What is the Easiest Way to get Disabled Parking in Oregon?

Businesses and public buildings all across Oregon are outfitted with handicapped parking spaces to protect the well being of Oregon residents and visitors. We have all seen the blue and white sign indicating a parking space is reserved for disabled parking.

If you believe you would benefit from the use of the disabled parking spaces in your community, check and see if you qualify for a disabled parking permit. The process is quick and easy, and most importantly, filing is free. Check the article below for information regarding your eligibility.

Who Qualifies for Disabled Parking?

Disabled parking permits are provided to Oregon residents who have trouble walking more than 200 feet. Persons who are at risk for falling or experience pain when walking are eligible. Oregon medical providers look at many factors when determining if a person is eligible for disabled parking. Here are some of the conditions that make a person eligible under Oregon guidelines.

  • A neurological condition causing seizures, shaking, sudden loss of muscle tone or dizziness.
  • A physical deformity or condition affecting the feet or legs including pedal edema, gout, arthritis.
  • A class III or IV cardiac condition such as a heart attack or stroke
  • Use of a prosthesis or brace
  • Full or partial amputation or paralysis
  • Reliance on supplemental oxygen
  • Use of an ambulatory assistive device such as a wheelchair, walker or cane
  • Any other condition that poses a serious fall risk to an individual

This is not an exhaustive list but should give you an idea of the kinds of conditions that qualify for disabled parking.

If one or more of these conditions sound like something you experience, talk with your medical provider about your eligibility. In order to file for disabled parking, you will need a physician signed certificate stating the nature of your disability. Your primary care doctor or some members of their care team can sign that certificate for you.

If you receive care from a specialist regarding your disability, they can also sign your paperwork. Physical therapists, optometrists, podiatrists, chiropractors, any provider who works closely with you should be able to sign for you. These specialists are highly familiar with your specific condition and needs.

If you are not currently being seen by a primary care doctor or by a specialist, you can quickly and easily obtain your physician signed certificate through a virtual visit. Virtual visits are convenient and quick, taking place in the comfort of your home. Many qualified Oregon providers are available virtually for your convenience.

The state of Oregon also issues temporary placards to people who are injured or ill. These placards are issued to people who experience difficulty walking more than 200 feet for more than three weeks. These temporary placards are valid for up to six months.

Eligibility for temporary placards is similar to the permanent placards. Difficulty walking caused by a broken bone, recent surgery or other hardship may qualify for disabled parking permits. Talk with your medical provider to see if a temporary disabled parking permit is right for you.

How do I File for Disabled Parking?

The application for disabled parking permits is form 765-235, which can be filed with the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Service Division. This form can be filed in person at any local Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Service office, or by mail. There is no cost for filing.

According to your needs, as stated by your physician signed certificate, you will be issued either a temporary placard, good for six months or a permanent placard. If after six months you still require the use of your disabled parking permit, you will need to apply again with a new physician signed certificate.

Permanent placards expire along with your driver’s license. When renewing your driver’s license, make sure to renew your disabled parking permit. You will not need a new physician signed certificate in order to do so, and there is no extra charge.

What Should I be Aware of When Parking?

Once you have obtained your disabled parking permit placard, be sure to display it prominently in your windshield when you park in disabled parking spaces. Failure to do so could result in jail time, a fine, or revocation of your permit. Make sure that you do not hang your placard from your rearview mirror while you drive, however. This is an obstruction of view and could be dangerous.

If you see someone parking in a space reserved for disabled parking who fails to display their disabled parking permit placard, be sure and report it to local authorities as soon as possible. This person is committing a crime and taking away that spot from someone who truly needs it. Your community relies on you to report this kind of violation to keep your neighbors safe.

Disabled parking permits are issued to keep Oregon residents safe. When someone abuses those parking spaces for their convenience, a disabled person denied use of the space could become injured. That is why it is important to report the misuse and abuse of parking spaces in your community.

In addition to your Oregon community, your disabled parking permit placard is valid in all fifty states. Make sure to obey all traffic laws while you travel and check local signage carefully before parking in an unfamiliar place. If you are traveling in another state and see a handicapped parking space, you have permission to park there as a visitor to the state, so long as you display your Oregon disabled parking permit placard.

Disabled Parking in Oregon

Let’s review the application process. If you are seeking access to the disabled parking permit program in the state of Oregon, you have three steps to take.

  1. Determine your eligibility
  2. Obtain your physician signed certificate
  3. File with the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Service Division, in person or by mail

Three easy steps and you are ready to enjoy the shorter walks and increased loading space of the handicapped parking spaces around town.

