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Apply for a resident parking permit

Bürgeramt · Resident parking

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The resident parking permit (Bewohnerparkausweis, also called Anwohnerparkausweis) allows residents of a district with managed parking to park in the designated resident parking zone without a pay-and-display ticket (Parkschein) and beyond the maximum parking time that otherwise applies. The legal basis is § 6a Abs. 5a of the Road Traffic Act (Straßenverkehrsgesetz, StVG) for the fees, and § 45 of the Road Traffic Regulations (Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung, StVO) and the general administrative regulation VwV-StVO for setting up the zones. You can recognise the zones by the additional sign (Zusatzzeichen) “Bewohner mit Parkausweis Nr. …” (residents with parking permit no. …).

You apply for the permit at the competent authority at your place of residence – depending on the city, at the Bürgeramt (citizens’ office), the Straßenverkehrsamt (road traffic office) or the Ordnungsamt (public order office). The requirement is that you are registered with your principal residence in the zone and drive a vehicle that is registered in your name or that you demonstrably use on a permanent basis. Important: the permit does not guarantee a parking space, only the right to park in the zone. The fees vary enormously by local authority – since the nationwide maximum amount of €30.70 was abolished in October 2020, they have ranged from around €10 to €360 per year.

Last updated24 August 2026
Legal basis§ 6a Abs. 5a StVG · § 45 StVO
VerificationChecked against gesetze-im-internet.de
Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta
Independent information website: we are not the Bürgeramt, not an authority and not a paid advice service – we do not submit applications on your behalf. All information comes from official sources and is explained here in plain language; binding information always comes from the competent body. Under § 6a Abs. 5a StVG, fees, validity and procedures are governed by a statutory ordinance (Rechtsverordnung) of the relevant federal state (Bundesland) or of the body authorised to do so, and they can vary considerably. All information is provided without guarantee. We are neither lawyers nor tax consultants: we document official procedures and check the information against the official source – this is information, not legal or tax advice.
Costsapprox. €10–€360/yearDepending on the local authority
Processing timeImmediately to 3 monthsOn site or by post
MethodOnline + in personDepending on the city
Validityup to 2 yearsCan be extended
Required documents

What you need to bring

Identity card or passport

A valid identity document showing your address in the resident parking zone. The document must be valid at the time of the submission of the application – an expired identity document is not accepted, and you apply for a replacement at the same Bürgeramt. If you apply by post or online, many cities require a copy or scan of the front and back; if another person submits the application for you, a power of attorney in writing with a copy of their identity document is also required.

Proof of residence in the parking zone

You must be registered in the relevant resident parking zone and actually live there. As a rule, your identity card (Personalausweis) showing your current address is sufficient; if the address is not entered – for example because the sticker is missing or you have only just moved – the authority requires a registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) from the Bürgeramt, which usually must not be older than three months. Most cities require your sole residence or your principal residence to be in the zone; whether a secondary residence is sufficient depends on the competent authority. If you are not registered in the zone, you have no entitlement to the permit.

Registration certificate Part I (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I, formerly Fahrzeugschein)

The Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I proves that the vehicle is registered in your name; it shows the vehicle holder, the official licence plate number and the vehicle class. You receive the document from the Kfz-Zulassungsstelle (vehicle registration office) when the vehicle is registered; if it is lost, the office issues a duplicate for a fee. The registration certificate Part II (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II, formerly Fahrzeugbrief) is not needed for the parking permit. The permit then applies exclusively to this one licence plate.

Proof of use for a vehicle not registered to you

If the car is not registered in your name, proof of permanent use is required. For a company car, a certificate from your employer confirming that the vehicle has been made available to you permanently, including for private use, is usually sufficient; for a leased or permanently assigned car-sharing vehicle, you present the leasing or usage contract, otherwise an informal confirmation from the vehicle holder with a copy of the Fahrzeugschein. Short-term rental cars and flexible free-floating vehicles are not entered, because there is no permanent assignment.

Completed application form

Almost every local authority uses its own form, which you can obtain at the Bürgeramt or download from your city’s administrative portal. It asks for your name, your address, the number of the resident parking zone you want, the official licence plate number and the period of validity you want. Check the licence plate number character by character: transposed characters make the permit worthless, because it only applies to the vehicle entered, and issuing a new document costs fees again.

