The Residential and Visitor Parking Permit Application is the paper form the City of Berkeley uses to order annual residential permits and 1-day or 14-day visitor permits; it is one of the forms behind the Berkeley parking permit program. It is meant for residents of addresses in a Residential Preferential Parking (RPP) area. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the city publishes the original PDF and the permit rules on berkeleyca.gov.
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What is Residential and Visitor Parking Permit Application – Berkeley, CA?
The Residential and Visitor Parking Permit Application is the City of Berkeley form on which a resident requests an annual residential parking permit, 1-day visitor permits or 14-day visitor permits. The issuing agency in the form data is the City of Berkeley Police Department, and the form directs customers to the Customer Service Center, 1947 Center Street, Berkeley, CA 94704, (510) 981-2489.
The form asks for the date, your name, street address, phone number, the permit type with a quantity, the license plate number or VIN and an email address. A block marked FOR OFFICE USE ONLY (permit area, tender method, total paid, permit numbers) is completed by the city.
The permit year runs July 1 – June 30. The form prints these limits: 20 one-day permits, 3 fourteen-day permits, and for annual permits a maximum of 3 per address, or 2 in Zone P. Fourteen-day permits require dates of use at the time of purchase.
The form also states that all permits require photo ID and proof of residence at your current Berkeley address, that vehicles must be registered in Berkeley and plated in California, and that vehicles over 20 feet long and/or 8,000 pounds in gross weight are not eligible. In-home care and child-care permits use their own applications, not this form.
Who needs to file Residential and Visitor Parking Permit Application – Berkeley, CA?
Residents of a Berkeley address inside a Residential Preferential Parking (RPP) area who want a permit to park near home without the two-hour limit use this form. The city's page tells you to check the eligibility map first; if your address is not eligible but is within an RPP zone, the city describes steps to opt your block in.
- Annual residential permit: residents with a vehicle registered to a Berkeley address and plated in California. If the vehicle is registered to someone else, it must still be registered to a Berkeley address, and you add a letter of authorization and a copy of the owner's photo ID.
- Visitor permits (1-day and 14-day): residents buying permits for guests. You do not need a car or a residential permit yourself.
Not eligible: vehicles over 20 feet long and/or 8,000 pounds gross weight. Addresses are capped at 3 annual permits, or 2 in Zone P; the city's page says a waiver form is needed above the maximum.
Do not use this form for in-home care permits or child-care permits, which have separate applications and affidavits.
When to file Residential and Visitor Parking Permit Application – Berkeley, CA
Submit the form when you need a permit, keeping in mind that the permit year is July 1 – June 30. Annual permits are generally valid for that period.
For renewals, the city mails a renewal notice by May 1, and you must renew before June 30, when the existing permit expires. If you receive no notice or miss the deadline, you must submit a new application. Permits cannot be renewed while you have parking citations unpaid for more than 21 calendar days. If you replace your vehicle or license plate, you request an update to your existing permit instead of a new application.
For a fourteen-day permit, you can apply up to three weeks before you intend to use it, and dates of use are required at purchase.
Stated processing times: by mail, 10-15 days for an annual permit; in person, approval is immediate once payment is applied; online, 5-7 business days. Mailed 1-day hangtag applications take 7-10 business days, then 5-7 business days for the hangtag to arrive.
Documents you need
- Government-issued photo ID: required for every permit on this form. If the address on it does not match your current Berkeley address, add a secondary proof of residency.
- Proof of residency at your current Berkeley address: for example a California driver's license or ID card, vehicle registration, signed lease (within a year), or a current bank, PG&E, landline phone, credit card, cable or internet, EBMUD water or City of Berkeley bill.
- Vehicle registration, showing a Berkeley address and a California plate, for an annual residential permit.
- DMV address-change screenshot showing your name, license plate and Berkeley address: only if the vehicle is not yet registered in Berkeley.
- Signed letter of authorization from the registered owner plus a copy of the owner's valid photo ID: only if the vehicle is registered to someone else, which must still be a Berkeley address.
- Payment by check or money order made out to "City of Berkeley" when applying by mail.
How to fill out Residential and Visitor Parking Permit Application – Berkeley, CA
Confirm your address is eligible
Before filling in the form, check the city's eligibility map to confirm your Berkeley address is in a Residential Preferential Parking area. Also confirm the vehicle is under 20 feet and 8,000 pounds.
Enter the date
Write today's date in the DATE field at the top of the form.
Enter your name
Fill in LAST NAME, FIRST NAME and MI (middle initial) as they appear on your photo ID.
