What is the Parking Permit Program for People with Disabilities?
How do I obtain an application form?
What are the Parking Permit Program office hours?
Why do people with disabilities need special parking?
What are the criteria for receiving a permit?
I broke my leg and need crutches. Can I get a permit?
Do organizations transporting people with disabilities qualify for a parking permit?
How long is my permit good for?
How is a valid parking permit obtained?
What does a valid permit look like?
What is the Parking Permit Program for People with Disabilities?
The Parking Permit Program, operated by SPARC BC, issues parking permits to enable people with disabilities to legally park in designated zones throughout British Columbia. Since 1985, the program has worked to ensure accessibility for all.
How do I obtain an application form?
What are the Parking Permit Program office hours?
Why do people with disabilities need special parking?
What are the criteria for receiving a permit?
I broke my leg and need crutches. Can I get a permit?
Do organizations transporting people with disabilities qualify for a parking permit?
How long is my permit good for?
How is a valid parking permit obtained?
What does a valid permit look like?
What is the Parking Permit Program for People with Disabilities?
The Parking Permit Program, operated by SPARC BC, issues parking permits to enable people with disabilities to legally park in designated zones throughout British Columbia. Since 1985, the program has worked to ensure accessibility for all.
How do I obtain an application form?
Application forms are available directly from our office at 4445 Norfolk Street in Burnaby, by calling during office hours at (604) 718-7744, or downloaded directly from this web site. Faxed or photocopied application forms are not accepted.
When mailing in your application form, please allow 2 to 3 weeks for processing.
What are the Parking Permit Program office hours?
Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. We are closed weekends.
Why do people with disabilities need special parking?
Special parking allows people with disabilities to have access to buildings and services in the community. The people who qualify for parking permits either need the extra width of the special stalls to get in and out of their vehicles when using a wheelchair, crutches, a cane or other mobility aid, or need to park close to a building entrance because their health prevents them from walking very far.
What are the criteria for receiving a permit?
Based on a medical doctor’s recommendation, anyone with a permanent or temporary mobility impairment is eligible for a permit. People who need extra wide parking spaces in order to get in and out of their vehicle, or who cannot walk more than 100 meters, or who are legally blind are also eligible for a permit.
I broke my leg and need crutches. Can I get a permit?
Yes. Temporary permits can be obtained. Your doctor must specify on the application form a date when you will recover or be reassessed. This will become the expiry date of your permit. Should you require the permit for a longer period you must reapply.
Do organizations transporting people with disabilities qualify for a parking permit?
Yes, organizations may sometimes qualify for an organizational parking permit. Call us for more information and an organizational application form.
How long is my permit good for?
Permanent permits are good for 3 years. You will receive a renewal notice in the mail approximately one month before the expiry date. Temporary permits are good until the date specified by your doctor. It is your responsibility to notify us regarding any change in your address!
How is a valid parking permit obtained?
If you have a mobility impairment, ask your doctor or call us for an application form. Both you and your doctor must fill this out. Check to make sure that the form has been completed correctly and mail it to SPARC BC. A carefully completed application accompanied by the nominal processing fee of $18 can be processed in 2-3 weeks. Acceptable forms of payment are cheque, money order, Visa, MasterCard or Interac (if applying in person). Sorry, no cash accepted!
What does a valid permit look like?
A permanent permit is made of flexible white plastic and has the internationally recognized blue and white accessibility wheelchair symbol on it. There is a hole at the top that can be separated easily so the permit can hang from a rear-view mirror. Each card also has a registration number and the expiry date is hole punched with month and year of expiry.
A temporary permit is slightly larger and made of rigid plastic. This card has a side-hanging hook and the expiry date is handwritten on the front of the card with month, day, year. Both the permit number and expiry date must be clearly visible for the permit to be valid. Both permanent and temporary permits have the name of the registered owner printed, with the signature on the back of the card.