Operational permits
This permit type is available to the following professionals when carrying out official duties, such as visiting patients, clients, or business locations within the city:
Eligible professionals
- governmental services (e.g., HM Revenue and Customs)
- healthcare workers, such as:
- health visitors
- district nurses
- community physiotherapists
- phlebotomists
- corporate carers from partner organisations with the Council
- legal professional organisations
Important notes
These permits are strictly for official duties and are not intended for workplace parking.
Permits are not valid when parked near your normal place of work.
The Council reserves the right to issue a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) if there are grounds to do so and may request evidence of being on official duty at the time of parking if an appeal is made.
Types of operational permits
Details of the applicable charges can be found on our permit fees and charges page.
Yellow permit
Parking duration: Allows up to 4 hours of parking in residential permit parking bays and on-street (pay-by-phone/pay-and-display bays).
Restrictions: Not valid for parking in any car park.
Pink permit
Parking duration: Allows up to 6 hours of parking in residential permit parking bays and on-street (pay-by-phone/pay-and-display bays).
Restrictions: Not valid for parking in any car park.
Black permit
Flexibility: This is a printed permit that can be transferred between vehicles but must be prominently displayed on the vehicle's dashboard or fascia when in use.
Parking duration: Allows up to 4 hours of parking in residential permit parking bays and on-street pay-by-phone/pay-and-display bays.
Restrictions: Not valid for parking in any car park.
Important note: We are unable to issue a duplicate permit if the black permit is lost.
Silver permit
Parking duration: Allows up to 6 hours of parking in residential permit parking bays and on-street (pay-by-phone/pay-and-display bays).
Additional benefit: Allows parking in most Southend-on-Sea City Council-operated car parks.
Restrictions: Not valid for parking in the following car parks:
- Civic Underground
- Civic East
- Civic North (Surface)
- Beecroft Lower
- Beecroft Upper
- Baxter Avenue
Supporting documents required
Applicants must provide documentation to verify:
Proof of requirement
An acceptable proof of requirement may include a letter on the company's official letterhead or a communication from an official email address (dated within the last 3 months).
The letter must include:
- Confirmation that the applicant is an employee.
- The vehicle registration number.
- A brief explanation of why the permit is required.
Proof of vehicle ownership: not required for black permit
- DVLA V5C logbook (new keeper slip is not accepted)
- motor insurance policy (must show the registration and your full property address)
Company Vehicle
A letter on company letterhead, signed and dated (within the last three months), that includes: Your name, confirmation that you drive the vehicle and the vehicle registration number.
Permit application process
Applications may take up to 10 working days to be processed.
It is the applicant's responsibility to allow sufficient time for processing.
Please ensure you have read and understood the terms and conditions before apply for or renew an operational parking permit.
Changing your vehicle details
Existing permit holders that require a change to vehicle details must submit an application online.
Permit cancellation and refunds
You may request to cancel your permit at any time.
Refunds will be issued on a pro-rata basis for each full remaining calendar month, subject to an administration fee.
Details of the applicable charges can be found on our permit fees and charges page.
No refund will be provided if less than one full calendar month remains on the permit.
Data protection
Information provided in your application may be shared with other organisations for the purposes of:
- benefit administration
- fraud prevention and detection