Enter your address and phone
Complete STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP and PHONE with your current Berkeley address, which must match your proof of residence.
Choose the permit type and quantity
Enter a quantity next to ONE DAY (limit 20), FOURTEEN DAY (limit 3) or ANNUAL. For fourteen-day permits, the dates of use are required at the time of purchase.
Check the annual permit conditions
For annual permits, stay within 3 permits per address, or 2 in Zone P. If the vehicle is registered to someone else, it must be registered to a Berkeley address, with a letter of authorization and a copy of the owner's photo ID.
Enter the plate and email
Fill in LICENSE PLATE/VIN with the vehicle's California plate or VIN, then enter your EMAIL ADDRESS.
Leave the office block blank
Do not complete FOR OFFICE USE ONLY (permit area, tender method, total paid, permit numbers); city staff fill it in.
Gather documents and payment
Collect your photo ID, proof of residency, vehicle registration and any extra letter or screenshot, plus a check or money order payable to "City of Berkeley" if you apply by mail.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check each entry against your ID and registration, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and submit it through one of the channels described under How to submit.
How to submit Residential and Visitor Parking Permit Application – Berkeley, CA
You can submit this application by mail or in person; the city's page also offers online ordering for annual and digital visitor permits.
- By mail: send the completed application, supporting documents and payment by check or money order made out to "City of Berkeley" to City of Berkeley, PO Box 29, Berkeley CA 94701.
- In person: go to the Customer Service Center on the 1st floor of 1947 Center Street, Berkeley, CA 94704. Annual applications are approved immediately and the permit is activated as soon as payment is applied. Fourteen-day permits are applied for in person.
- Online: log in or create an account and select "Annual Residential" for an annual permit; digital visitor permits are bought online, with approval taking up to 2 business days.
Fees apply to every permit type. The amounts are printed on the form and the city's page; for the current amount call the Customer Service Center at (510) 981-2489. Permit changes such as a new plate go by email to [email protected].
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing a fourteen-day permit without entering the dates of use; the form requires them at the time of purchase.
- Ordering more than the printed limits: 20 one-day permits, 3 fourteen-day permits, or more than 3 annual permits per address (2 in Zone P).
- Applying for a vehicle over 20 feet long and/or 8,000 pounds in gross weight, which is not eligible.
- Applying with a vehicle not registered in Berkeley and plated in California, without first updating its registration address with the DMV.
- Using a vehicle registered to someone else without the owner's signed letter and a copy of the owner's photo ID.
- Submitting proof of residence for an old address; the form requires proof at the CURRENT Berkeley address.
- Writing in the FOR OFFICE USE ONLY block, which the city completes.
- Using this form for an in-home care or child-care permit, which need their own applications and affidavits.
- Waiting for a renewal notice past June 30; a missed deadline means a new application, and citations unpaid over 21 days block renewal.
Frequently asked questions
Who can use the Residential and Visitor Parking Permit Application?
Residents of a Berkeley address in a Residential Preferential Parking area. Annual permits need a vehicle registered to a Berkeley address and plated in California. Visitor permits can be bought without owning a car or holding a residential permit.
What documents do I need for a Berkeley parking permit?
Every permit needs government-issued photo ID and proof of residency at your current Berkeley address. An annual permit also needs your vehicle registration. Extra items apply if the vehicle is registered to another person or not yet registered in Berkeley.
Is there a fee for a Berkeley residential or visitor permit?
Yes, every permit type has a fee, printed on the form and on the city's page. Mail payments are a check or money order made out to "City of Berkeley". Call the Customer Service Center at (510) 981-2489 for the current amounts.
How many visitor permits can I buy?
The form limits you to 20 one-day permits and 3 fourteen-day permits. The city notes that digital 1-day permits are sold in batches of five, and that all vehicles remain subject to the 72-hour rule even with a permit.
Where do I mail the Berkeley parking permit application?
Mail the application, supporting documents and a check or money order payable to "City of Berkeley" to City of Berkeley, PO Box 29, Berkeley CA 94701. Mail processing is stated as 10-15 days for annual permits.
When does a Berkeley residential parking permit expire?
The permit year is July 1 – June 30, so annual permits expire on June 30. The city mails a renewal notice by May 1. If you miss the deadline or get no notice, you must submit a new application.
What if my vehicle or license plate changes?
You do not need a new permit. Email [email protected] with your name, address, photo ID and the new registration or plate information to update the existing permit.
Can I fill out the Berkeley permit application online on FillingPDF?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of the City of Berkeley and does not file it; you submit it by mail or in person as described by the city.
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