How Do I Apply for a Residential Restricted Parking Zone Permit?

Instructions for Applying for a Residential Restricted Parking Zone Permit

Follow these instructions for applying for a Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) permit for a residential area. RPZs are residential areas where on-street parking is restricted except for residents and short-term visitors. Refer to the RPZ website for an explanation of eligibility rules and fees.

What You Need to Know About RPZ Permits

• This permit allows residents of an RPZ and their guests to park longer than the posted time limit. 
• The permits are vehicle specific and non-transferrable. 
• The maximum number of RPZ permits that can be issued to an address is 4 vehicle Decals and 1 Guest permit.
• Each Zone operates on its own expiration cycle. 
  • Permits expire by Zone cycle, not from the date of purchase. 
  • If your Zone is close to renewal, you may consider applying for a short term (1-day or 60-day) permit. See How Do I Apply for a Short Term Restricted Parking Zone Permit.
• If you already have an RPZ permit but would like to add another permit, see How Do I Request Additional Restricted Parking Zone Permits.

What You'll Need to Start Your Application

Before you start, gather these documents. What you will need varies by the type of permit you are applying for and information you provide about the applicant. The initial documents that may be required are:

• Proof of Residency (always required) - Current proof of residency or ownership showing your name and RPZ address, dated within the last 30 days. Examples include a recently signed lease, utility bill, cell phone bill, bank statement, cable bill, or any official (not hand-written), dated piece of mail received within the last 30 days.
• Vehicle Registration (required if we are unable to verify your vehicle license number) - A document showing your vehicle:
  • Is registered in Washington state
  • Is registered in your name
  • Your address matches the RPZ address 
• Proof of Legal Liveaboard (if selected)
• Proof of Nonresident Student (if selected, vehicle registration requirement is waived)
• Proof of Active Duty Military (if selected)
• Proof of Low Income (if selected) - Proof of Low Income status must be one of the following documents: Supplemental Security Income, Medical Coupons, Welfare Check or Stub, Rent Assistance from Seattle Housing Authority, Energy Assistance from Seattle City Light or Puget Sound Energy, Quest Card, Lease/Rental Agreement from a non-profit housing assistance corporation such as Plymouth Housing Group or CHHIP.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Log in or Register

1. Go to the Seattle Services Portal.
2. Log in:
   • If you already have an account, log in with your credentials.
   • If you don’t have an account, register your existing contact for a new account before proceeding.

Step 2: Start Your Application

1. Click the Home tab.
2. Under Create New, click Permits - Parking & Truck.
3. Expand the Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) section by clicking on it.
4. Click Restricted Parking Zone - RPZ Residential Application if you have a vehicle registered in Washington State at the RPZ address or if you want a Guest permit. 

Step 3: Provide Your Permit Address

1. On the Location Information page in the Permit Address section, enter your permit address. For best results, only enter the Street No. and Street Name when searching.
   • Street No. (required): Enter the house or building number.
   • Street Name (required): Enter the name of the road. When entering a Street Name for a numbered street, such as 5th Ave, only enter "5" in the Street Name field.
2. Click Search. If prompted, select the correct address or parcel number and click Select.

Step 4: Provide Your Unit or Apartment Number

1. In the Unit/Apartment section fill in the fields:
   • Answer the question Does your permit address have a unit, apartment, or slip? (required). Select "Yes" if it has a unit, apartment, or slip number. Otherwise, select "No."
   • If the permit address has a unit, please enter it here: Provide your apartment or unit number if you have one. Enter only the number or letter for your unit. For example, for #412, enter "412", or for suite A, enter "A".
2. Click Continue to proceed.

Step 5: Provide Contact Information

On the Contacts page, provide contact details for:

• Applicant: You, the person filling out this application.
• Financially Responsible Party: The person or organization in charge of paying any permit fees.
• Optionally, add an Alternate Mailing Contact.

1. To add a contact:
   • Click Myself to auto-populate the contact information from your Seattle Services Portal user account. 
   • Click Someone Else to find an existing contact. If the person or organization isn’t found, click the “Person or organization not listed? Add them here." link.
2. Click Continue to proceed.

Step 6: Provide Application Information

1. On the Application Information page, answer the questions. Hover over the blue circled question mark for more information about each field.
2. Click Continue to proceed.

Step 7: Provide Permit Information

1. On the Permit Information page, click Add a Row.
2. A pop-up window prompts you to provide permit information Fill in the fields. 
   1. Select the desired Permit Type. You have the option of a vehicle Decal or a Guest permit. 
   2. If you selected Decal, provide the vehicle information requested. All fields are required.
   3. Click Submit.
3. To add additional permits to your application, repeat steps 1 and 2 in this section.  
4. Click Continue to proceed.

Step 8: Review Estimated Fees

1. On the Estimated Fees page, you are shown your total estimated fees. 
2. Click Continue to proceed.

Step 9: Attach Documents

On the Documents page, some required documents are listed. Document requirements vary based on the number of permits requested and the answers provided.

1. If you have a document to upload:
   1. Click Select under the Upload Documents section.
   2. Select your document:
      1. Click Select in the File Upload popup.
      2. Select your document and click Open.
      3. Click Done in the File Upload popup.
   3. Select your document type:
      1. In the Document Type dropdown, select the document type that matches the document you uploaded. For example, select "Proof of Residency/Ownership" as your document type when uploading the matching document.
      2. Add a brief Description of the document.
   4. Click Save and wait for the upload to complete. Note: It may take a few minutes for your document to fully upload.
   5. Repeat steps a through d for each additional document required. When prompted, select the Document Type that matches the document you are uploading.
2. Click Continue to proceed.
   • If you see a red Attention message, that means you either have not selected the correct Document Type, and/or have missed a required document.
   • If a document is missing, go back to step 1 in this section and upload the missing document.
   • If you selected the wrong Document Type on a document that you have already saved, upload the document again and pick the Document Type that matches the Condition in the Attention message. You may also add a description explaining that you are uploading the document a second time with the correct Document Type.

Step 10: Review and Submit

1. On the Review page:
   • Verify that all information is correct.
   • Make edits as needed by clicking Edit in the relevant sections.
2. Scroll to the bottom. Agree to the certification statement by checking the box.
3. Click Continue to submit.

Step 11: Confirmation Displays

A message displays confirming that your application is submitted for review. 

• Your record number format is SDOT-RPZ-00-00000.
• Keep a record of your Record Number. 

An email is sent to the Applicant with a link to a 28-day temporary permit that you may use while your application is being reviewed.

General Information

• It takes 5-10 days for applications to be reviewed. 
• You will be notified via email once your application is approved or if more information is needed. 
• Once approved, you are able to submit payment. 
• Once payment is made, you are automatically issued a new temporary permit to use while you wait for your permits. The temporary permit must be placed on the driver’s side dash of your vehicle and visible to Parking Enforcement.
  • For RPZ vehicle permits, your digital permit will be associated with your vehicle license plate and is stored electronically.
  • For RPZ Guest permits, your permit (hang tag) should arrive in the mail within 2 to 3 weeks.

Step 12: Print Your Temporary Permit

Until the RPZ permit information is uploaded to the permit database or until your new permit arrives in the mail, use your temporary permit. The temporary permit must be placed on the driver’s side dash of your vehicle and visible to Parking Enforcement. To print your temporary permit:

1. Log in to the Seattle Services Portal.
2. On the My Records page, click on your record number.
3. When the record opens, click on the Attachments tab.
4. Print your temporary permit by clicking on Temporary Permit.pdf.

Need Help?

Visit the Seattle Services Portal help center, email [e-mail]. or call [phone].