Disabled parking permits have always been a complicated process for those who need them. The laws can change from state to state and even from city to city. If you need to obtain a disabled parking permit in Ohio but have gotten lost in the mess of rules and regulations, this guide is for you.

Let’s dive into the world of disabled parking permits in Ohio, starting with the prerequisites.

Who Qualifies?

This is trickier than it may sound. Because each state governs the rules and regulations behind disabled parking and the permit required, it isn’t a consistent set of laws everywhere. Here is the list that qualifies you:

  • You must not be able to walk two hundred feet without stopping to rest.
  • You must not be able to walk without the use or assistance from a cane, brace, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or other assistive devices.
  • You must be restricted by lung disease to such an extent that the person’s forced (respiratory) expiratory volume for one second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter, or the arterial oxygen tension is less than sixty millimeters of mercury on room air at rest.
  • You must use portable oxygen.
  • You must have a cardiac condition to the extent that your functional limitations are classified in severity as Class III or Class IV according to standards set by the American Heart Association.
  • You must be severely limited in the ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition.
  • You must be blind, legally blind, or severity visually impaired.

Some of these requirements can be a bit confusing. If you’re not sure whether you qualify or not, meet with your doctor to talk about it. You’ll have to visit a medical professional anyway so they can complete part of your application.

Placards Or Plates?

Before you get to the application process, you’ll have to decide if you’d like your disabled parking permit to be a placard or a license plate. There are benefits to both. Here are the differences:

Disabled Parking Permit Plates

  • Disability plates are ideal for those with a permanent disability or long-term impairing injury.
  • They can be issued to a person with a disability or limitation, a vehicle that is altered to accommodate a disabled individual or a bus that transports disabled individuals.
  • You submit a different form for disabled parking permit plates. Registrants must complete and submit the Physician/Chiropractor’s Certification of Eligibility for License Plates for Persons with Disabilities. It’s also more formally known as Form BMV 4834.
  • There is no additional fee for disability plates

Disabled Parking Permit Placards

  • Disability placards are ideal for those who have a temporary injury or a reversible disability.
  • It may be issued to a person with a disability or limitation or to an organization that provides transportation for a person or people with disabilities that limit the ability to walk.
  • You must complete the Application for Disability Placards. Or, more formally known as BMV 4834.
  • If your disabling condition will affect you less than six months, you’ll receive a temporary placard to use.
  • There is a processing fee of $3.50.

Disabled Military Disability Placards

  • These placards are meant for those that are disabled and currently or formerly serving in the military.
  • They may be issued to military personnel with a service-connected disability.
  • You must complete a different form called the Application for Removable Windshield Placard for Active Duty Military / Veterans with Disabilities. It’s also known as Form BMV 4531.
  • Those interested must submit a current letter from the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration that states the disability is service-connected.
  • There is no fee to obtain this placard.

It’s also important to note that temporary and permanent disabled parking permits will look differently. Those with a temporary permit will have their permit in red. Those who have a permanently disabled parking permit will have one that is blue.

Now that you’re aware of all the different types of disabled parking permits, it’s time to move onto the most important step!

The Application Process

The first step in the application process is completing and filling out Form BMC 4826 for a placard or From BMV 4834 for a license plate. This is the form that will ask you for your personal information (date of birth, name, driver’s license, etc,.) You can pick up the form at any local deputy registrar license agency, or, by calling (614) 752-7800 or (800) 589-TAGS. You can also simply download the application online.

Once you’ve received and filled our section of the application, it’s time for a visit to your healthcare provider. This is where you’ll talk to a medical professional and figure out which of the criteria you meet. They’ll fill out their section in your application, and then you’ll be finished!

Once all your documents are in order, it is time to send them off. You can simply drop it off at any local deputy registrar license agency with the required processing fee of $3.50, or mail it to the address listed below:

Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Attn.: Registration
Remittance Processing Section
P.O Box 16521
Columbus, OH 43216-6521

Make sure you also put the $3.50 processing fee with your documents if you choose to mail them and it requires it.

Replacing Your Placard

Life can be hectic, and sometimes you need to replace your placard. It may be damaged, you might’ve lost it, or it may have even been stolen. Don’t sweat it, all you need to do is complete Form BMV 4826. As long as your documents are still current, no more medical information is necessary.

Conclusion

By now, you should be a pro at knowing how to obtain a disabled parking permit in Ohio. The whole process can be frustrating, but it should be at least a little clearer now. Remember, always visibly display your permit when the vehicle is using a designated area!