Means of payment or bank details

The permit is only handed over or sent once payment has been received. If you attend in person, you need an EC card or cash; for an online application, you provide your bank details or pay via the payment service offered. Which payment methods are possible depends on the competent authority – some offices accept card payment only. Keep the payment receipt until you have the permit in your hands.

Passport and residence title for foreign applicants

If you do not have a German identity card, you identify yourself with your passport and – if you have one – your electronic residence title. What determines entitlement is not nationality but registration with a home in the parking zone; this is why many offices also require a current Meldebescheinigung. If your vehicle is registered abroad, clarify with the authority before your appointment whether and under what conditions it can be entered.

Previous parking permit for an extension or change of vehicle

If you want to extend a current permit or have it transferred to a different licence plate, bring the existing permit with you and hand it in. If you change vehicles, also present the new Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I. Many local authorities do not issue a replacement unless the old permit is returned, because only one valid permit may be in circulation per authorisation – in the event of loss or theft, a declaration of loss in writing is therefore required.

Step by step

How to proceed

  1. 1

    Check the parking zone

    First, establish whether your street is actually in a designated resident parking zone – without a zone, there is no permit. You can recognise the zones by the traffic signs with the additional sign “Bewohner mit Parkausweis Nr. …”; you will need the number shown there later in your application. Many cities also publish a zone map on their administrative portal, where you can look up your address directly. If your building borders two zones or lies on the edge of one, ask the Bürgeramt, the Straßenverkehrsamt or the Ordnungsamt in advance which zone is recorded for your house number – the permit will later apply exclusively to the zone entered. This step takes a few minutes but saves you a refused application.

  2. 2

    Gather your documents

    Have your identity card or passport, proof of your residence in the zone and the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I ready, and fill in your city’s application form. If you drive a vehicle that is not registered in your name, add the appropriate proof of use – for example the employer’s certificate for a company car or the leasing contract. For the online application, scan or photograph all documents in advance; the portals usually accept PDF or JPG files and limit the file size. If you go in person, take the originals with you, not just copies: many offices check the documents in the original and otherwise reject applications.

  3. 3

    Submit the application

    Submit the application online via your city’s administrative portal, in person at the office or in writing by post. More and more local authorities allow fully digital applications, sometimes with the option of printing the permit yourself immediately. For attending in person, most Bürgeramt offices now require an appointment booked in advance – depending on the city, allow a waiting time of a few days to several weeks until the next available appointment; for the processing of the application itself, Bonn, for example, currently states up to three months. The appointment itself usually only takes ten to fifteen minutes. Enter the licence plate number, zone number and desired period correctly so that the permit can be issued without queries; incomplete applications lead to a request in writing for the missing information and delay the procedure by weeks.

  4. 4

    Pay the fee

    Pay your local authority’s fee. Since October 2020, each city has set the amount itself; the range extends from around €10 per year in Berlin (€20.40 for up to two years) through approximately €30 per year in Munich and €200 per year in Freiburg to €360 per year in Bonn. Depending on the office, payment is made online, by EC card, by bank transfer or in cash. The permit is only handed over or sent once payment has been received – if you pay by bank transfer, you should therefore allow around one additional week. The fee notice contains a Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung (instructions on legal remedies); keep it in case you want to challenge the amount later.

  5. 5

    Receive and display the permit

    If you attend in person, you will as a rule receive the permit immediately at the appointment; for online or postal applications, within one to two weeks by post or directly as a file to print yourself. Check the licence plate number, zone and expiry date immediately – errors can usually be corrected free of charge in the first few days. Then display the permit behind the windscreen so that it is clearly legible from outside, with the printed side facing up. Exception: under § 46 Abs. 3 StVO, the authority can expressly determine that a resident parking permit does not have to be displayed – this applies to the digital permits linked to the licence plate that have now become widespread. Where a paper permit is issued, however, the rule is: only a visible permit counts. If it slips under an object or lies in the glove compartment, the traffic warden penalises the parking as if there were no authorisation.

