What does my Edinburgh parking ticket code mean?

Every parking ticket in Edinburgh carries a contravention code — a short number (sometimes with a letter) that tells you exactly why it was issued. Here's what the most common ones mean, what the fine actually costs, and where to look on your ticket.

The fine structure: what it costs

Edinburgh PCNs are issued at a flat rate, regardless of the code:

• £100 is the standard penalty
• £50 if you pay within 14 days (a 50% discount)
• £150 if you ignore it and it escalates to a Charge Certificate

You get 28 days in total to pay, but the discount window is only the first 14. If you're going to pay, pay early.

The most common codes

Code 01 — parked on a restricted street during prescribed hours

The classic yellow-line ticket. Issued when you're on a single or double yellow line during its restricted hours (or 24/7, for a double yellow). A Parking Attendant will normally observe the vehicle for 5 minutes first. Blue Badge holders can park on yellow lines without a time limit, as long as they're not causing an obstruction.

Code 11 — parked without payment in a pay & display bay

One of the most common of all. Issued when there's no valid ticket, RingGo session, permit or badge visible — or where your ticket was face-down or obscured — after a 5-minute observation. A surprising number of these come from RingGo sessions that didn't register properly, so always check you got the confirmation.

Code 16 — parked in a permit space without a valid permit

Issued in a residents'/permit zone when you don't hold a valid permit for that specific zone. Important: a Blue Badge alone does not cover you here — you need the right zone permit.

Other codes you might see

• Code 02 — stopped where loading is banned (look for yellow tick marks on the kerb). Instant ticket, no observation.
• Code 05 — your pay & display or RingGo time had expired.
• Code 07 — returned to the same bay within an hour of leaving.
• Code 40 — parked in a disabled bay without a valid Blue Badge displayed.
• Code 46 — stopped on a red route or Greenway. Hours vary street by street, so always check the sign. A Blue Badge does not exempt you here.
• Code 47 — parked on a bus stop or stand. Enforced 24/7, no exemptions.
• Code 100 — parked on the pavement. Banned everywhere in Edinburgh since January 2024.
• Code 101 — blocking a dropped kerb. Instant ticket.

What happens if it gets impounded?

Some contraventions can lead to the vehicle being removed to the car pound — not just ticketed. Getting it back costs a flat £270 in total, and that figure already includes the PCN itself. Vehicles flagged as persistent evaders (3+ unpaid PCNs) are a high priority for removal.