To obtain a disabled parking permit in the state of Minnesota, you need to obtain the approval of a licensed physician. This is important so that the state can ensure that only persons who require the use of such a permit are benefitting from this opportunity. Fortunately, in Minnesota, the process for obtaining this approval can be a simple one. 

One of the required submission materials in the application packet is the completed Application for Disability Parking Certificate — a form that is available on the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services website. The second part of this form has to be completed by a physician. 

There are two ways to obtain physician approval — in-person, and online. Read on for specific instructions for each scenario to make sure that you’re covered no matter which method you choose.

Obtaining a Doctor’s Approval In-Person

If your disability allows you to go visit either your personal physician or a licensed doctor in your area, ensure that you have printed out the Application for Disability Parking Certificate and take it to your doctor’s office. 

A medical professional will have to assess your disability to help you apply for your permit. The application form includes a section with a questionnaire to make it very clear what your medical professional will have to ask you. 

Video Chatting with a Doctor Online

If your disability or circumstances make traveling difficult, there’s a simple alternative: Chat with a doctor online. New technology makes keeping your information private while obtaining a parking permit very quickly an easy process. If you’d rather avoid paper forms, trips, or physical mail, checking out the online option can make a frustrating experience an easy one. 

Making Sure Your Documentation Makes Sense

Please note that when you are discussing your options with your doctor, there are three stipulations to keep in mind to ensure that your form can be easily processed: 

  • Unfortunately, cognitive disabilities do not currently qualify an individual for a disabled parking permit in the state of Minnesota.
  • You and your doctor should be as specific as possible in documenting your condition. If the symptom is relatively vague (e.g., “Pain”), the issuing official may have to return your application to inquire for further detail. 
  • If any information is left incomplete or blank, the issuing official will have to return the form as well. It’s therefore in your best interest to make sure that the form is filled out and as specific as possible to make sure that there are no delays in your issuing process. 

Who Can Qualify for a Disabled Parking Permit? 

To qualify for a disabled parking permit in the state of Minnesota, you will have to exhibit one of the following conditions as assessed by a medical professional: 

  • A cardiac complication or condition which sufficiently limits the patient’s range of normal functionality. The American Heart Association defines this as a Class III or Class IV Heart Failure, characterized on their website as anything which results in a marked limitation of physical activity. 
  • Any conditions which require you to use portable oxygen for your day to day health.
  • Any condition which results in your arterial oxygen tension being less than 60 mm/Hg at rest, on room air.
  • A respiratory disease which affects your respirations in such a way that your expiratory volume is less than one liter. 
  • Any condition in which you have lost the use of any of your limbs if you are unable or choose not to use an artificial limb to compensate. 
  • Any condition which requires to you use a device to assist your regular transport, including a wheelchair, the aid of a friend, a cane, a walker, crutches, braces, or any other prosthetic or assistive materials. 
  • Any condition which might make walking two hundred feet difficult to a life-threatening degree under otherwise non-threatening conditions
  • Any condition which renders you incapable of walking two hundred feet without requiring a significant stop to catch your breath
  • Any condition which leaves you uncertain of whether you can walk two hundred feet without sustaining a major fall. 

If you and your doctor are unable to answer these questions to a degree that satisfies the issuing department, you will either be contacted for clarifications or requested to provide a detailed medical history report.

When you are discussing your disability with your physician (whether in person before submitting your application or online with a qualified medical professional), they will help you determine which certificate — short-term, long-term, temporary, or permanent — will be right for you.

Your Parking Permit and Your Driver’s License

The application for your disabled parking permit requires you to specify whether you have a Minnesota Driver’s License or simply a government identification card. If you have a license, please note that in some circumstances the issuing official will examine your driving record. 

If the nature of your disability brings the question of your driving safety and competence under question, you may be asked to re-test for your driver’s license as a part of your driving permit application process. The state of Minnesota does this only to ensure everyone’s safety.

Out of State Drivers

If you are visiting Minnesota on a long-term basis, you can apply for a Temporary permit utilizing the same procedures outlined above. This will enable you to use designated disability parking spaces in Minnesota for up to six months. If a longer time is required, please consider applying for a permit in your permanent state of residence. 

After you have received your disabled parking permit from the state of Minnesota, you can park in many previously unavailable parking areas — but not all! Knowing what your parking permit enables you to do is just as important as obtaining the permit itself. Display your permit in your car whenever you plan to park in a protected area and follow all of the steps above to ensure that your permit is updated so that when you need it, it can work for you.