Resident Parking Permits
Residents in certain areas of Berkeley can apply for a permit to park close to their home without a two-hour time limit.
In Residential Preferential Parking (RPP) areas, vehicles must have an RPP permit in order to park for more than two hours. This program enables residents to park near their home, while allowing non-residents to park for short visits.
If you live at an eligible address, you can apply for a residential preferential parking permit to exempt you from the two-hour time limit. Check the zone map to see if your address is eligible.
The RPP enforcement schedule varies by area, but is generally 8:00 am – 7:00 pm, Monday – Friday. Review our Frequently Asked Questions for help with specific permit questions.
Residents eligible for RPP permits can also purchase permits for their visitors, in-home care providers, or child-care providers. Eligible businesses can apply for parking permits for the business or its employees.
Apply for a Residential Preferential Parking Permit
Before applying for a permit, check if your address is eligible for a residential parking permit. Visit the eligibility map and enter your address in the search bar to see if you are eligible. For support with using the map, please read our user guide.
If your address is not eligible for a permit but is within an RPP zone, you can follow steps to opt your residential block in to the RPP program.
Apply online, in person, or by mail
An annual parking permit costs $66 and is valid until June 30. If you purchase a permit between January – June, the cost is reduced to $33. Annual permits are digital, so your vehicle’s license plate functions as your permit.
You can choose to apply for your permit online, in person, or by mail.
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Apply for a residential parking permit online by logging in or creating an account and selecting “Annual Residential.” Your application will take 5-7 business days to process.
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Apply in person at the Customer Service Center, located on the 1st floor of 1947 Center Street in Berkeley. Your application will be approved immediately and your permit activated as soon as payment is applied.
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Apply by mail by sending your completed application, supporting documents, and payment by check or money order made out to "City of Berkeley." Applications by mail will take 10-15 days to process.
Send the materials to:
City of Berkeley
PO Box 29, Berkeley CA 94701
Each address can have up to three residential parking permits, or up to two if you are in Zone P. If you need more than the maximum for your address, submit a waiver form. If approved, you will pay a $100 surcharge on top of your individual permit fees.
Submit photo ID, vehicle registration, and proof of residency to apply
To apply for a residential parking permit, you will need to submit a copy of your government-issued photo identification, your vehicle registration, and a proof of residency (if not already listed on your registration). Permits cannot be renewed if you have any outstanding parking citations (unpaid for more than 21 calendar days). Pay citations at the online citation portal. If you are unable to pay your citations, you may qualify for a low-income payment plan.
Government-issued photo identification
- If the address on your photo ID does not match your current Berkeley address, you will need to submit a secondary proof of residency (see list below).
Vehicle registration
- The vehicle must be registered to a Berkeley address.
- If the vehicle is not yet registered in Berkeley, change your address with the DMV. Take a screenshot of the confirmation page showing your name, license plate, and Berkeley address for use in your application.
- If the vehicle is registered in another person’s name, provide a signed letter from the registered owner authorizing their use of the vehicle along with a copy of the registered owner's valid picture ID. Even though the vehicle is registered in a different name, the vehicle must still be registered to a Berkeley address.
Proof of residency
You can submit any of the documents below to prove your current residential address:
- California Driver's License or ID card
- Vehicle Registration
- Signed lease agreement (within a year)
- Current bank statement
- Current PG&E billing statement
- Current telephone (landline) bill
- Current major credit card billing statement
- Cable or internet bill
- EBMUD water bill
- City of Berkeley bills (Refuse bills, Fire Alarm bills, Fire Inspections bills, etc.)
Renewing or updating your permit
Residential parking permits are generally valid from July 1 to June 30. You will receive a parking permit renewal notice by mail by May 1, and will need to complete your permit renewal before June 30, when the existing permit expires.
The renewal notice contains detailed instructions for renewing your permit online, by mail, or in person. If you do not receive a renewal notice or if you miss the deadline, you will need to submit a new application.
