PCN code 25: parked in a loading place during restricted hours without loading
Code 25 applies to marked loading bays and loading places on the street. During the hours on the sign, the bay is for loading and unloading only. The ticket is issued when the officer sees no loading activity, so the question is what was actually happening, and what the sign allows.
What code 25 means
25: Parked in a loading place during restricted hours without loading
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.
A loading place is marked with a bay and the word LOADING, with an upright sign giving the hours. Some signs restrict the bay further, for example to goods vehicles only, or limit the stay.
Redcar and Cleveland's code list says the contravention occurs when a vehicle is in a loading place without any loading or unloading being seen by the officer. Councils usually observe for a period first; Knowsley's published list gives 5 minutes for code 25. In council car parks the equivalent is code 70.
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 25 is issued
- The driver was inside a shop collecting a large order, so no activity was visible at the vehicle.
- Loading had finished and the driver was getting a delivery signed for.
- A car was used in a bay restricted to goods vehicles.
- The driver stopped to collect a takeaway or post a parcel.
- The vehicle stayed longer than the maximum loading time on the sign.
What counts as loading
Loading generally means moving goods onto or off the vehicle, including the time it reasonably takes to check and carry them and to get the delivery signed for. Collecting a small item you could easily carry, or going shopping, is less likely to be accepted as loading. Councils and adjudicators look at the facts of each case: what the goods were, how heavy or bulky, and whether the activity was continuous.
Grounds and evidence that fit code 25
- The contravention did not occur: loading was taking place, even if the officer did not see it, or the time was outside the bay's hours.
- Evidence: delivery notes, invoices or collection receipts with times; a statement from the business sending or receiving the goods; photos of the goods; the bay sign showing hours, vehicle type and maximum stay; the officer's notes on the observation period.
The officer's notes
Ask for the officer's notes and photos. They should show when observation started, what the officer saw and when the PCN was issued. If your council publishes an observation period for code 25 and the notes show the PCN was issued without one, point that out: it goes to whether the officer could properly conclude that no loading was happening.
Common pitfalls
Check the sign first. If the bay is "goods vehicles only", loading from a private car may still be a contravention, because the vehicle class is wrong even if the activity is right. If the officer recorded a short observation, compare it with the council's published policy. Keep a written note of what happened, with times, as soon as possible: memory fades quickly, and specific detail is more persuasive.
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 25
- Does collecting a takeaway count as loading?
- Usually not. Loading generally means moving goods that need a vehicle, such as heavy or bulky items. Councils decide on the facts, so describe exactly what was collected.
- I was loading but the officer did not see me. Can I challenge?
- Yes. Send evidence of the loading, such as a delivery note with times or a statement from the shop, and point out that the activity was out of sight, for example inside the premises.
- Can a car use a loading bay?
- It depends on the sign. Some loading places are for any vehicle while loading; others are for goods vehicles only. Check the sign's wording.
- How long can I stay in a loading bay?
- As long as loading continues, unless the sign shows a maximum stay. Some signs set a limit, such as 20 or 30 minutes.
Related codes: Code 01: yellow lines · Code 02: loading ban · Code 27: dropped kerb · All contravention codes
Last checked 23 October 2026. Sources: Knowsley Council, Standard PCN codes: on-street; Redcar and Cleveland Council, PCN contravention codes and charges; Wandsworth Council, PCN contravention codes (London levels); 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.