How do I File for Disabled Parking in Oregon?

In the state of Oregon, disabled parking permits are offered to residents with a condition, injury or disability that limits their mobility. The disabled parking permit program is designed to keep those residents safe from falls and pain-free when they travel around the community.

In every Oregon community and across all fifty states you will find disabled parking spaces provided in the parking lots of businesses, banks, doctors’ offices, and public buildings. These spaces are closer to the door for your convenience, and also have an added loading zone next to them. This loading zone is to help you maneuver wheelchairs, walkers or other assistive devices you might need.

The Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Service Division makes filing for your disabled parking permit fast and easy. You can have your disabled parking permit in three easy steps.

  1. Verify your eligibility, either permanent or temporary
  2. Obtain a physician signed certificate
  3. File form 765-235 with the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Service Division

See the below guide to help you with these steps.

Who Qualifies for Disabled Parking in Oregon?

The state of Oregon determines disabled parking permit program eligibility based on difficulty walking more than 200 feet. This could be based on a physical disability, neurological condition or cardiac condition. Here are some of the guidelines used by Oregon medical providers to determine eligibility.

  • Sudden and uncontrolled loss of muscle tone
  • Full or partial paralysis or amputation
  • A class III or IV cardiac condition including heart attack or stroke
  • Reliance on supplemental oxygen
  • Reliance on an ambulatory assistive device including wheelchair, walker or cane
  • Conditions causing seizures or dizziness
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) including emphysema and bronchitis
  • Legal blindness or severe vision impairment
  • Use of a prosthetic or brace

This is not a complete list, but a few examples of chronic conditions that may result in eligibility. Talk with your medical provider to be certain of your eligibility.

Temporary placards may also be issued to persons who experience a severe but not permanent injury or illness which affects their ability to walk. This could be a broken bone, tendon damage, severe respiratory illness or the recovery time from surgery. Your urgent care or emergency room care team can answer any questions you might have relating to temporary permits. These permits last six months.

How do I Get a Physician Signed Certificate?

To file for a disabled parking permit in the state of Oregon you will need a signed certificate stating that you are disabled. This certificate can come from your primary care physician, or another member of their care team including a physicians’ assistant or advance practice nurse practitioner.

If your condition is treated by a specialist, that specialist may also sign for you. For example, if you are legally blind, your optometrist can verify that disability. If you have a severe back injury, you may ask your chiropractor. Physician signed certificates are intended to verify your disability, so if you feel that a member of your care team should be able to sign, be sure to ask them during your next visit.

If you do not have a primary care doctor at this time, you can also be seen by an Oregon provider through a virtual visit. Virtual visits allow you to skip the wait time for an office visit and can be scheduled at your convenience, from the comfort of your home.

Where Can I File for Oregon Disabled Parking?

Once you have established eligibility to the program and have obtained your physician signed certificate, all that remains is to file with the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Service Division. This can be done by mail or in-person at a local office. You must file form 765-235 along with your physician signed certificate.

Once filed, you will be given either a permanent permit or a temporary permit, according to your needs. Temporary permits last six months, after which you will need to obtain a new physician signed certificate if you still require the use of disabled parking.

Permanent permits expire along with your Oregon drivers license. When renewing your license you will need to renew your disabled parking permit as well, but you do not need a new physician signed certificate.

If you wish, you may purchase a disabled parking permit license plate. The cost of obtaining a disabled parking permit license plate is the same as the standard costs associated with renewal. Once you have obtained your disabled parking permit placard, ask about a set of disabled parking permit license plates the next time you renew your license plates.

Disabled Parking in Oregon: What I Need to Know

Once you have obtained your Oregon disabled parking permit placard, be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules and responsibilities.

  1. Always display your disabled parking permit placard when parked. Failure to do so could result in a fine.
  2. Do not place your disabled parking permit placard on your rearview mirror while driving. This is an obstruction of view.
  3. If you see someone parking in a disabled parking space without displaying a disabled parking permit placard, report it immediately to local authorities. Include in your report the time, location and license plate.
  4. You may use your disabled parking permit in any car you travel in, not just your own
  5. You may not under any circumstances lend, sell or give away your disabled parking permit placard. This is a crime and may be punishable by fines, jail time, and the revocation of your permit.
  6. Your disabled parking permit placard is valid in all 50 states.

If you feel you would benefit from the Oregon disabled parking permit program, talk with your medical provider about your eligibility.

The disabled parking permit program was designed to keep residents and visitors safe in Oregon communities. If you suffer from a condition that limits your ability to walk 200 feet without pain or risk of falling, be sure and apply for your disabled parking permit.

