City of West Hollywood
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Permit-by-Plate (PBP)
Q: What permits are offered as Permit-by-Plate?
A: The City offers Visitor and Resident permits as Permit-by-Plate.
Q: Who is eligible for Permit-by Plate Visitor Permits?
A: Any verified West Hollywood resident who has an approved Residential Parking Permit (RPP) account.
Q: What are my options if I would rather not use Permit-by-Plate?
A: Newly created accounts are only offered as Permit-by-Plate and may not obtain physical temporary Visitor Permits. Accounts created before September 1, 2020 may opt to continue acquiring permits in-person at one of the authorized Visitor Permit pick-up locations or may convert to a Permit-by-Plate account by submitting an application HERE. Once an account is converted to a Permit-by-Plate account it may not be converted back.
Q: What if I only need Visitor Permits?
A: Apply for Residential Parking Permit account HERE and indicate on your application that you only want Visitor permits.
Q: How long does it take for a Permit-by-Plate application to be approved?
A: It may take up to two weeks for an application to be approved. If you are concerned about your application’s status you may inquire by sending an email to PermitParking@weho.org.
Q: What if I need a Visitor permit immediately?
A: If you require a Visitor Permit sooner than your application is approved, visit the Kings Road Parking Garage at 8383 Santa Monica Boulevard between the hours of 6 pm and 12 am. After hours and on holidays, you request permits at the West Hollywood Sheriff's Station at 780 N. San Vicente Blvd.* This is only permitted until your PBP account is activated.
*Effective Monday, February 1, 2021, visitor parking permits will no longer be available at the West Hollywood Sheriff Station. Visitor permits may acquired at the Kings Road Garage or online through the City’s Permit-by-Plate self-service portal.
Q: How do I register for a Residential Parking Permit account in order to obtain Visitor Permits through the Permit-by-Plate system?
A: See the instructions on applying for an account HERE.
Q: How do I request visitor permits if I already have an active Residential Parking Permit account?
A: Go to the Visitor Permit Self Service site HERE. You will use the same username and password to access the Visitor Permit Portal as used to renew Annual Resident or Guest Permits. If you have not renewed online before, follow the instructions on the site’s login page to register for an account.
Q: What is the cost to request Visitor permits?
A: Visitor permits are free. However, there are certain restrictions. Please see the following question.
Q: How many permits may be requested?
A: Most accounts are able to request permits worth 100 points each month, and 25 each day. However, the permits may be used for a maximum of 15 days each month. At the beginning of each month, the number of points available to you and the maximum number of days you have will reset. A counter on the site tells you how many points and days are available to you for the current month and the next month.
Note that residents living at the following addresses are limited to 50 points per year. This list is subject to change and may not reflect the complete list of restricted addresses.
- 7111 Santa Monica Blvd.
- 7141 Santa Monica Blvd.
- 1234 Hayworth Ave.
- 1145 N. La Brea Ave.
Q: How long is a permit valid?
A: You may request a permit that is valid between one and five days. All visitor permits expire at noon the following day. For example, if you request a one-day permit that starts on August 12th, it will expire at noon on August 13th.
Q: How many vehicles may be assigned to a permit at a single time?
A: Only one vehicle may be assigned to a given permit at one time. However, you may reissue the permit to a different vehicle so long as the permit is still effective and the previous vehicle is no longer utilizing the permit’s privileges.
Q: May Permits be Reused?
A: Yes, you may assign a permit to different vehicles so long as the permit is valid. Please understand that the previous license plate is no longer valid.
If you have a permit that is valid for five days and you have different guests come and go over the course of those five days, you may assign the permit to each guest’s vehicle by entering the new visitor’s plate on the Visitor Permit Self Service site. However, you may only assign the permit to one vehicle at a time.
Q: How will Parking Enforcement know I have a permit if I don’t have a physical permit displayed?
A: Parking Officers have an up to date list of all valid permits and the license plates to which they are assigned. If an officer finds a vehicle that has a Permit by Plate visitor permit rather than a hang-tag, they will see that the plate is assigned to a valid permit and will not cite the vehicle.
Q: How do I resize my PDF or other documents?
A: The simplest is to re-save your file as a reduced-size PDF. In the latest version of Adobe Acrobat, open the PDF you wish to re-save as a smaller file, choose File, Save as Other, and then Reduced Size PDF. You'll be prompted to select the version compatibility you need and then you can click OK to save.
You may also compress the file for free at with Adobe Cloud Compress PDF Services.
Residential Preferred Parking
Q: Who decides what areas become permit parking?
A: Preferential Parking Districts are initiated at the request of residents who petition the City. If the petition represents a majority (51%) of the residential dwelling units on a street, a study of parking demand in the neighborhood is done. The results of the study are presented at Public Hearings before the Transportation Commission and the City Council, who ultimately approve the boundaries of the district.
Q: How do I request permit parking for my area?
