Durham Road User Charge Zone

The zone is on the Durham City peninsula, near Durham Cathedral and Castle, Durham Market Place, Durham Chorister School, Durham University colleges and a variety of shops and businesses.

The zone helps to reduce traffic congestion and pollution, and improves air quality in the area. It also encourages out-of-hours use of the area, creating safer and more attractive streets for everyone.

Using the zone

An Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system at the junction of Saddler Street and Claypath, on the Market Square, records any vehicles entering or leaving the zone.

There is a daily charge of £2 for entering the zone between 10.00am and 4.00pm, Monday to Saturday. There is no charge on Sundays or bank holidays.

Paying the charge

All vehicles that enter or exit the zone during these times must pay the charge unless they qualify for an exemption.

You must pay the charge in advance (up to 2 weeks before you use the zone) or by 12 midnight on the day the road is used. If you do not pay the charge by 12 midnight on the day, the registered keeper of the vehicle may receive a £50 fine (Penalty Charge Notice). We cannot accept payments retrospectively - if you have not paid the charge by 12 midnight on the date the road was used, you must wait for the Penalty Charge Notice and follow the payment or appeals procedure on it.

Payment methods:

PayByPhone parking - use your phone and enter location code 804250 - please note this cannot be done in advance and must be paid for on the day the vehicle entered the charging area
Pay online
in person at The Parking Shop, Suite 1, Forster House, Forster Business Centre, Framwellgate Moor, DH1 5HL, Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 4.00pm

Should one of the payment methods be unavailable our outside listed hours, you will be required to pay via an alternative payment method.

Exemptions

Automatic exemptions

Vehicles that are automatically exempt from the charge.

You do not have to register the following:

two wheeled motorbikes (and sidecars), mopeds and bicycles
vehicles being used for the purpose of delivering or collecting postal packets in the service of a universal service provider
liveried police, fire brigade or ambulance vehicles
powered wheelchairs or scooters used by a disabled person
liveried Durham County Council vehicles

Exemptions who need to apply

Vehicles that are not automatically exempt from the charge and must register with us.

You must register if you want the following to be exempt:

NHS vehicles that are exempt from road tax
vehicles used by disabled people that are exempt from road tax under the 'disabled' class
vehicles for more than one disabled person (for example Dial-A-Ride) that are exempt from road tax
bullion vehicles
roadside recovery vehicles registered with the DVLA and have a road tax class of 'recovery vehicle'
taxis, hackney carriages and private hire vehicles
local bus service vehicles
non-liveried police, fire brigade or ambulance vehicle on operational duty
liveried vehicles belonging to breakdown organisations on operational duty
utility companies (statutory undertakers) in liveried vehicles on operational duty who are working on roads or pavements

Apply for a Durham Road User Charge Zone exemption

Permanent residents

Permanent residents living inside the charging area may apply for a Road User Charge account.

This account allows you to register up to five non-chargeable vehicles. Registered vehicles will be recognised by the ANPR system as being exempt from the charge. Account holders will be issued with a password allowing them to manage their account online.

Multiple occupancy properties such as a house sub-divided into 'bed sits' will be treated as one residence and will be eligible to apply for one account.

If the property is split into several discrete flats and is registered as such, each flat will be entitled to apply for a Road User Charge account.

Applicants must provide a completed application form along with proof of residency within the charging zone. A residential council tax document dated within 12 months of application will be accepted as proof of residency.

Apply for a Durham Road User Charge Zone exemption

Organisations and businesses

Organisations and businesses who are located in the charging zone and have off street parking, may apply for a Road User Charge account.

Registered vehicles will be recognised by the ANPR system as being exempt from the charge. All account holders will be issued with a password allowing them to manage their account online.

Organisations and businesses whose property is located within the charging zone but does not have off street parking can not apply for an account. You will either need to use the zone outside of the chargeable hours or pay the £2 charge.

Applicants must provide a completed application form along with proof of off street parking provision within the charging zone. A 1:500 scale plan including deeds or lease agreement will be accepted as proof of off street parking.

Apply for a Durham Road User Charge Zone exemption

Blue Badge holders

Blue Badge holders may apply for an exemption.

Blue badge holders may register up to two vehicles that they normally use to travel. This could be their vehicle, or one they travel in. Registered vehicles will be recognised by the ANPR system as being exempt from the charge. These vehicles will remain registered until expiry of the blue badge. It will be necessary to re-register upon receipt of the new Blue Badge.

You must provide a completed application form along with a copy of a valid blue badge.

Apply for a Durham Road User Charge Zone exemption

Contact Parking Services