Do disabled parking permit holders pay for parking in Oregon?

Every state has its own parking regulation, and that includes regulations for disabled parking and parking permits. In fact, in many states, those regulations vary from one city to another. In Oregon, it can be even trickier to understand the parking regulations because they have four different types of disabled parking permits, instead to the two that most states have.

This guide will help you understand if you are able to park for free in public parking, and whether or not that will change depending on the specific city in Oregon you are in. We’ll start with the basics.

Who qualifies for a disabled parking permit in Oregon

To qualify for a physically disabled permit in Oregon, you must have at least one of the following conditions:

  • severely limited mobility because of paralysis or the loss of use of some or all legs or arms;
  • you are affected by loss of vision or substantial loss of visual acuity or visual field beyond correction
  • anyone who has any other disability that prevents the person from walking without the use of an assistive device or that causes him or her to be unable to walk more than 200 feet, including but not necessarily limited to chronic heart condition, emphysema, arthritis, rheumatism, ulcerative colitis, or related chronic bowel disorder.

One thing to note is that Oregon is much less specific than other states in listing what qualifies a person for a permit. For instance, many other states specifically list the use of an oxygen tank as a qualifying condition, while Oregon does not. This gives your physician much more discretion in determining whether or not you need a permit.

Essentially, the opinion of your physician matters a bit more in Oregon than it does in other states when it comes to determining whether or not you qualify for a disabled parking permit. Most states have clear-cut, black and white guidelines that the physician has to stick to, but Oregon gives them some leeway.

Different types of permit

One of the reasons why people are sometimes confused by Oregon’s disabled parking permits is that there are four different types of permit you can get, and they grant different privileges. These are the different types of permit.

Temporary

These are the dark red placards. They are only valid for up to six months, although your doctor can set the expiration date much earlier if they choose. Temporary permits are issued for temporary disabilities. Usually, these are given to people with injuries like a broken leg who need access to disabled parking for now, but will heal and recover fully from their injuries.

Renewable

Dark blue placards. These are probably the most commonly issued permits. Renewable permits are issued to people who have a disability which impairs their ability to walk or otherwise necessitates the use of handicapped parking, and who will not recover completely from their condition. These permits expire at the same time as your driver’s license. Renewing them requires filling out the same form your filled out for the first application, and another examination and certification by a physician.

Wheelchair

Oregon has a separate permit for those who are confined to a wheelchair. These are a light blue color. Like a renewable permit, these permits will expire when your driver’s license expires. The renewal process is the same; a physician will need to certify that you are still in need of a wheelchair permit.

Wounded Warrior

Wounded Warrior permits are renewable or wheelchair permits issued specifically to disabled veterans. Some of the privileges they grant are different, but otherwise they are much the same as the other two, and the renewal process is the same, too.

Who has to pay for parking?

Temporary

Temporary permits allow parking in any public parking zone that has a limit higher than thirty minutes. While they allow the permit holder to park there, they do not waive the parking meter or overtime fees.

Renewable

Renewable permits grant the exact same privileges as temporary permits. The only difference between renewable and temporary permits is that renewable permits last longer. Renewable permit holders are still required to pay for parking meter and overtime fees.

Wheelchair

Wheelchair permits allow you to park in public parking zones with a limit of over thirty minutes without having to pay the parking meter fees, and without having to pay the overtime fees. In other words, most public parking is free with a wheelchair permit.

Wounded Warrior

Wounded Warrior permits allow you to park in public parking zones with a limit of over thirty minutes without paying the parking meter or overtime fees. Like the wheelchair permits, they make most public parking free.

These are statewide regulations, however. That means that cities in Oregon are free to use them, but also have the right to adopt different regulations.

City regulations

Portland

For the most part, Portland doesn’t deviate from the statewide regulations. They do, however, attempt to make it easier to pay for your parking. The Portland Parking Kitty App allows you to pay for the parking meter without having to get up and walk to it.

If you are unable to use the app, the city offers scratch-off cards. You simply tell the city Parking office which district you’ll be parking in (they all have different pricing), then choose the card that meets your needs: 3-hour limit, 4-hour limit, 6-hours, and so on. When you’re ready to use the card, scratch off the appropriate date and time and display the card on your dashboard.

Salem

Like Portland, Salem uses the statewide rules. Unlike Portland, there do not appear to be any alternate payment methods available in Salem.

Eugene

In Eugene, a disabled parking permit grants free parking in all City parking facilities with a time limit of thirty minutes or more. This applies to all disabled parking permits, so as long as you have one, you can parking in any public parking space for free in Eugene.

