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Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) Program
Curb space is part of the public street system, a public good available for all people to use. To restrict the use of curb space for some requires a compelling reason. The Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) Program was created to help ease parking congestion in residential neighborhoods, while balancing the needs of all people to be able to use the public streets. RPZs help neighborhoods deal with the impacts through signed time limits from which vehicles displaying a valid RPZ permit are exempt.
Am I eligible for an RPZ permit?
Click on the Zone number nearest your residence on the map below to see if you live on an eligible block. If you are eligible and are interested in obtaining an RPZ permit, then download the application and follow the instructions.
How do I apply for a permit?
To obtain an RPZ permit you must have:
- A completed application form (click on your zone on the map above to find the link to download the application).
- Current proof of residency showing your name and address, dated within the last 30 days. This can be a bill, bank statement, lease or rental agreement, rent receipt, or any properly dated business type mail other than mail from our office.
- A copy of your current Washington State Vehicle Registration. The vehicle must be registered in your name, or the same last name as the proof of residency. Titles, temporary registrations and bills of sale are not accepted. Out-of-state registration is accepted only for active duty military personnel providing proof of their status, or out-of-state students providing proof of non-resident status.
- Check or Money Order, made out to the City of Seattle. If applying in person, we also accept cash, Visa and Mastercard.
Mail application and materials to:
Seattle Department of Transportation
Traffic Permits
PO Box 34996
Seattle, WA 98124-4996
Please allow 7 to 10 days for us to process your order and for return mail.
If you want to visit us in person:
We are available to assist you Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Please arrive no later than 4:30p.m. The Traffic Permits Counter is located on the 37th floor of the Seattle Municipal Tower (formerly Key Tower) at 700 Fifth Avenue (at Columbia Street) in downtown Seattle.
How much does it cost?
The current fee (as of January 1, 2009) for an RPZ decal is $45 per vehicle. Decals must remain affixed to the vehicle to which they have been assigned, and cannot be transferred between vehicles. Guest permits, which can be transferred from vehicle to vehicle, cost $15. Some zones are partially or fully subsidized by nearby major institutions to address the impacts of parking by their employees and students. To find out if your zone is subsidized, please click on your zone number on the map above.
We accept checks and money orders if applying by mail. If paying in person, we accept cash, checks, VISA and Mastercard.
More Information about the RPZ Program
An RPZ is typically established on blocks that have adjacent residential uses (houses, apartments, or condominiums) to discourage long-term parking by non-residents. An RPZ may be appropriate where the parking congestion is caused by a nearby business district, or by visitors or employees of a hospital or school.
An RPZ involves the posting of parking time limits or parking prohibitions from which vehicles displaying an appropriate, valid RPZ permit are exempt. Eligibility for an RPZ permit is restricted to residents living on the blocks where the RPZ is established. Eligible residents on an RPZ block may purchase one permit for each vehicle they own, and one guest pass (whether or not they own a vehicle). The following is a typical RPZ sign although the actual parking restriction may vary depending on the local conditions:
View the Seattle Municipal Code section about RPZs: SMC 11.16.317
Currently (April 2009) the cost of a permit is $45.00 and is good for one permit cycle or part thereof (most RPZ permits are on a 2-year cycle but there are some that operate on a 1-year cycle). The fees collected pay for the administrative cost of the permits and, as such, the fee is not prorated by the time remaining in the RPZ permit cycle. The permits can only be issued to residents who actually have the signs installed on their block or who live within the RPZ boundary. Permits cannot be issued to non-residents, business owners or employees.
Contact us:
For questions about RPZs please call us. We can be reached Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 pm at (206) 684-5086.
If you are interested in the process for initiating an RPZ for your neighborhood, please click here for more information.
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