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Drivers and Vehicles

Getting or Replacing an Accessible Parking Permit (APP)

The Accessible Parking Permit (APP) is issued to individuals and entitles the vehicle in which it is displayed to be parked in a designated accessible parking space. The individual to whom the permit is issued must be in the vehicle and the permit must be visibly displayed on the dashboard or sun visor when it is parked in the designated accessible parking space. The permit holder may use the permit in any vehicle in which they are travelling. There is no fee for an APP. The ministry issues four types of permits, which are colour coded; a Permanent Permit (blue), a Temporary Permit (red), a Traveller Permit (purple) and Company Permits (green).

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 a valid "Disabled Person Parking Permit" may continue to use their existing permit until it expires.

Who is eligible for an APP?

To qualify for an APP, the individual must be certified by an APP program recognized 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 one 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 orthopaedic 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.

Which health practitioners may certify an application for an APP?

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

Types of Permits Issued

Permanent Permits

A permanent permit (blue) is valid for five years. All existing DPPPss are valid until their current expiry date. At that time, the applicant must meet the conditions of the new program criteria.

Everyone under the DPPPs program must be re-certified by a recognized health practitioner once under the new criteria. If their health practitioner indicated that the applicant has a permanent disability, the ministry will not require any future re-certifications under the APP program. If certified as having a condition that may improve (subject-to-change), re-certification will be required every five years as a condition of renewal. If the condition necessitating an APP improves, or if anyone comes into the possession of a valid permit issued in the name of a deceased person, the permit must be returned to the following address:

ServiceOntario
Licence Renewals Unit
P.O. Box 9800
Kingston, Ontario
K7L 5N8

Temporary Permits

Temporary permits (red) are issued when the disability is expected to last more than two months to a maximum of 12 months but is not considered a permanent disability. This permit is not renewable.

Traveller Permits

A Traveller permit (purple) is valid for up to one year and is issued and renewable 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.

Company Permits

A Company permit (green) is valid up to five years and is issued to companies/non-profit organizations for use in vehicles they own/lease for the purpose of transporting people with physical disabilities who meet the ministry’s eligibility criteria.

For companies who rely on volunteer drivers who operate a vehicle not owned or leased by the company, these drivers may access designated accessible parking spaces provided either the driver or passenger has their APP permit with them.

Misuse of Permit and/or Designated Accessible Parking Space

  • Misuse of the permit will result in fines ranging from $300 to $5,000 and revoked APP privileges.
  • The Minister of Transportation may cancel or refuse to issue a replacement permit if it is misused.
  • Misuse or abuse of a permit should be reported to the police.
  • For information on local bylaws concerning accessible parking privileges, please contact your municipality.

Obtaining an Application for an APP

Note: All APP applications certified as of January 2, 2008 must be on the revised APP application (form number SRLV-129 07-08, as seen in the lower left corner of the form). However, ServiceOntario will accept the previous APP application (form number SRLV-129 05-11), certified by a recognized health practitioner prior to January 2, 2008 and received by a Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office by January 31, 2008.

Completing the Application for an Accessible Parking Permit

  • The entire form must be completed in order to be processed.
  • Applicant completes Part A – Applicant Information section on the front of the application for Accessible Parking Permit, and a recognized health practitioner completes Part B – Heath Information, sections 1, 2 and 3 on back of application.
  • The applicant must provide their legal first and last name, date of birth and gender.
  • It is a serious offence to make a false statement on the APP application form.

Submitting an Application for an Accessible Parking Permit

  • Completed applications (with Part B - Health Information duly completed by a recognized health practitioner) can be taken to any Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office; or mailed to:

    ServiceOntario
    Licence Renewals Unit
    P.O. Box 9800
    Kingston, Ontario
    K7L 5N8

Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Offices can issue an interim temporary permit on the spot when an APP application is submitted. This permit differs from the (red), Temporary permit, as it is only valid for the brief period of up to two months. This official interim temporary permit, issued at a Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office, is provided as a customer service to facilitate mobility in advance of the permit placard being mailed to the applicant. Once the permit placard arrives in the mail the interim temporary permit is to be destroyed.

Renewing a Subject-to-Change or Temporary Permit

Holders of Subject-to-Change or Temporary permits must re-apply for a permit, if a permit is still required because of their continued disability.

  • To ensure you are still eligible for the APP, you must have an application form re-certified by a recognized health practitioner (physician, chiropractor, registered nurse practitioner (extended class), physiotherapist or occupational therapist, chiropodists or podiatrist).
  • Once your health practitioner has completed the APP application, please bring it to any Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office, where you will be issued an interim temporary permit to use until your permit placard arrives through the mail.

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

    ServiceOntario
    Licence Renewals Unit
    P.O. Box 9800
    Kingston, Ontario
    K7L 5N8

Note: If the application is sent through the mail, rather than delivered to a Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office, an interim temporary permit will not be issued. The permit holder must wait for the permit placard to be mailed out.

Obtaining a Traveller Permit or Company Permit

  • All requests must be submitted in writing to:

    ServiceOntario
    Licence Renewals Unit
    P.O. Box 9800
    Kingston, Ontario
    K7L 5N8

  • To obtain a Traveller permit, please submit a written request indicating:
    • your current permit number, legal first and last name and address, and
    • specifically that you are requesting a Traveller permit.
  • To obtain a Company permit, requests should be written on official company letterhead and indicate:
    • why permit(s) should be issued.
    • the licence plate number and vehicle identification number (VIN) of each vehicle in which a permit will be used. The permit(s) will only be provided for vehicle(s) owned or leased by the company to transport people with disabilities who meet the APP eligibility criteria.
    • proof of transportation services for the people with disabilities (e.g. contracts), if available, and proof of operating as a company/organization (e.g. articles of incorporation, master business licence).

Note: Temporary permits are not issued during the processing period for requests of Traveller or Company permits. Please allow four to six weeks processing time for the permit to be mailed to you.

Replacing an APP

If your permit needs replacing due to damaging, 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 Part A of the APP application.

At that time, you will be issued an interim temporary permit which you may use while the replacement permit placard is being processed.

Lost or Stolen Permits

If your permit has been lost or stolen, a Replacement Declaration (SR-LV-040) 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. You must provide this information to ServiceOntario, along with the application for a replacement permit. Replacement Declaration forms are available at any Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office.

Please sign and date the Replacement Declaration form, and complete the APP application form, Part A.

Mail both to:

ServiceOntario
Licence Renewals Unit
P.O. Box 9800
Kingston, Ontario
K7L 5N8

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

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

Customer Service Options

Below are the service channels where you can obtain an APP by submitting your application. Click on the underlined titles below for an address/location.

Where to go for: DriveTest Centre Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office Service Ontario Kiosk Mail Phone Order Online
Permanent Permit Yes Yes
Temporary Permit Yes Yes
Traveller Permit Yes
Company Permit Yes
Replacing an Accessbile Parking Permit Yes Yes

See also:
Changing Information on an Accessible Parking Permit
APP Motorcycle Plate Sticker (Decal).

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