Conclusion

In most of Oregon, only wheelchair and wounded warrior permit holders can park for free, and then only in spaces with a limit of thirty minutes or more. Parking spaces with a time limit of less than thirty minutes is not free for anyone.

Cities in Oregon are free to alter those rules, though. Check the regulations in your city, because they may deviate from the statewide regulations.

How to get your disabled parking permit in Oregon

Trying to get a disabled parking permit can be a challenge for people living in the United States because every state has different rules and regulations. In some states, the laws can even vary from city to another. If you live in Oregon and need a disabled parking permit, follow the steps in this guide to simplify the process.

Find out if you qualify

Like all states, Oregon has laid out what qualifies a person to receive a handicapped placard for their car. To qualify for a physically disabled permit in Oregon, you must have at least one of the following conditions:

  • severely limited mobility because of paralysis or the loss of use of some or all legs or arms;
  • you are affected by loss of vision or substantial loss of visual acuity or visual field beyond correction
  • anyone who has any other disability that prevents the person from walking without the use of an assistive device or that causes him or her to be unable to walk more than 200 feet, including but not necessarily limited to chronic heart condition, emphysema, arthritis, rheumatism, ulcerative colitis, or related chronic bowel disorder.

One thing to note is that Oregon is much less specific than other states in listing what qualifies a person for a permit. For instance, many other states specifically list the use of an oxygen tank as a qualifying condition, while Oregon does not. This gives your physician much more discretion in determining whether or not you need a permit.

Have a physician sign your application

Once you know that you qualify, you can begin filling out the paperwork. Oregon has four different permits to choose from. The most common are the dark blue renewable permit and the dark red temporary permit. There is also a wheelchair permit (medium blue), which means if you are confined to a wheelchair you will want to specifically apply for that one. Finally, there is the wounded warrior permit, which is for disabled veterans only. There are also separate applications for individuals and for families with more than one disabled member.

These forms can be obtained at your local DMV, or downloaded from the DMV website.

You will need to have a physician certify that you meet the criteria for a disabled parking permit. They need to examine you and then fill out a section of the form, so you will need to make an appointment with a local physician. You will also need to specify whether you are seeking a temporary or renewable permit, because the same form is used for both. Once that’s done, you can complete and submit the form.

Turn in the documents

Once the forms are completed and signed, you submit them to your DMV. There is no fee to submit an application for a disabled parking permit. You can drop it off at your local DMV office or mail it to the DMV Driver Issuance Unit in Salem.

What to do if you receive the permit

Once you have received your permit, you need to use it correctly. First, be sure that you have the renewable permit, not the temporary one. The temporary placard is only good for six months, and is usually issued by doctors to people who’ve suffered a temporarily disabling injury, such as a broken leg. The renewable permit expires at the same time as your drivers license, so you will renew them both at the same time.

If you were issued a temporary permit but are in need of a renewable. permit, contact the DPS and check with them; it may be that you have been issued a temporary permit while the permanent one is still being processed.

Be sure that you have received the appropriate type of renewable permit, too. Oregon has separate permits for those in wheelchairs and for disabled veterans, and each of them grants slightly different privileges.

Once you have verified that you have a renewable permit, you must have it hanging from the rear view mirror while parked, and remove it when driving. Leaving it hanging counts as an obstruction.

How to renew a physically disabled parking placard

In Oregon, your renewable disabled parking permit expires at the same time as your driver’s license or ID card. You will need to submit the appropriate forms for both in person at your local DMV field office.

For the permit, you will fill out the same form, and you will need a physician to examine you each time and certify that you are still in need of a disability placard. Renewals are not automatic, and you are responsible for knowing when your permit expires.

What to do if you lost your placard

Just like a renewal, replacing a lost or stolen placard requires the same form as applying for the first placard. You will, again, need to be examined by a physician and have them fill out the relevant portions of the form. You will then need to turn in your application form to the local DMV field office.

Do I need a driver’s license to get a disabled parking permit in Oregon?

No, you do not. If you have no driver’s license, use your state ID card number on the application instead. You can use your permit in any car you are riding it, it is not necessary for your to be the driver.

Can I get a disabled parking license plate?

Oregon does not issue disabled paring license plates, only placards or decals.

Conclusion

By following this guide, you can get your disabled parking placard in Oregon. Once you have it, keep it visible at all times when parking, and don’t forget that you alone are responsible for renewing the permit before it expires. Fortunately, Oregon makes that easy by having the permit expire when your license does.

