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.