If you replace your vehicle or your license plate, you can request an update to your existing permit, and do not need to apply for a new permit. Request an update to your permit by emailing cscounter@berkeleyca.gov with your name, address, photo ID, and new vehicle registration or license plate information.
You can request a short-term vehicle change if your car is in the repair shop and you have a loaner car. Email cscounter@berkeleyca.gov and provide:
- the license plate number of the vehicle that is being temporarily replaced
- the replacement vehicle license plate number, make and model
- when to change the plate
Please email the City again when you have your regular vehicle back.
Purchase 1- or 14-day visitor permits
You can purchase visitor parking permits so that your guests can park in your neighborhood without the 2-hour time limit. You do not need to have a car or a residential parking permit yourself to purchase visitor permits. Purchases require a government-issued photo identification and proof of residency.
1-day visitor permits for single day guests or large gatherings
Purchase either a 1-day digital or 1-day hangtag visitor permit for one-day guests. You can purchase up to twenty 1-day visitor permits for $3 each.
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Purchase digital visitor permits online. You will need to activate a digital permit online when you want to start using it. Digital 1-day visitor permits are valid for 24 hours following activation, cannot be edited once activated, and cannot be scheduled for future dates. To avoid citation during enforcement hours, vehicles must be moved once the digital 1-day permit expires. You can activate up to five digital 1-day passes at one time for a large gathering.
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Purchase physical hangtag visitor permits in person or by mail. You will need physical hangtags (not digital passes) if you are hosting a large gathering of over five people.
- In person: Visit the Customer Service Center.
- By mail: send your completed application, supporting documents, and payment by check or money order made out to "City of Berkeley." Send the materials to: City of Berkeley, PO Box 29, Berkeley CA 94701
14-day visitor permits for multi-day guests
Residents can purchase up to three 14-day visitor permits for $34 each. 14-day visitor permits are valid for 14 consecutive calendar days. Please note all vehicles are subject to the 72-hour rule, even if they have a permit.
Apply in person at the Customer Service Center. You can apply up to three weeks before you intend to use the permit.
Apply for an in-home care parking permit
Residents who live at addresses eligible for residential preferential parking permits and require in-home care can apply for a hangtag parking permit for their care-giver. You can apply for up to three in-home care permits for your care-givers to be able to park without a 2-hour time limit. Permits cost $66 and are valid from July 1 – June 30.
To apply, you will need to prepare:
- Physician Reviewed Medical Affidavit form
- Completed In-Home Care Permit Application
- Proof of residency
- Photo ID
- Check or money order, payable to City of Berkeley
You can apply in person at the Customer Service Center or send your application to:
In-Home Care Permits
Customer Service
1947 Center Street, 1st Floor
Berkeley, California 94704
Your In-Home Care Provider can purchase the permits in person for you. They will need a note from you authorizing them to purchase the permit, along with a copy of your identification, the completed application, physician statement and payment.
You will be sent a renewal notice before the permits expire on June 30th. You will need to complete a medical affidavit to renew, but do not need review from your physician.
Apply for a child-care parking permit
Residents who live at addresses eligible for residential preferential parking permits and require at-home child-care for a minor 12 years of age or younger are able to purchase one transferable hangtag permit per address for use by caregiver(s). Child-care permits cost $83 per year and are valid from July 1 - June 30.
To apply, you will need to provide:
- Completed Child-care Permit Application form
- Completed Child-care Affidavit form
- Copy of birth certificate for each child under 12 named in the affidavit
- Resident’s photo ID
- Resident’s proof of residency in the requested RPP area
- Check or money order payable to “City of Berkeley” (or Visa or Mastercard for card payment)
Please bring these materials into the Customer Service Center to purchase a permit. Note: the City will simply review any birth certificate(s) furnished by the applicant as part of the review of application materials. They will not be retained on record.
Related Documents
- RPP Opt-In How-To Guide (147.77 KB)147.77 KB
- Childcare Affidavit (80.87 KB)80.87 KB
- RPP Enforcement Schedule (639.78 KB)639.78 KB