Civil Parking Enforcement FAQs

Civil parking enforcement (CPE) is the outcome of a process that decriminalises a number of on-street parking offences. This enables them to be enforced as a civil matter by a local authority, instead of the police.

This changes who undertakes the enforcement. It does not change the rules in place.

Civil parking enforcement (CPE) began at the start of August 2025 and changed who can undertake enforcement. We conduct CPE under the Traffic Management Act 2004. It does not change the parking restrictions that are in place. 

Warning notices for on-street enforcement will be issued for a period of 4 weeks.

We will continue to enforce our off-street car parks. Car park enforcement will continue during the transition and will not be subject to a warning notice period under CPE. 

Under CPE, the police will still retain enforcement powers for:

• dangerous and obstructive parking

• vehicles parked on pedestrian crossings and zig zag lines

• moving traffic offences, for example speeding and passing through ‘no entry’ zones.

Civil parking enforcement (CPE) supports the enforcement of a number of parking offences, both on and off street.

Cambridgeshire County Council's Civil Parking Enforcement Policy and Operational Guidance includes a list of common parking contraventions used in Cambridgeshire on page 46. Please note that not all restrictions are applicable to Huntingdonshire.

View a map of local restrictions.

You can find information about road markings on the Highway Code website. 

During on-site surveys, a high level of non-compliance with parking restrictions was observed. It is strongly advised that you consider if your current parking arrangements are in breach of any restrictions and seek to make alternate arrangements. 

Find out more information on rules for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians and road safety.

On-street resident parking permits that were issued by Cambridgeshire County Council will remain valid until the expiry date shown. When it expires, you will need to apply for a new digital permit.

For more information about residents' parking schemes, please visit the Parking Permits page.

If you have a paper parking permit that was issued by Cambridgeshire County Council, you will need to contact them to make any changes to these permits.

Blue Badges may be used when the Blue Badge holder is either driving the car, or a passenger. 

When using a Blue Badge, please ensure that the badge and clock are displayed on dashboard or the fascia of the vehicle where it can be seen through the windscreen. The clock must be set to show the time of arrival. 

For more information, please visit our Disabled Parking and Blue Badge Use page.

A vehicle must not be parked on the carriageway (road) adjacent to a footway (pavement), cycle track or verge where it has been lowered (or the carriageway raised) to assist pedestrians crossing, or cyclists and motorists entering or leaving the carriageway.

This is subject to the following exceptions, where the vehicle is:

• parked wholly within a designated parking place, therefore permitted

• parked outside premises by or with the consent of the occupier

• one being used by the emergency services

• being used for delivery of heavy goods or loading or unloading to premises

• being used for waste collection or for undertaking works nearby.

The exception for loading is given where a vehicle cannot reasonably be parked anywhere else and is parked for no longer than necessary (no more than 5 minutes). 

References to parking include waiting, but do not include stopping to allow people to board or alight from a vehicle or where a vehicle has broken down or has been forced to stop to avoid an accident.

Where a dropped kerb is at the entrance to a private driveway the following information must be provided:

• resident's name and address

• registration details of the vehicle blocking the dropped kerb

• confirmation the vehicle is not parked with the permission of the resident.

Attendance will be based on the availability of enforcement officers at the time the report is received. 

To report a vehicle parked against a dropped kerb please email Parking.Enforcement@huntingdonshire.gov.uk

Huntingdonshire District Council will be undertaking enforcement for restrictions supported by a Traffic Regulation Order. For the most part, this will be marked on-street restrictions (for example yellow lines and bays).  

View a map of local restrictions 

Initially our Civil Enforcement Officers will be undertaking enforcement in line with pre-determined patrols. We anticipate that there will be a period of adjustment while we evaluate initial enforcement activities to understand what changes need to be made to locations we visit. 

You are welcome to report a parking issue to us.  This information will be logged and will be used to inform future enforcement.

You can report a parking enforcement issue by emailing Parking.Enforcement@huntingdonshire.gov.uk

If you have a query about a parking ticket, please visit the Parking Fines and Appeals page.

The police will still retain enforcement powers for:

• dangerous and obstructive parking

• vehicles parked on pedestrian crossings and zig zag lines

• moving traffic offences, for example speeding and passing through ‘no entry’ zones.

Cambridgeshire County Council will remain the highways authority. This means they will still be responsible for maintenance matters and requests for new on-street parking restrictions/scheme implementations.

Find out more information about improvement schemes, including the application process.

Suspensions

A suspension allows the normal on-street parking restrictions to be temporarily suspended or altered to allow for domestic or business removals, weddings, funerals or filming work, special events, emergencies or when advised by the police for security reasons

A sign will be placed by any suspended bay to notify the public, explaining the reason for the suspension and the relevant dates and times.  

Waivers

A waiver is a permit that allows parking on a single or double yellow lines. Waivers may be issued where the vehicle is absolutely necessary for completion of a specific task, for example where equipment such as a generator or a hose is attached to the vehicle.

If a Civil Enforcement Officer sees a vehicle with a waiver, but does not observe the activity for which the waiver was granted taking place, a Penalty Charge Notice may be issued.