Today we will outline the process involved in getting a disabled parking permit in Philadelphia.
Who Issues Disabled Parking Permits in Philadelphia?
Disabled parking permits in Philadelphia are issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Disabled Parking Rules In Philadelphia
Holders of a handicap placard in PA are eligible to park in any designated disabled parking space in the city, but only when the vehicle is being used for the transportation of the person for whom the parking placard was issued.
Disabled parking permits do not entitle their holder to park in areas where parking is prohibited. Disabled parking in Philadelphia is free for permit holders from Pennsylvania and all other US states.
What Types of Handicap Parking Permits Are Available in Philadelphia?
The following types of disabled parking permits are available in Philadelphia:
- Permanent Disabled Parking Placard (valid for five years)
- Severely Disabled Veteran Person with Disability Parking Placard (valid for five years)
- Temporary Disabled Parking Placard (valid for six months)
- Severely Disabled Veteran Motorcycle Decal (valid during motorcycle registration period)
How To Get A Disabled Parking Permit In Philadelphia
So, how do I get a handicap parking permit in Philadelphia? The PA handicap placard application process is straightforward and user-friendly.
First, you should have a telemedicine video consultation with a medical professional. They will sign the relevant sections of an application form for a PA disabled parking permit. You can then complete the application and mail it to:
PennDOT
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 68268
Harrisburg, PA 17106-8268
What Are the Qualifying Conditions for a Handicap Parking Permit in Philadelphia?
A person will qualify for a Philadelphia disabled parking permit if they are disabled in one of the following ways:
- They are blind
- They do not have full use of an arm or both arms
- They cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest
- They cannot walk without the use of, or assistance from, a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair or other assistive device
- They are 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 1 liter or the arterial oxygen tension is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest
- They use portable oxygen
- They have a cardiac condition to the extent that the person’s functional limitations are classified in severity as Class III or Class IV according to the standards set by the American Heart Association
- They are severely limited in his or her ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition
A person will also qualify for a Philadelphia disabled parking permit if:
- They are in loco parentis of a person with a qualifying disability specified above
- They are the parent, including an adoptive parent or foster parent, of a child or adult child provided that the person has custody, care, or control of the child or adult child with a qualifying disability specified above
- They are the spouse of a person with a qualifying disability specified above
Who Can Certify an Application for a Disabled Permit in Philadelphia?
Applications for disabled parking in Philadelphia can be certified by any health care provider licensed in Pennsylvania or a contiguous state (New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio). Alternatively, Disabled Parking offers telemedicine consultations.
A Pennsylvania police officer can certify an applicant who does not have full use of a leg or both legs, or who is blind.
How Much Does a Handicap Placard Cost in Philadelphia?
Handicap parking permits are free in Philadelphia.
Residential Disabled Parking in Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Parking Authority has a program that installs reserved parking zones at the residences of people with disabilities in the city. To apply for a residential disabled parking space, mail a completed application form to:
Philadelphia Parking Authority
Attn: Reserved Residential Parking for People with Disabilities
701 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Where Can You Use a Philadelphia Handicap Parking Permit?
You can use a Philadelphia disabled parking permit in the following jurisdictions:
- All US states and overseas territories
- Canada
- Mexico
- EU
- UK
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Japan