Single and Double Yellow Lines

You can stop to load and unload on both single and double yellow lines - please see details below for the usual rules which apply.

If additional restrictions apply these will be indicated by kerb markings.

Between 11.00am and 6.30pm - Monday to Saturday

• Commercial vehicles and motorcycle couriers can stop to load or unload for a maximum of 20 minutes.
• Private vehicles can stop to load or unload for a maximum of 20 minutes, but only if the items are too bulky or heavy to be carried from the nearest available parking space.
• Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) with a maximum laden weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes can stop to load or unload for a maximum of 40 minutes.

IMPORTANT: Continuous loading activity must be apparent at all times, otherwise a Penalty Charge Notice may be issued.

Before 11am and after 6.30pm - Monday to Saturday, all day Sunday

• All vehicles can load or unload for an unlimited period, provided that there are no kerb markings or signs indicating additional time restrictions.

IMPORTANT: Continuous loading activity must be apparent at all times, otherwise a Penalty Charge Notice may be issued.

Carrying out works?

If you need to carry out specific works for a long period of time on single or double yellow lines you may need to apply for a yellow line dispensation.

Five minute allowance for resident permit holders on single yellow lines

Resident permit holders will be given a five minute allowance in the zone of their residents’ permit when stopping on single yellow lines to collect or pick up passengers, or load and unload.

This means that Civil Enforcement Officers will allow resident permit holders to be away from their vehicle for up to five minutes if they are doing legitimate loading and unloading. This does not include activities such as buying a newspaper, using a cashpoint, or unloading groceries. A Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) will be issued to those who leave their vehicle parked.

Resident permit holders must be displaying a valid resident permit for that zone, and be stopped on a single yellow line that does not have any loading restrictions in place.

If no loading or unloading is noted after five minutes, the Civil Enforcement Officer will issue a PCN.

This move comes after comments from Westminster residents that they sometimes need to leave their vehicles unattended for a short time when carrying out loading and unloading.