  6. 6

    Report changes without undue delay

    The permit is tied to the person, the home, the zone and the licence plate. If you sell the vehicle, re-register it or move to a different zone within the city, the existing permit becomes invalid and must be returned. For the new zone, you submit a new application with your current registered address; if you only change vehicles, many offices transfer the permit to the new licence plate for a smaller fee. If you move out of the zone altogether, hand in the permit – most regulations do not provide for a pro rata refund of the annual fee.

  7. 7

    Extend in good time

    The permit expires automatically, without the authority reminding you – there is no tacit extension. Make a note of the expiry date and submit the application for an extension early; many cities accept it up to one month before expiry, others only in the last few weeks. You need the same documents as for the first application, plus the old permit. If you miss the deadline, you park without authorisation until a new permit is issued and risk a warning fine (Verwarnungsgeld) at every check.

Fee information

Costs and payment

Fees in selected cities

Berlin€20.40 (up to 2 years)
Munichapprox. €30/year
Freiburg€200/year
Bonnup to €360/year
Means of paymentOnline / EC card / bank transfer / cash (depending on the office)

Since October 2020, the nationwide maximum amount of €30.70 no longer applies: under § 6a Abs. 5a StVG, the state governments may set the fees by statutory ordinance (Rechtsverordnung) and may also take into account the economic value of the parking space; the authorisation can be delegated to subordinate bodies. According to the case law of the Federal Administrative Court (Bundesverwaltungsgericht), however, a municipal fee by-law (Gebührensatzung) is not sufficient for this. As a result, prices vary widely. In its judgment of 13 June 2023 (9 CN 2.22), the Federal Administrative Court declared Freiburg’s resident parking fee by-law invalid – but on formal grounds: § 6a Abs. 5a StVG only authorises the adoption of a statutory ordinance, not a municipal by-law; the graduation of fees by vehicle length violated Art. 3 Abs. 1 of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz, GG), and there was no legal basis for the reduction on social grounds. The court expressly did not object to the amount of the standard fee of €360. Today, Freiburg charges €200 per year, by statutory ordinance. The fee that applies to you is stated in the relevant statutory ordinance of your federal state or local authority.

What you pay is an administrative fee for issuing and managing the authorisation – not rent or a usage charge for a parking space. This is why, even with high annual fees, you have no entitlement to a space actually being free in your street. The term determines the price: cities that issue the permit for two years usually charge the fee for the entire period in advance. Most regulations do not provide for a pro rata refund if the permit is returned early – for example after a move or the sale of a vehicle; whether your local authority allows an exception depends on the competent authority.

Whether there are reductions, for example for recipients of social benefits, for severely disabled people or for particularly small vehicles, is regulated by each city independently – there is no uniform nationwide concession. How many permits a household can receive also varies: some local authorities only issue one permit per home, while others charge a higher price for the second permit. Keep the fee notice if you consider the amount unlawful: you can lodge an objection (Widerspruch) against the official notice (Bescheid) or bring a legal action within the deadline stated in the Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung – as a rule, one month from notification (Bekanntgabe).

Good to know

Important notes

The permit does not guarantee a parking space. It only entitles you to park in the zone without a pay-and-display ticket and without a maximum parking time – a free space must still be available.

The fees differ enormously: Berlin charges €20.40 for up to two years – which works out at around €10 per year – Munich approximately €30 per year, Freiburg €200 and Bonn up to €360 per year (since 1 June 2026, Bonn has only issued six-month permits, and it will reduce the fee to €120 per year as of 1 January 2027). The trend has been clearly upwards since the nationwide maximum amount of €30.70 was abolished in October 2020.

For a company car, you must prove private use with a certificate from your employer. Without this proof, the permit will not be issued.

Extend in good time. Many cities allow the extension up to one month before expiry. An expired permit is treated as non-existent and can result in a Verwarnungsgeld.

If you change vehicles or move out of the zone, you must have the permit transferred or return it. Fees already paid are generally not refunded pro rata.

