What is the blue badge parking scheme?

The blue badge scheme provides national parking concessions making it easier for people with severe walking difficulties to park closer to shops, restaurants and other places they wish to visit. There is also a discretionary green parking permit scheme that allows greater access to parking in the city centre for severely disabled people.

The council issues blue badge parking permits to eligible York residents on behalf of the Department for Transport.

The scheme only applies to on-street car parking. For off-street parking such as supermarkets badge holders must check the concessions being offered as there may be a charge.

The badge is issued to the eligible person who can be the driver or a passenger. It does not belong to the vehicle and is not issued to relatives or carers. Parents of a disabled child under 16 can apply for a badge on their child's behalf.

This scheme used to be known as the orange badge scheme.

Who can have a blue badge?

You are automatically eligible if you are:

• registered blind, or
• receive the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance; or
• use a disabled person's car supplied by a government department or
• receive a war pensioner's mobility supplement

If one of these applies to you, you must provide us with documentary evidence (eg photocopy of allowance book / letter), and you will not need an assessment.

You are also eligible for a blue badge if a mobility assessment shows that you:

• have a permanent and substantial disability that means you are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty walking or
• have a severe disability in both arms, regularly drive a vehicle but are unable to operate, or have considerable difficulty in operating, all or some types of parking meter.

Parents of a child under 2 can apply for a badge on the child's behalf if the child, due to a specific medical condition,

• needs to travel with bulky medical equipment or
• needs to be close to a vehicle for emergency medical treatment or rapid transport to a place where they can be treated.

These badges expire the day after the child's second birthday.