10-Minute Mandatory Grace Period (Single Code 2024)

Under the Private Parking Sector Single Code of Practice (effective 1 October 2024 for new sites, all existing sites by 31 December 2026), operators must apply a minimum 10-minute grace period at the END of a paid or permitted parking stay before a Parking Charge Notice can be issued. ANPR-based PCNs issued where the overstay is 10 minutes or less are not enforceable under the Code, and a breach of the Code is a ground for cancellation at POPLA/IAS appeal.

Legal basis

Private Parking Sector Single Code of Practice (BPA/IPC, published 27 June 2024, effective 1 October 2024 — 31 December 2026); Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019; ParkingEye Ltd v Beavis [2015] UKSC 67

How to identify this in your case

Compare ANPR entry/exit times on the PCN with the paid duration plus 10 minutes. If overstay is 10 minutes or less and the operator is BPA or IPC accredited, the Code applies.

Sample appeal wording

Dear [Operator Name], Re: PCN [PCN_NUMBER] — Vehicle [VRM] — [SITE_NAME] — [DATE] The PCN records ANPR entry at [ENTRY_TIME] and exit at [EXIT_TIME], a total stay of [TOTAL_MINUTES] minutes. I was permitted parking until [PAID_UNTIL_TIME], meaning my overstay was [OVERSTAY_MINUTES] minutes. Under the Private Parking Sector Single Code of Practice (BPA/IPC, effective 1 October 2024), operators must apply a minimum 10-minute grace period at the end of a parking stay before issuing a PCN. As my overstay falls within this grace period, this PCN is in clear breach of the Code. I require cancellation in full within 14 days. Failing that I will appeal to [POPLA/IAS] citing the Code breach and ParkingEye v Beavis [2015] UKSC 67 on proportionality. Yours faithfully, [Driver Name]

Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.

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Sources

Private Parking Sector Single Code of Practice (BPA/IPC, 27 June 2024)
https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/new-private-parking-code-of-practice-comes-into-force-amEPQ4x3t1ek