Do not confuse the resident parking permit with the blue EU parking card for people with disabilities. That card is based on an exemption permit under § 46 StVO, usually requires the disability code (Merkzeichen) “aG” or “Bl” in the severe disability pass (Schwerbehindertenausweis), and allows parking in designated disabled parking spaces, among other things. The competent bodies are the road traffic authority and – for the disability codes – the Versorgungsamt (office for social care provision).

The resident parking permit is not available for visitors, care services and tradespeople. Instead, many cities offer time-limited visitor parking permits or exemption permits under § 46 StVO, which apply for individual days or for individual jobs. Whether your local authority issues such permits, and at what price, depends on the competent authority – ask the Straßenverkehrsamt or the Ordnungsamt before your visitors drive home with a parking ticket.

Watch out for mixed parking zones. In many districts, all vehicles may park during the day with a pay-and-display ticket or a parking disc, while only residents may park in the evening and at night; in others, the resident rule applies around the clock. What counts is always the signage at the roadside, not the zone map on the internet. Read the times on the additional sign before you park your vehicle.

If your application is refused, you receive a Bescheid in writing with a Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung. As a rule, you can lodge a Widerspruch against it within one month of notification or bring a legal action before the Verwaltungsgericht (administrative court). Common reasons for refusal are registration outside the zone, an applicant registered only with a secondary residence, or missing proof of use for a vehicle not registered to the applicant – the deficiency can often be remedied more quickly by submitting the missing documents later than through a legal remedy.

If you have only recently moved here, first make sure that your Anmeldung (residence registration) at the Bürgeramt has been completed – without a registered address in the zone, the authority will refuse the parking permit. Under the Federal Act on Registration (Bundesmeldegesetz, BMG), you have two weeks after moving in to do this. Bring the fresh Meldebestätigung (official confirmation of registration) to your parking permit appointment for as long as the new address has not yet been noted on your identity card.

Avoid these mistakes

Common mistakes

Permit not displayed visibly. A paper permit must lie behind the windscreen so that it is clearly legible; if it is covered, you risk a Verwarnungsgeld despite having a valid authorisation. With digital permits linked to the licence plate, the obligation to display the permit does not apply if the authority has so determined under § 46 Abs. 3 StVO – check in the Bescheid which variant applies to you.

Wrong licence plate. The permit only applies to the vehicle entered. If you change vehicles, you must have it transferred immediately and present the new Zulassungsbescheinigung.

Extension forgotten. An expired permit is treated as non-existent. If you park with an expired permit, you pay €20 to €40 depending on the parking duration under number 63 of the catalogue of fines (Bußgeldkatalog), and €25 to €50 for prohibited parking under number 52 of the Bußgeldkatalog (BKat).

Parked outside your own zone. The permit only applies to the zone entered – even the neighbouring zone two streets away is not covered. Anyone who parks there is treated like a vehicle without authorisation and receives a Verwarnungsgeld.

Application submitted with the wrong place of residence. Anyone who is registered in the zone only with a secondary residence, or who has not yet completed the Ummeldung (change of address) after the move, will receive a refusal in most cities. The processing time is lost, and until the Ummeldung at the Bürgeramt and the new application, you park without authorisation.

Permit passed on to neighbours or visitors. The authorisation is tied to the person and the vehicle and must not be lent to others. If passing it on is discovered, the permit is confiscated and revoked, and a warning is issued for the wrongly parked vehicle – the annual fee paid is then lost.

Overlooking the parking management hours in mixed zones. If a pay-and-display ticket is required for everyone in your zone during the day and the resident rule only applies in the evening, the permit does not automatically replace the pay-and-display ticket during those hours. Anyone who relies solely on the permit pays a Verwarnungsgeld even though they are authorised – what counts is always the signage on site.

Arriving at the appointment without complete documents. If the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I, the proof of use for the company car or the proof of registration is missing, the caseworker cannot complete the application. You need a new appointment – and in very busy Bürgeramt offices, depending on the city, that costs several additional weeks.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

How much does a resident parking permit cost?

