Can I use a residents' permit in a permit-holders bay?

Only if the sign says that permit type is accepted. Many permit bays accept only one permit type, such as business permits.

The bay was empty and I was there a few minutes. Is that a defence?

Not on its own. The question is whether a valid permit was needed at that time and whether one was displayed. If there was a real reason you had to stop, explain it as compelling reasons.

What if the bay sign is missing or turned around?

Photograph the bay and the surrounding signs from the driver's position, with the date. If the restriction was not clearly shown, that can support the ground that the contravention did not occur.

Is code 16 higher or lower level?

Higher level. Outside London that is £60 or £70 depending on the council's band, halved if paid within the discount period.

PCN code 16: parked in a permit space without displaying a valid permit

Council parking PCN · England · Code 16 · Higher level · Last checked 23 October 2026

Code 16 is used for bays reserved for a particular kind of permit holder, such as business permit bays, doctors' bays or bays for a named organisation. The sign at the bay is the whole story: who it is for, when, and what permit counts.

What code 16 means

16: Parked in a permit space without displaying a valid permit

Standard wording as published in council code lists: Knowsley Council and Wandsworth Council. Some councils use slightly different wording or add a letter suffix to the code.

Permit spaces are usually marked with a bay and a sign naming the permit, for example "Permit holders only", "Doctor" or "Business permit holders". The Traffic Signs Regulations allow the bay legend to name the user, for example DOCTOR or PERMIT HOLDERS. Outside the hours on the sign, the bay may be open to anyone.

Code 16 differs from code 12, which is for residents' and shared-use bays, and from code 23, which is for bays reserved for a class of vehicle, such as motorcycles.

How much it costs

Where	Penalty	If paid within the discount period
England outside London (council's band 1 or band 2)	£60 or £70	£30 or £35
London (band A or band B, from 7 April 2025)	£160 or £140	£80 or £70

This is a higher level code. Outside London the bands are set by Schedule 3 to SI 2022/71; London levels are set for all boroughs together. If a charge certificate is issued, the penalty goes up by 50%. The amount printed on your PCN is the one that applies to you: if it does not match the published level for your area, that is itself a ground for representations.

Situations where code 16 is issued

Parking in a bay that looked like ordinary parking, without reading the plate naming the permit.
Displaying a residents' permit in a business permit bay.
A business permit holder using a pool vehicle that was not on the permit.
A healthcare worker displaying a professional badge that the local scheme does not recognise in that bay.
Arriving just before the restricted hours end, or leaving just after they start.

What to check

The sign. Which permits does it allow, and when? Some bays accept several permit types; others accept only one.
The traffic order. The sign should match the order. If the sign names a permit that the order does not mention, or shows different hours, the restriction may not be properly indicated.
The permit. Was it displayed, was it in date, and was it the type the bay accepts? If a permit was displayed but was the wrong type or out of date, the description may fit a lower level code better.

Hours inside a controlled zone

Permit bays inside a controlled parking zone do not always follow the zone's hours. Where the bay has its own sign with different hours, that sign applies to the bay. Photograph both the zone entry sign and the bay sign, so the council can see which hours you relied on and why.

Grounds and evidence that fit code 16

The contravention did not occur: a valid permit of the right type was displayed, or the time was outside the restricted hours.
The traffic order is invalid, in rare cases where the order behind the bay was not properly made.
Evidence: photos of the bay sign and markings; the permit (front and back) and its terms; the officer's photos; an employer's letter confirming a pool vehicle or business use.

Common pitfalls

"There were plenty of empty spaces" and "I was only there briefly" do not change whether the permit was needed. If the permit was valid but not visible, say so and send it: councils can consider that, but it is discretionary. Keep the permit's terms with your evidence, because many permits say which bays they cover.

Deadlines for this PCN

This code is usually issued by a civil enforcement officer, with the PCN fixed to the vehicle or handed to the driver. The clock runs from the dates on your notices, and post is treated as served on the second working day after posting (SI 2022/71 reg 3).

Stage	Time limit
Discounted payment	14 days, beginning with the day the PCN was served
Informal challenge	Any time before a Notice to Owner; challenging inside the 14 days keeps the discount question open, and councils should consider re-offering it if they reject an early challenge
Notice to Owner	Can be sent once 28 days pass without payment, and normally within 6 months (reg 20)
Formal representations	28 days, beginning with the day the Notice to Owner is served
Council's decision	56 days from receiving your representations, or they are treated as accepted (SI 2022/576 reg 6)
Appeal to the tribunal	28 days, beginning with the day the Notice of Rejection is served (reg 7)

The dates printed on your own notices set your deadlines; where the count is in doubt, work to the earlier date. Our stage-by-stage guide to council PCNs explains each stage, and the one-page PCN deadlines checklist has space to write your own dates.

Questions people ask about code 16

Can I use a residents' permit in a permit-holders bay?: Only if the sign says that permit type is accepted. Many permit bays accept only one permit type, such as business permits.
The bay was empty and I was there a few minutes. Is that a defence?: Not on its own. The question is whether a valid permit was needed at that time and whether one was displayed. If there was a real reason you had to stop, explain it as compelling reasons.
What if the bay sign is missing or turned around?: Photograph the bay and the surrounding signs from the driver's position, with the date. If the restriction was not clearly shown, that can support the ground that the contravention did not occur.
Is code 16 higher or lower level?: Higher level. Outside London that is £60 or £70 depending on the council's band, halved if paid within the discount period.

Last checked 23 October 2026. Sources: Knowsley Council, Standard PCN codes: on-street; Wandsworth Council, PCN contravention codes (London levels); Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, Schedule 7; SI 2022/71 Schedule 3 (penalty bands outside London); Wandsworth Council, London-wide penalty charge changes from 7 April 2025; SI 2022/71 (General Provisions Regulations 2022); SI 2022/576 reg 5 (grounds for representations); Traffic Penalty Tribunal; London Tribunals. General information about council enforcement in England, not legal advice about your ticket. Wales has its own regulations; Scotland and Northern Ireland have different systems.