DC DMV will issue a residential parking permit (RPP) to allow any DC DMV-registered private vehicle, or vehicle with reciprocity to be parked without restriction in the permit area of the vehicle’s registered address.
The RPP is a permit number designation on your vehicle registration sticker, which is located on the driver side of your windshield, reflecting the zone you live in.
To be eligible for an RPP, your street must be zoned for RPP—there will be a sign on your block noting the 2-hour parking restriction sign for non-permitted vehicles. Even if you live in a particular ward or zone, you cannot automatically park in that ward or zone beyond that 2-hour restriction unless your vehicle has an RPP.
A number of blocks in a zone or ward have no restrictions on residential parking. Anyone can park, for an unlimited time, on a block that does not have a sign restricting parking to a certain zone. However, many blocks in a ward or zone do have restrictions that require visitors to—and residents of—the District to have an appropriate parking permit to park their vehicle for more than 2 hours on a block designated for residential permit holders.
You may display only one RPP zone sticker at a time. You must remove all outdated or expired RPP stickers from your vehicle windshield. If you display more than one sticker, you could receive a parking ticket.
If you live in a zone on a block that does not have restricted parking, your vehicle windshield registration will say “NO RPP”; you may park on your block without a permit, but you may not park in restricted areas in your zone. If your block does have restricted parking, and street signs indicating the restrictions, you may not park even on your own block beyond the restricted time unless you have an RPP for your zone on your vehicle windshield registration. The registration sticker will read “8” for zone 8, etc.
RPP blocks are certified by DDOT. Information on the RPP program is available on the DDOT website.
A database of District blocks and their parking restrictions is available through DDOT.
To Get an RPP
The RPP allows any DC DMV-registered private vehicle, or vehicle with reciprocity, to be parked without restriction in the permit area of the vehicle’s registered address. To be eligible for an RPP, a resident’s street must be zoned for RPP.
DC DMV issues RPPs to eligible vehicles as part of the vehicle registration process. You can visit a DC DMV service center, provide your vehicle registration card, valid DC DMV credential or reciprocity permit, and pay the applicable fees.
View more information on RPP fees.
Note: Effective June 1, 2021, the annual fee for a one-year Residential Parking Permit (RPP) sticker for the first vehicle registered at a legal mailing address will increase from $35 to $50, and additional fees will apply to other vehicles in that household.
The flat $35 RRP fee has not changed since 2011. The new fee structure that will apply to all eligible vehicles registered at a legal mailing address beginning June 1 is as follows:
- $50 for the first vehicle
- $75 for the second vehicle
- $100 for the third vehicle
- $150 for each vehicle beyond the first three vehicles
An exemption exists for one resident 65 years of age or older per household. They will pay a $35 annual RPP fee for the first vehicle registered at a legal mailing address. The fee for each subsequent vehicle registered at a legal mailing address will be identical to the tiered rates noted above.
You may request an RPP online during the renewal of your vehicle registration or add it to your existing valid registration at any time. DC DMV complies with federal regulations regarding the use of credit cards, so to utilize the online services and pay with a credit card, use browsers with minimum version requirements, such as:
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Apple Safari
Note: Commercial vehicles, buses, vehicles longer than 22 feet, and sightseeing vehicles are not eligible for RPPs. Any motor vehicle that displays un-removable commercial advertising or insignia is considered a commercial vehicle.
Replacing Your RPP
You may need to replace your RPP or sticker if you move to a new RPP zone, change your vehicle tag number, or replace your windshield. If your RPP zone has changed, you must remove the outdated or expired RPP sticker from your windshield after you receive the new registration sticker with RPP from DC DMV. Remember, you may only display one valid RPP at a time.
If you change the address of your vehicle registration online with DC DMV, you will also be able to change your RPP if you already have an RPP. However, if you do not already have RPP, you will not be able to request RPP with the online change of address request; you will need to make an in-person DMV visit.
You may obtain a replacement RPP by visiting a DC DMV service center.
To replace your RPP sticker because you moved, you must first complete a change of address for your vehicle registration. If you change the address of your vehicle registration online with DC DMV, you will also be able to change your RPP if you already have an RPP. However, if you do not already have RPP, you will not be able to request RPP with the online change of address request; you will need to visit a DMV service center.
If you are replacing your parking sticker because of a vehicle tag change, you must have the following:
- Valid vehicle registration reflecting the new tag number
- Valid driver license