Apply for a parking permit

How to apply for the different types of permits for residents, contractors and car parks.

Parking permits in South Lakeland

If you live in South Lakeland area you can buy an off-street parking permit in:

  • all areas - you can also buy a business permit in all areas
  • Lake District National Park only
  • outside the National Park
  • Milnthorpe only

All areas parking permit

You can use this permit in any of the following car parks:

How much the permit costs

£599 for a full year from 1 April 2025.

Business parking permit

This permit can be used at the same locations as an all areas parking permit in South Lakeland.

One permit that can be swapped between unspecified vehicles.

How much the permit costs

£717 for a full year from 1 April 2025.

Lake District National Park parking permit

You can use this permit in any of the following car parks:

How much the permit costs

£538 for a full year from 1 April 2025.

Outside the Lake District National Park parking permit

You can use this permit in any of the following car parks:

How much the permit costs

£538 for a full year from 1 April 2025.

Milnthorpe only parking permit

This permit is only for:

It cannot be used in Milnthorpe Square or in other car parks within our district.

How much the permit costs

£278 for a full year from 1 April 2025.

Apply for or renew an existing permit

Purchase South Lakeland permits

A full permit runs from 1 April to 31 March the following year, but you can purchase a permit at any point during the year.

Parking permit duration and the dates to apply
Permit durationDates to apply
Full year1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
11 months1 May 2025 to 31 March 2026
10 months1 June 2025 to 31 March 2026
9 months1 July 2025 to 31 March 2026
8 months1 August 2025 to 31 March 2026
7 months1 September 2025 to 31 March 2026
6 months1 October 2025 to 31 March 2026
5 months1 November 2025 to 31 March 2026
4 months1 December 2025 to 31 March 2026
3 months1 January 2026 to 31 March 2026
2 months1 February 2026 to 31 March 2026
1 month1 March 2026 to 31 March 2026

Pay for a parking permit by Direct Debit

For new applicants we usually require the first instalment to be paid by credit or debit card to allow time for the mandate to be set up. We may call you to take this payment, so please provide a telephone number and email address.

There is no extra charge for paying by Direct Debit. The payment date is always on the 20th of the month and this date cannot be changed.

Owing to resource requirements, we cannot arrange a permit by direct debit for less than a six months' commitment.

Fill in the form

Pay for a parking permit by Direct Debit form (PDF 90KB / 1 page)

Cancelling a Direct Debit

Settlement date is always the last day of a month as paying on the 20th is for that whole calendar month.

Do not cancel the direct debit before notifying this office.

We recommend sending the permit back by recorded delivery so you have a record of the date it was returned, or you can deliver it to South Lakeland House.

Parking Services

Email: parking3@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Telephone: 01539 733 333

Address:
South Lakeland House,
Lowther Street,
Kendal,
Cumbria
LA9 4DQ

Further charges are liable if a permit is surrendered when a new month has started. If the permit is returned later than the last day of the month then you will have to pay the next month's instalment.

Once the permit has been returned, and there are no outstanding charges, the remaining instalments will be cancelled.

After you have applied

After payment has been received and your application is processed, the permit will be posted to you within five working days.

Renewing your permit

We will send a renewal notice in early March to permit-holders.

Changing your vehicle

The permit needs to be returned to us for swapping to a new registration, please make sure you get the permit from the old vehicle before it is sold. You can let us know about a new registration by phone or email.

How to let us know

You can either:

  • send the 'Permit change form' and permit to us by post
  • send the permit with a letter confirming the change of registration
  • you can take the permit to Kendal Town Hall Reception

Kendal Town Hall address

Kendal Town Hall
9a Lowther St,
Kendal
LA9 4DA

Fill in the form

This form should only be used for South Lakeland off-street parking permits. For resident on-street please refer to Residential on-street parking | Westmorland and Furness Council

Parking Permit Change Form (PDF 135KB)

While you wait for the permit change

To cover yourself for a few days please put a note on your dashboard showing the permit number with a note stating 'Awaiting new permit, notified Council on (date)'.

Replacing a lost parking permit or Westmorland Shopping Centre card

If you have lost your permit or card, you can call the Parking Services to arrange a replacement.

There is a charge of £41 to replace a lost standard or transferable permit and £57 to replace a lost business permit.

The charge is £32 to replace the Westmorland Shopping Centre card.

Apply for a refund

You can get a refund if you paid for your permit in full and no longer require the permit. If you surrender the permit by the end of a month, you will get the remaining months refunded pro rata. Further charges are liable if a permit is surrendered when a new month has started. If the permit is returned later than the last day of the month then you will have to pay the next month's instalment.

We will require your bank details as we only refund by BACS, you can do this by completing the parking permit refund form.
You should return the permit by recorded delivery or hand it in at Kendal Town Hall Reception.

This form should only be used for South Lakeland off-street parking permits. For resident on-street please refer to Residential on-street parking | Westmorland and Furness Council

Parking Permit Refund Form (PDF 108KB)