Overview
A parking placard allows people who cannot walk 50 metres (164 feet) to use disabled parking stalls.
The placards are issued to individuals who provide proper proof that they meet the requirements.
There are 3 types of parking placards:
- a temporary placard, issued for between 3 and 12 months
- a long-term placard, issued for 5 years
- a permanent placard that can be renewed every 5 years by the client without additional medical certification
You can only have 1 placard for each vehicle registered in your name.
Licence plate option
You can also get a licence plate that contains the official disabled driver logo. An applicant requesting plates must have the vehicle(s) registered with the name of the person with the disability on the vehicle registration.
Eligibility
Parking placards are available to individuals and some organizations who meet the requirements.
Residents of Alberta
If you’re a resident of Alberta and can’t walk more than 50 metres (164 feet), you may be eligible to apply for a parking placard.
People who have sensory impairments, such as deafness and blindness, are not eligible for a parking placard.
Visitors to Alberta
If you are visiting Alberta, you can use your valid (non-expired) parking placard from your home province/territory or country.
If you have forgotten your parking placard at home, you can apply for a temporary red parking placard to use during your stay. These parking placards must be returned to a registry agent before you leave Alberta.
Organizations
Parking placards can be issued to organizations that provide transportation services to persons with disabilities.
The business can only have 1 parking placard for each vehicle registered in the organization’s name.
Placards cannot be issued to volunteer drivers.
How to apply
You can apply for a parking placard at an authorized Registry Agent office.
Residents of Alberta
Step 1. Fill out an application
Parking Placards for People with Disabilities Application
If you are applying on behalf of someone else, please visit an Alberta registry agent to obtain the necessary consent form.
Step 2. Get the application approved
The application may be approved by an authorized healthcare provider, such as a:
- physician
- occupational therapist
- physiotherapist
- surgeon
- physical therapist
- podiatrist
- nurse practitioner
- chiropractors
The application must be submitted within 6 months of the healthcare professional signing it.
Step 3. Submit the application
Bring your completed application to a registry agent, along with:
Visitors to Alberta
If you are visiting Alberta and didn’t bring your placard with you, go to a registry agent and request a short-term placard that will cover the length of your visit to Alberta. The placard must be returned to a registry agent before you leave Alberta.
Organizations
Step 1. Write a letter
Write a letter on the organization’s letterhead containing the following information:
- the number of placards requested
- the intended use of the parking placards
- the licence plate numbers of the vehicles
The letter must be signed by an authorized officer.
The number of placards an organization gets depends on the number of active vehicle registrations it has. An organization is only entitled to get enough placards for each active vehicle.
Organizations will get a red placard for 1-year terms only.
Step 2. Submit the letter
Send your letter to a registry agent.
Proper placard use
A valid parking placard and matching registration certificate can only be used by the person it is issued to.
Drivers
- The driver must ensure that the placard is valid and they have a registration certificate.
- You can use your valid placard and registration certificate in any vehicle that provides you with transportation.
- The driver must obey other parking laws and pay any parking fees.
- Persons issued a disabled licence plate and registration are subject to a yearly registration fee.
Parking
- Your valid placard must be hung from the vehicle’s rear-view mirror with the registration number and expiry date visible from outside the vehicle.
- The matching registration certificate must be in the vehicle and presented on demand by a Peace Officer.
- You must enter or exit the vehicle when parked in a stall marked for persons with disabilities.
- Municipal bylaws govern these parking stalls on both public and private property.
- A stall or parking space signed for persons with disabilities is not for the exclusive use of one person with a disability; it may be used by others with valid placards.
Placard abuse
- Any abuse or misuse of a parking placard and registration certificate may result in the parking placard registration being cancelled, including:
- altering
- defacing
- duplicating
- tampering with the placard or registration certificate
- allowing someone other than you to use the placard and registration certificate
- The person with the disability can’t use disabled parking by remaining in the vehicle while the driver or another passenger leaves the vehicle.
- If parking placards are abused, your parking placard and registration may be cancelled and your parking privileges revoked.
- Enforcement authorities may be notified if your placard is cancelled.
Reporting parking placard abuse
If you see someone using a parking placard that hasn’t been issued to them, you can report the incident to Alberta Registries.
Contact
Office hours: 8:15 am - 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-7013
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)