The badge is for you only. It can only be used when you are the driver or a passenger. It cannot be used by other people doing something for you, for example, shopping or collecting prescriptions. Your badge must not be used for parking whilst they do tasks on your behalf.
It remains your responsibility to park safely at all times and be considerate of other road users’ needs whenever your Blue Badge is used to park on-street.
Do not allow it to be used to park on corners, brows of hills, near junctions or anywhere where a parked vehicle may block views of oncoming traffic and be a hazard to other road users or pedestrians. Always ensure that others could pass the parked vehicle safely.
The Blue Badge scheme only applies to on-street public parking spaces. Blue Badge holders do not need to pay when parking in on-street pay-and-display spaces, and may park for as long as required when using on-street limited waiting spaces or pay and display spaces to visit local shops or amenities.
You may park for up to three hours on yellow lines except where there is a ban on loading or unloading as shown by a single or double yellow bars painted on the edge of the pavement. At the end of the three hours, you must park elsewhere. You must not reset your clock time to extend your parking time for another three hours.
If using a disabled badge holders only space, check that the sign does not specify a time limit or have a maximum stay. If the sign specifies a time limit, for example, ‘2 hours no return within 4 hours’ or says, ‘2 hours max stay’, you cannot park for longer than the time stated or return to that space within the stated time. If no time is specified you can park with your Blue Badge for as long as you need.
If you are a Blue Badge holder and live in a residents’ permit holder parking area or zone, you no longer need to buy a resident permit to park on your street as displaying your valid Blue Badge is enough. Devon County Council has exempted Blue Badge Holders to use those spaces.
However, if you regularly travel with friends or family in their cars and will be relying on your Blue Badge for parking at your destination, we do recommend that you buy a residents’ permit for your own car to avoid receiving a penalty charge notice for not displaying a valid permit or Blue Badge whilst you were away from home.
Your Blue Badge must not be used to park in spaces signed as reserved for specific users, such as permit holders, doctors, local service providers, for example, local community bus, buses, taxis, motorcycles, electric vehicle charging places (unless charging), or places for people loading or unloading.
You should not park in loading-only parking places, unless to set down or pick up a passenger, or to load or unload. Parking any longer may prevent larger vehicles carrying goods from being able to enter or exit the bay and be fully parked within the marked space to make deliveries to nearby businesses.
Mobility scooters do not need a parking permit. These vehicles should not be parked on the kerb or at the kerbside for long periods. They should be parked on your own property whenever possible.