Parking bay suspensions

West Sussex County Council is the authority responsible for on-street parking provision. Parking Services at Chichester District Council process and issue permits on their behalf.

• What is a parking bay suspension?
• How much notice do we require?
• Which bays can be suspended?
• How much does it cost?
• Apply for a parking bay suspension
• Highways licences
• Supporting information
• Terms and conditions

What is a parking bay suspension?

Chichester District Council arrange on-street bay suspensions on behalf of West Sussex County Council for a maximum of three months. On street suspensions of parking bays may be arranged for:

• Public utilities (gas, water and electric) companies
• House or office removals
• Funerals or weddings
• Essential work on the highway
• Essential deliveries (e.g. building materials)
• The placement of skips
• Special events
• Filming
• Facilitating the movement of traffic or safety reasons

A bay suspension will only be granted where the impact on other road users, businesses or pedestrians, is kept to a minimum.

One bay suspension includes the length of two bays (*10 metres maximum or two normal car lengths). If a bay suspension is authorised, Parking Services will display one or more notices at the site of the suspension detailing the time, date, location and reason for the suspension. The notice/s will be displayed as close to the site of the suspension as possible and will be displayed at least 24 hours prior to the suspension becoming operative.

How much notice do we require?

Bay suspensions must be requested and paid for, a minimum of six working days before the proposed start time of the restriction begins. However, Parking Services recommend that the earlier a request is received and authorised, the sooner the suspension sign/s can be erected to warn other motorists of the upcoming restriction to prevent unauthorised parking in the bay/s.

Bay suspensions can be requested up to one month prior to the proposed start time of the restriction begins and for a maximum of 3 months. If a suspension is required for longer than 3 months you will need to request a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) from West Sussex County Council (opens new window). You need to make this request as soon as possible as lead times may take up to 3 months. 

Which bays can be suspended?

A bay suspension can be granted in:

• Permit Holder bays
• Pay and Display bays

In extenuating circumstances a bay suspension can be granted in:

• Limited Waiting bays

How much does it cost?

For the latest costs and to calculate your parking bay suspensions costs, see our parking bay suspension calculator.

Apply for a parking bay suspension

To apply for a bay suspension, please fill in the eform supplying the following information:

• Your name, full postal address and contact telephone number
• Your email address
• The location of the bays you would like suspended
• The dates for which the bay suspension is required
• How many parking bays you require
• The reason the bay suspension is required

Apply for a parking bay suspension (opens new window)

When applying for a bay suspension, council opening hours on Bank Holidays, Public holidays and the Christmas period should be taken into consideration.

The council reserve the right to refuse an application if it is felt that the location or purpose of the bay suspension is unsuitable or offer an alternative location for the Bay Suspension if felt to be more appropriate. In some circumstances, a parking dispensation may be more suitable.

Highways licences

Customers may require a highways licence (opens new window) to place materials, skips, scaffolding and other material on the highway. 

Supporting information

If the council suspect that the bay suspension is not being used correctly or is not being used for the purpose described in the application details, it may be withdrawn and future applications may be refused.

Vehicles that park within a notified bay suspension will be issued with a parking ticket (Penalty Charge Notice). This provision also applies to householders who have arranged a suspension for removals or work on the property as the suspension does not permit the householder to park their vehicle in the bay.

Chichester District Council cannot be held responsible for unauthorised vehicles parking in a bay suspension during the hours of the restriction stated on the suspension notices and refunds will not be granted if the suspension cannot be used for the intended purpose.

Six days prior notice is required for all non emergency bay suspensions.

Terms and conditions

View the bay suspension terms and conditions.