Disabled Parking Permits
The
following information will help you learn about disabled parking
permits, including eligibility requirements, application
instructions and penalties for misuse.
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Am I Eligible for a Permit? |
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A person's medical condition must meet the legal definition
of a disability to qualify. "Disability" means a condition in
which a person has:
- Visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting lenses
- Visual acuity of more than 20/200 but with a limited field of vision in
which the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle of 20
degrees or less
- Mobility problems that substantially impair a person's ability to move
around; these problems can be caused by:
- Paralysis
- Lung disease
- Cardiac deficiency
- Wheelchair confinement
- Arthritis
- Foot disorder
- Other medical condition causing a person to use a brace, cane,
crutch or other assistive device.
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Where Do I Apply? |
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How Do I Apply for or Renew
my Permit? |
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To apply for a new permit, you must:
- Ask your doctor to complete the Disability Statement section of the
permit application
- Complete the rest of the application
- Submit the application and payment to your
county tax office
To renew a permit, you must:
- Complete the lower portion of a new application (not the disability
statement), including the signature of the applicant
- Submit the expiring permit(s) or a copy of the original application,
along with the new application and payment to your county tax office
Permits for permanent disabilities must be renewed every four years.
Permits for temporary disabilities are valid for six months or
until your disability ends, whichever comes first, and cannot be
renewed. You will need to apply for a new permit if your
temporary disability extends beyond the six-month limit.
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Can I Park Anywhere Using my
Permit? |
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Vehicles displaying disabled plates, disabled veteran plates or
permits are the only vehicles allowed to park in spaces clearly
marked for the disabled. These vehicles may park in any space
clearly marked for the disabled unless the space is marked “BLUE
PLACARD PARKING ONLY” in which case a blue permit must be
displayed for parking.
- Blue permits designate a permanent disability.
- Red permits designate a temporary disability.
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Can a Nursing Home Get
Permits for their Vehicles? |
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Nursing homes, retirement communities, institutions and
other facilities that transport people with disabilities may
obtain blue parking permits for their vehicles, including vans
and buses. These permits can only be used when transporting
people with disabilities.
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What Happens if a Permit is
Misused? |
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People who misuse disabled parking permits are subject to
fines of up to $1,250 and/or up to 50 hours of community
service.A law enforcement officer may seize a permit if the
officer believes a parking offense has been committed.
Confiscated permits are returned to TxDOT.
The owner of the permit may request a hearing to explain the
situation, after which we determine if the permit should be
returned to the owner.
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What's the difference
between a red permit and a blue permit? |
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125 East 11th Street . Austin, Texas 78701 
