This page describes a code that has been laid before Parliament but is not yet in force. Details may change. General information, not legal advice. Source: the government's published Private Parking Code of Practice at gov.uk.
Timeline
The code was laid before Parliament on 20 October 2026. It goes through 40 days of scrutiny and comes into force 21 days after it is issued. Transitional arrangements will be published at that point. It covers England, Scotland and Wales and replaces the industry "Sector Single Code".
What it proposes
| Area | Proposal |
|---|---|
| Consideration period | 5 minutes (10 minutes at free car parks with 500 or more spaces) |
| Grace period | 10 minutes (none at clearly signed short-stay sites) |
| Maximum charge | £100, with at least 40% off if paid within 14 days |
| Appeal time limit | 28 days from delivery of the notice |
| Operator response | Within 28 days |
| Discount after rejection | Held for 14 days |
| ANPR | Images must be checked manually to avoid "double dips" |
| Wording | Signs must not call the charge a "penalty" or "fine" |
| Debt recovery fee | Up to £70 is still allowed; a consultation on it is planned for 2027 |
Appeals Charter
Under the code's Appeals Charter, an operator must cancel, with evidence, for:
- minor keying errors;
- pausing to check directions;
- an emergency, illness or a medical appointment overrun, or a breakdown;
- a broken payment machine with no alternative; or
- the operator's own breach of the code.
It must reduce the charge to £20 where:
- a permit was not displayed;
- the wrong registration was entered;
- no registration was entered; or
- a blue badge was not displayed (first time only).
What it means today
Until the code is in force, existing industry codes and the law apply. You can still use the same arguments, and the proposed rules are a useful guide to what regulators think is fair. Check your own notice and see how to appeal.
Competition regulator
The CMA sent an open letter to parking firms on 16 July 2026 about late-payment and debt-collection fees. See debt collector letters.
Sources
- Private Parking Code of Practice: the government's published code
- Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, Schedule 4