The fee has varied greatly by local authority since the nationwide maximum amount of €30.70 was abolished in October 2020. Berlin charges €20.40 for up to two years, Munich around €30 per year, Freiburg €200 per year since December 2023 and Bonn up to €360 per year – although since 1 June 2026 Bonn has only issued six-month permits and, following the council resolution of 7 May 2026, will reduce the fee to €120 per year as of 1 January 2027. Under § 6a Abs. 5a StVG, the exact amount is set by statutory ordinance of the federal state or of the body authorised to do so.

Does the resident parking permit guarantee a parking space?

No. The permit only entitles you to park in the designated resident parking zone without a pay-and-display ticket and beyond the maximum parking time that otherwise applies. There is expressly no entitlement to a specific or free parking space – if the zone is full, you must look for another space.

Which documents do I need for the application?

As a rule, you need your identity card or passport, proof of your residence in the parking zone and the vehicle’s Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I. If you are not the vehicle holder, proof of use is required, for example a confirmation from the vehicle holder or, for company cars, a certificate from your employer confirming private use.

What penalties apply if you park without a valid parking permit?

Anyone who parks in a resident parking zone without a valid permit commits a regulatory offence (Ordnungswidrigkeit). The Verwarnungsgeld is based on number 63 of the Bußgeldkatalog (version in force since 9 November 2021) and is graduated according to the parking duration: €20 up to 30 minutes, €25 up to 1 hour, €30 up to 2 hours, €35 up to 3 hours and €40 above that; for prohibited parking under number 52 BKat, it is €25, €40 or €50. A Verwarnungsgeld of €10 no longer exists for this offence; in particular cases, the vehicle can also be towed away. Therefore, make sure you apply for the extension in good time and display the permit visibly.

How long is the resident parking permit valid?

Depending on the local authority, the validity ranges from several months to a maximum of two years. Many cities issue it for one or two years. You should apply for an extension in good time – in some cities up to one month before expiry – so that there is no gap in your parking authorisation.

Can I apply for the resident parking permit online?

In many cities, yes. Numerous local authorities now offer the application entirely online via their administrative portal, sometimes with the option of printing out the permit yourself afterwards. You can find out whether your city offers the online service on the website of your Bürgeramt or Straßenverkehrsamt.

Does the permit also apply to a company car or a car-sharing vehicle?

A company car can be entered if the employer confirms private use in writing. For a permanently assigned car-sharing vehicle, depending on the city, a corresponding contract or proof of use must be presented. The permit always applies only to the licence plate entered.

Can I get a resident parking permit with a secondary residence?

Most local authorities only issue the permit if you are registered in the resident parking zone with your sole residence or your principal residence and actually live there. Whether a secondary residence is sufficient as an exception depends on the competent authority and is regulated in the relevant statutory ordinance. Clarify this before making your application, because a refusal costs you the appointment and the wait for a new one.

What happens to the parking permit if I move or change vehicles?

The permit is tied to the person, the home, the zone and the licence plate, and becomes invalid as soon as any of these changes. If you change vehicles, many offices transfer the permit to the new licence plate for a lower fee if you present the new Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and the old permit. If you move to a different zone or away from the city, return the permit and, if necessary, submit a new application; most regulations do not provide for a pro rata refund of the fee.

What can I do if my application is refused?

You receive a Bescheid in writing with a statement of reasons and a Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung; as a rule, you can lodge a Widerspruch against it within one month of notification or bring a legal action before the Verwaltungsgericht. Often, however, the refusal is due to a formal error that can be remedied – for example a missing Meldebescheinigung, a right of use of the vehicle that has not been proven, or the wrong zone. Therefore, check the statement of reasons first: submitting the missing documents later usually achieves the goal faster than a legal remedy.

Is the resident parking permit the same as the disabled parking card?

No, these are two completely different authorisations. The blue EU parking card for people with disabilities is based on an exemption permit under § 46 StVO, usually requires the Merkzeichen “aG” or “Bl” and allows parking in designated disabled parking spaces, among other things. The resident parking permit, by contrast, exempts you from pay-and-display tickets and the maximum parking time only in your own residential zone and is issued to registered residents without any health requirements.

Related official procedures

Register your address
Requirement for the parking zone
Free of charge
Change of address (Ummeldung)
For a move within the city
Free of charge
Registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung)
Proof of residence
€0–€16

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