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Council Fine Check

PCN code 12: Parked in a residents' or shared use parking place or zone without a valid virtual permit or clearly displaying a valid physical permit or voucher or pay and display ticket issued for that place where required, or without payment of the parking charge

Parking in a residents' or shared-use bay with no permit, voucher or payment for that bay.

Code
12
Type
On-street parking
Level
Higher level
Who uses it
On-street parking enforced by the council (and TfL on red routes).

What the council's evidence usually is

Photos of the windscreen and the bay sign; a check of virtual permits for your registration.

Points to check before you pay

  • If you hold a virtual permit or a visitor session, send the confirmation.
  • Check the bay sign: hours and which zone it belongs to.

If one of these applies, the usual statutory ground is that the contravention did not occur. Other grounds (not the owner, stolen vehicle, already paid, wrong amount, procedural impropriety) apply whatever the code. The checker shows which fit your case.

How much is a code 12 PCN?

Outside London, councils charge higher level contraventions at £60 or £70 depending on their band, halved if paid early (SI 2022/71, Sch 3). In London it is £160 (Band A) or £140 (Band B) from 7 April 2025 (London Councils). Wales sets its own levels: check your PCN.

Questions

What does PCN code 12 mean?

Parked in a residents' or shared use parking place or zone without a valid virtual permit or clearly displaying a valid physical permit or voucher or pay and display ticket issued for that place where required, or without payment of the parking charge. Parking in a residents' or shared-use bay with no permit, voucher or payment for that bay.

Is code 12 a higher or lower level contravention?

It is a higher level parking contravention, so it is charged at the council's higher rate.

Can I challenge my code 12 PCN?

Free. Your answers stay on this device; nothing is sent to us.

Who issued it?
What is it for?
What is the latest letter you have?

Deadlines are counted from when the notice is served. We count from the date printed on it, which is the safe (earliest) choice.

Does any of this apply?

Tick everything that fits, or skip.

Get a ready-to-send challenge letter

Built from your checker answers, quoting the statutory grounds that fit. You see the letter before you pay, then send it yourself.

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  • Grounds and regulation numbers filled in
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One PCN per purchase, letters available for 6 months. Full refund within 14 days if you haven't downloaded a letter. See samples and details.

Letter templates you send yourself. Not legal advice; we never contact councils for you.

Sources

Last checked: 13 November 2026

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