Controlled parking zones

A controlled parking zone is an area in which all on-street parking is controlled, by either yellow lines or parking bays, usually with time limits. Controlled parking zones are introduced in areas where demand for on–street parking is high and there is insufficient space to accommodate it. Time limits within the bays favour short term visitors and ensure that commuters and long stay parking by people from outside the area are discouraged. In Cumbria, all controlled parking zones are enforced by uniformed local authority civil enforcement officers.

Controlled parking zones are indicated by traffic signs and road markings. All zones have signs on the entry roads which indicate the hours of operation of the parking bays and yellow lines, for example both may apply between 8am and 6pm on Monday to Saturday. The parking bays have additional signs to indicate the method of control and the time limit, for example Disc Zone - Max stay 2 hours. Yellow lines only have additional signs if they operate for longer periods than the parking zone, except in the case of double yellow lines which operate for 24 hours per day and are not required to be signed. 

In most controlled parking zones in Cumbria residents of the streets concerned may be eligible for residents’ exemption permits and a number of visitors' permits.

Most of the larger town centres in Cumbria are covered by an unusual parking zone which prevents the parking of HGVs overnight and at weekends. These zones are indicated by traffic signs on the entry roads.