Getting or Replacing an Accessible Parking Permit (APP)

News Release, December 1, 2005
New Parking Permit Program to Make Ontario More Accessible for People with Disabilities: Better Security Features and Mobility Criteria Among Improvements

The Accessible Parking Permit, formally known as the Disabled Person Parking Permit, is issued to individuals, to entitle the vehicle, in which it is displayed, to park in a designated disabled parking space. The individual to whom the permit was issued must be with the vehicle and the permit must be displayed on the dashboard or sun visor. The permit holder can use the permit in any vehicle they are travelling in. There is no fee for an Accessible Parking Permit.

The name "Accessible Parking Permit" was adopted to focus on the functionality and benefits of the permit to the holder, versus the holder's disability.Holders of valid "Disabled Person Parking Permit" may continue to use their existing permit until it expires.

To qualify for an Accessible Parking Permit, the individual must be medically certified by their health practitioner as having one or more of the following conditions:

• Cannot walk without assistance of another person or a brace, cane, crutch, a lower limb prosthetic device or similar assistive device or who requires the assistance of a wheelchair.
• Suffers from lung disease to such an extent that forced expiratory volume in one second is less than 1 litre.
• Portable oxygen is a medical necessity.
• Cardiovascular disease impairment classified as Class III or Class IV to standards accepted by the American Heart Association or Class III or IV according to the Canadian Cardiovascular Standard.
• Severely limited in the ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, musculoskeletal or orthopedic condition.
• Visual acuity is 20/200 or poorer in the better eye with or without corrective lenses or whose greatest diameter of the field of vision in both eyes is 20 degrees or less.
• Condition(s) or functional impairment that severely limits his or her mobility.

A licensed physician, chiropractor, nurse practitioner (extended class), physiotherapist or occupational therapist must certify the applicant's condition on the permit application.

A regular permit (blue) is valid for five years. If certified under the criteria mentioned above as having a permanent disability, medical re-certification will not be required as a condition of renewal. If certified as having a condition that may improve (subject to change), medical re-certification will be required as a condition of renewal.

A temporary permit (red) is valid for up to two years. Temporary permits are issued when the disability is expected to last more than two months, but is not considered a permanent disability. This permit is not renewable.

A Traveller permit (purple) is valid for up to one year and is issued upon request. These permits are displayed on the dashboard or sun visor of a vehicle at any Ontario airport. The regular permit travels with the permit holder. Only people who currently hold a valid permit can apply for a Traveller permit by following the process described below.

A Company permit (green) is valid up to 5 years and is issued to companies/non-profit organizations that own/lease vehicles for the purpose of transporting people with physical disabilities.

Misuse of the permit will result in fines and revoked privileges. Misuse or abuse of an APP should be reported to the police. For information on local bylaws concerning disabled parking privileges, please contact the municipality.

To obtain an application for an Accessible Parking Permit:

• Applicant may choose to download and print the Application for Accessible Parking Permit (PDF - 32 K)*; or,
• Pick up an application at any Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office; or,
• Request an application by mail from:

Ministry of Transportation
Licensing Administration Office
2680 Keele Street, Building A
Downsview, ON  M3M 3E6

Completed applications with the medical section duly completed by a regulated health practitioner can be taken to Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Offices or sent to:

Ministry of Transportation
Licence Renewals Section, APP Unit
P.O. Box 9800
Kingston, ON  K7L 5N8

Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Offices can issue temporary permits on the spot when an APP application is submitted.

Those with temporary permits are responsible to re-apply for a permit, if one is still required. To ensure they are still eligible for the Accessible Parking Permit, permit holders must have the application form re-certified by a Canadian licensed health practitioner (licensed physician, chiropractor, nurse practitioner (extended class), physiotherapist or occupational therapist).

Once your health practitioner has completed the APP application, please bring it to any independently operated Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office, where you will be issued a temporary permit while the application is being processed.

If you prefer to send in the completed application by mail, please send to:

Ministry of Transportation
Licence Renewals Office, APP Unit
P.O. Box 9800
Kingston, ON  K7L 5N8

NOTE: If the application is sent through the mail, rather than delivered to a Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office, a temporary permit cannot be issued. The permit holder must wait for the new permit to be mailed out.

To obtain a Traveller Permit or Company Permit:
Temporary permits are not issued during the processing period of requests for Traveller or Company Permits. All requests must be submitted in writing to:

Ministry of Transportation
Licence Renewals Office, APP Unit
P.O. Box 9800
Kingston, ON  K7L 5N8

To obtain a Traveller Permit, please include your current permit number, name and address and specify that you are requesting a Traveller permit.

To obtain a Company Permit, requests should be written on official letterhead explaining why permit(s) should be issued. Indicate the licence plate number and vehicle identification number (VIN) of each vehicle the permit will be used in to transport people with physical disabilities. (Only vehicles registered to the company/organization can use the permit.) Provide proof of transportation services for the physically disabled (e.g. contracts), if available, and proof of operating as a company/organization (e.g. articles of incorporation).

Please allow four to six weeks' processing time for the permit to be mailed to you.

Replacing an Accessible Parking Permit

If your permit needs replacing, you may apply for a replacement at any Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office. You will be required to surrender any permits in your possession and complete the application for replacement. At that time, you will be issued a temporary permit which you may use while the permanent replacement is being processed.

If your permit has been lost or stolen, a Replacement Declaration must be completed by your local police department or you must provide an occurrence number and the name of the officer to whom the matter was reported if you reported the permit missing by telephone and submit to the Ministry, along with the application for a replacement permit. Replacement Declaration forms are available at Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Offices.

Please sign and date the application for a replacement permit and, where indicated, have your local police complete the replacement declaration.
Mail both to:

Ministry of Transportation
Licence Renewals Section, APP Unit
P.O. Box 9800
Kingston, ON  K7L 5N8

You can also take it to a Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office where a temporary permit can be issued on the spot.

For further information on the Accessible Parking Permit (APP) program, please complete our online feedback form, or contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Call Centre at 416-235-2999 or toll free at 1-800-387-3445.

Customer Service Options

Below are the Ministry of Transportation service channels where you can purchase/order this service. Click on the underlined titles below for an address/location.

	DriveTest Centre	Licence Issuing Office	Service Ontario Kiosk	Mail	Phone	Order Online
Getting an Accessible Parking Permit
Replacing an Accessible Parking Permit
Getting a Temporary Accessible Parking Permit

See also: Changing Information on an Accessible Parking Permit