What are the disabled parking regulations in Oregon?

Each state has its own rules for disabled parking. The Americans with Disabilities Act lays out broad federal guidelines that the states must adhere to, but all of them have some leeway to add their own regulations and decide how to apply the federal law.

As you might expect, Oregon is both laid-back and fairly generous in its regulations for disabled parking. If you have applied for disabled parking permits in other states, you may find the regulations similar in Oregon, but actually qualifying for and obtaining the permit is often easier there. This guide will give an overview of the regulations in Oregon for disabled parking, including the different types of permits that are issued and what privileges each permit grants.

Types of permits

Oregon has several different disabled parking permits, and they are color coded to make it clear which one is being used.

Temporary

These are the dark red placards. They are only valid for up to six months, although your doctor can set the expiration date much earlier if they choose. Temporary permits are issued for temporary disabilities. Usually, these are given to people with injuries like a broken leg who need access to disabled parking for now, but will heal and recover fully from their injuries.

Renewable

Dark blue placards. These are probably the most commonly issued permits. Renewable permits are issued to people who have a disability which impairs their ability to walk or otherwise necessitates the use of handicapped parking, and who will not recover completely from their condition. These permits expire at the same time as your driver’s license. Renewing them requires filling out the same form your filled out for the first application, and another examination and certification by a physician.

Wheelchair

Oregon has a separate permit for those who are confined to a wheelchair. These are a light blue color. Like a renewable permit, these permits will expire when your driver’s license expires. The renewal process is the same; a physician will need to certify that you are still in need of a wheelchair permit.

Wounded Warrior

Wounded Warrior permits are renewable or wheelchair permits issued specifically to disabled veterans. Some of the privileges they grant are different, but otherwise they are much the same as the other two, and the renewal process is the same, too.

What each permit does

Temporary

Temporary permits allow parking in any public parking zone that has a limit higher than thirty minutes. They also allow parking in any spaces reserved for disabled persons, unless the parking space is designated as “wheelchair only.”

Renewable

Renewable permits grant the exact same privileges as temporary permits: parking in public zones for more than thirty minutes and use of parking spaces reserved for disabled persons, except for wheelchair only spaces. The only difference between renewable and temporary permits is that renewable permits last longer.

Wheelchair

Wheelchair permits allow you to park in public parking zones with a limit of over thirty minutes without having to pay the parking meter fees, and without having to pay the overtime fees. In other words, most public parking is free with a wheelchair permit. They also allow you to park in any parking space reserved for disabled persons, including those reserved for wheelchair-only use.

Wounded Warrior

Wounded Warrior permits allow you to park in public parking zones with a limit of over thirty minutes without paying the parking meter or overtime fees. Like the wheelchair permits, they make most public parking free. A Wounded Warrior permit alone does not grant the right to use spaces reserved for disabled persons; not all wounded warrior permits are disabled permits, and you will need a physician to certify that you have a disability before you are issued a permit that will allow you to use disabled parking spaces.

Who qualifies

To qualify for a physically disabled permit in Oregon, you must have at least one of the following conditions:

  • severely limited mobility because of paralysis or the loss of use of some or all legs or arms;
  • you are affected by loss of vision or substantial loss of visual acuity or visual field beyond correction
  • anyone who has any other disability that prevents the person from walking without the use of an assistive device or that causes him or her to be unable to walk more than 200 feet, including but not necessarily limited to chronic heart condition, emphysema, arthritis, rheumatism, ulcerative colitis, or related chronic bowel disorder.

How to get a permit

Once you know that you qualify, you can begin filling out the paperwork. Oregon has four different permits to choose from. The most common are the dark blue renewable permit and the dark red temporary permit. There is also a wheelchair permit (medium blue), which means if you are confined to a wheelchair you will want to specifically apply for that one. Finally, there is the wounded warrior permit, which is for disabled veterans only. There are also separate applications for individuals and for families with more than one disabled member.

These forms can be obtained at your local DMV, or downloaded from the DMV website.

You will need to have a physician certify that you meet the criteria for a disabled parking permit. They need to examine you and then fill out a section of the form, so you will need to make an appointment with a local physician. You will also need to specify whether you are seeking a temporary or renewable permit, because the same form is used for both. Once that’s done, you can complete and submit the form at your local DMV or mail it to the DMV Issuance office in Salem.

Conclusion

Following this guide should give you a good idea of the disabled parking regulations in Oregon. Remember to always display your permit clearly when parking and don’t forget to renew it. That shouldn’t be too difficult, since the permit will expire when your license does.