A: Persons interested in having permit parking in their area are required to submit a petition representing a majority of the dwelling units for the area being proposed. A petition packet containing information necessary to proceed with implementation may be obtained from the Division’s Projects Officer. For more information click HERE.
Q: Does everyone need a parking permit?
A: No. Only vehicles parked in restricted areas marked by posted signage are required to have permits.
Vehicles that are used for the purpose of repair, delivery, utility, refuse, health commodities, life-support or emergency and are identified as such are exempt and do not need permits.
Motorcycles do not require a permit. If you have off-street parking available you are not required to display a permit unless parking on the road.
Certain addresses may have additional restrictions contingent on their property's planning conditions.
Q: How do I obtain a parking permit?
A: To obtain a permit you must be a resident within a current RPP area and be able to provide documentation verifying your residency and identity. Proof of Residency may be a lease, rental agreement, property tax bill, escrow closing documents, bank or credit statement, utility bill, or any official government document confirming your local residency. Statements must be dated within the last 30 days. Click HERE for more information.
Q: Can I use my permit throughout the city?
A: No. Permits are non-transferable between parking districts. For example, a District 5 parking permit is only valid within the District 5 boundaries.
Q: May I share my permit with another motorist? What about between vehicles?
A: Resident Decals are only valid when used with the vehicle it is assigned. Using a Decal with another vehicle will result in citation and possible impound. Guest Placards may be shared among motorists as they are not assigned to a specific vehicle. Paper Visitor Permits may be shared among drivers. Permit-by-Plate Visitor Permits may be reassigned by the account owners so long as they permit is still effective.
Q: Do I need a permit if I have a disabled persons placard issued by the DMV?
A: No. Persons displaying a valid disabled placard or license plate are exempt from permit parking restrictions and time limitation associated with RPP districts. The City follows the State’s ADA guidelines regarding disabled parking privileges.
Q: Where should my guests park?
A: Guests of residents in RPP districts may park in the assigned district so long as they have a valid Guest or Visitor Permit displayed and are not in violation of any regulation, such as street sweeping. Should the guest not have access to a Guest or Visitor Permit, or there is an active regulation limiting parking, the guest will need to find parking on another street that is not restricted by regulations, at one of the City’s pay lots or garages, or with a private operator. There is also 2-hour metered parking in most commercial areas of the City that are open for anyone to use with payment.
Q: What should my guests know when visiting during hours in which permit parking regulations are enforced?
A: Hosts should plan to meet their guest at the curb to avoid any delay in displaying a permit in the vehicle. If the host is unable to meet curbside, the driver should make their best effort to acquire the permit and display it quickly.
If a ticket is issued while in the process of retrieving a permit, the citation may be dismissed by calling Parking Enforcement within 30 minutes of the issue date/time. Parking Enforcement’s phone number is (323) 650-6757 and is available 24/7. If the Parking Office is unable to take your call at the moment please leave a message with the citation number, your name and state you are requesting a 30-minute courtesy dismissal.
Q: How much does a parking permit cost?
A: Visit our Permit Page at Parking Permits.
Q: What are permit fees used for?
A: The City's permit parking program is funded exclusively by permit fees collected. Fees go to cover the cost of staffing, supplies, materials, postage and signage.
Q: May I get more than one permit if I have more than one vehicle?
A: Permits are issued one per license driver, per household. If you have multiple vehicles and the same number of licensed drivers in residence, each licensed driver may qualify upon proof of residency.
Q: Where may I obtain a Visitor Permit?
A: Temporary paper Visitor Permits may be obtained from the office located inside the Kings Road Parking and through the City's Online Visitor Permit Portal.
Kings Road Parking Structure located at 8383 Santa Monica Boulevard
6 am to Midnight - Monday through Wednesday
6 am to 2:30 am - Thursday through Friday
8 am to 2:30 am - Saturday and Sunday
Permit-by-Plate Visitor Permits are available 24/7 to eligible accounts.
Q: I have a permit and can’t find a parking space.
A: Possession of a parking permit does not guarantee or reserve an on-street parking space within the permit parking district. All on-street parking spaces will be available to permit holders on a first-come basis.
Q: May I purchase parking permits if I have parking tickets?
A: Parking permits shall not be issued to any person who has outstanding parking tickets.
Q: Where does the Resident Decal Permit get placed?
A: The Residential Permit must be affixed to the front left windshield of the vehicle to be valid.
Parking Enforcement
Q: Who decides what the parking regulations will be?
A: The parking regulations eventually adopted are the result of input from studies and public hearings held before the Transportation Commission and the City Council.
Q: What if I get a ticket even though I had a valid permit?
A: If you believe your vehicle was incorrectly cited because it had a valid Permit by Plate visitor permit at the time the ticket was issued, you may contest the ticket HERE. The City retains records of all permits issued and will check to see if the cited vehicle was assigned a permit at the time the ticket was issued.
Q: Does my permit exempt me from street sweeping restrictions?
A: No. Other parking restrictions indicated by signs or curb markings are not exempted by permits. Permit parking restrictions are also enforced on holidays.