If you live in Connecticut and need to handicap parking permit or placard, there are specific steps in the application process. While regulations vary from state to state, you can usually use your Connecticut permit in other states if you’re traveling. Here is some information to keep in mind when you apply, and what to expect once you have your permit.

Are You Eligible?

To be considered a candidate for a handicap parking permit in Connecticut, you must have one or more of the conditions or disease that affect your ability to move or to maintain normal mobility. Your disability could be permanent, or you could have a handicap due to a serious injury or surgical procedure. Some of the qualifying conditions include:

-The use of a portable oxygen tank

-Being legally blind

-Having limited use or not being able to use one or both legs or arms

-Not being able to walk 200 feet without having to stop and rest

-Having a condition of the nerves or muscles that significantly limits your mobility

-Having a Class 3 or Class 4 heart condition that has been recognized by the American Heart Association

-Being severely limited in walking because of nerve pain or damage, an orthopedic condition or arthritis,

-Restricted movement due to lung disease. The lung condition must be to an extent that your forced expiratory volume for a second, measured by spirometry, is under 1 liter, or the tension rate of oxygen in your arteries is below 60 mm/hg of room air when you’re in a resting position.

How to Get a Connecticut Permit

If you qualify due to any of the conditions listed above, you can obtain a handicap permit in Connecticut. There are other illnesses and conditions that may qualify as well. However, you’ll have to ensure that your doctor thoroughly explains your condition on the proper application.

You’ll need to fill out a Special Permit Application and Impairment Certificate, which is also known as Form B-225. You have to complete Part A of the form and your doctor must complete Part B. Part B can also be completed by your eye doctor, a physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner or psychiatrist. When both sections of the form are complete, you can email the document to [email protected] or fax it to the DMV at  (860) 263-5556. You can also mail your completed form to :

Department of Motor Vehicles

Handicapped Permit Unit

60 State Street

Wethersfield, CT 06161

Will You Have to Pay a Fee?

If you’re applying for a permanent permit, no fee is required. If you need a temporary parking permit, the fee is $5. Since you’ll have to submit payment with your completed form for temporary permits, you can’t fax the application to the DMV.

Expiration and Validity of Permits and Placards

Your permanent handicap parking permit is valid for the same amount of time as your state ID card or drivers license. This time span is usually between 4 and 6 years in Connecticut. All permits are no longer valid the last day of the month they expire.

How to Renew Your Handicap Permit or Placard

Make sure you have the correct form (Form B-225) and that the document is completed and signed by you and your health care professional. Mark the appropriate check box to specify your renewal requirement. In Connecticut, all residents who have a vehicle registration, state ID or diver’s license are required to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles within 48 if there is a change of address.

You can also register to vote or change your organ/tissue preferences when you fill out a change of address form.

If you need to change your address, simply print and fill out a change of address form. Be sure to sign the form, since the DMV will not accept it without a signature.

When you’ve filled out all necessary details, mail your document to:

Department of Motor Vehicles

60 State Street

Wethersfield, CT 06161-5070

Attn: Data Entry Change of Address Unit

On your vehicle registration, cross out your previous address and write your new one is the provided space. You can get an address label from any Connecticut Police Department, or you can call the Customer Contact Center for the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. The new address label should be placed on the back of your state ID or driver’s license.

Replacing a Lost or Stolen Permit

If you lose your handicap permit or placard or the item is stolen, you can obtain a new one by following a few easy steps. It may be necessary to complete this process as soon as possible, especially if you’re efficiency at work or school depends on your being able to take advantage of certain handicap services, such as parking.

If your permit is stolen, damage or lost, you can fill out Form B-225 for a replacement. Make sure that your doctor’s certification, which is Part B of the form, is filled out completely and signed.

If you have a permit that has an expiration date, you’ll only need to fill out Part A of the application.

Where to Place Your Permit or Placard

In Connecticut, you have to place your handicap placard on your rearview mirror when your vehicle is parked. However, the placard must be removed when the vehicle is moving, since it can obstruct your vision while driving. This rule is in place for most other states as well, so keep this in mind when you’re traveling.

Reviewing Your Checklist

To make sure you’re prepared for your DMV visit or to mail or fax your documents, here is a list of the things you’ll need:

-Your $5 fee if you’re applying for a temporary permit

-A computer with internet access if you’re emailing your application

-A certificate from your doctor which is usually Part B of your application. Instead of certification, you can also submit a disability certificate for amputation of arms or legs, paraplegic or hemiplegic disability, traumatic brain injuries or blindness from the Department of Veteran Affairs.

You can also contact the Connecticut DMV with any questions or concerns before sending in your documents to make sure the process is quick and easy.