide the same rights and privileges as the permit pass holder for a single 24-hour period. If physical guest passes are purchased, they must be completely filled out and placed face-up on the car's dashboard to be valid.

Guest passes cannot be purchased by a non-residential parking pass holder.

Guest passes can be purchased individually online via the Raleigh Permit Portal at a cost of $.50 per permit, or may also be purchased at the Raleigh Parking office in books of 10 permits at cost of $5.00 per book.

Parking in a Residential Parking Permit Area

Citizens without a residential parking pass may park along streets that are a part of a Residential Parking Permit Program within the permitted timeframes posted. Parkers are only allowed to park up to one time on that residential permit block per day and hours are typically from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Every Residential Parking Permit neighborhood is different so please be sure to read the signs carefully and completely to avoid receiving a citation. Each sign will have the neighborhood designation and the active parking restrictions.

Enter your address. Use the map below to determine your residential parking permit zone.

Reading a Residential Permit Parking Sign:

The example sign shows the following:

Any vehicle without a guest/visitor pass or valid Residential Parking Permit “J”, is allowed to park up to 2 hours max from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Mon - Sun.
Any vehicle without a guest/visitor pass or valid Residential Parking Permit “J”, is not allowed to park between 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., Mon - Sun.
Any vehicles with a valid Residential Parking Permit “J” or guest/visitor pass may park along this section anytime as long as they have a valid “J” permit.

Signs that do not have time restrictions are in effect 24/7 and signs that do not have day-specific restrictions are in effect seven days a week.

If you should have any questions about parking restrictions, please feel free to call the Raleigh Parking Office between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mon - Fri and our Customer Support Team will be happy to answer any questions.