The City of Westminster is divided into 6 Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) as illustrated by the different coloured zones on the map below.

Large CPZ signs displayed at the entry points to each zone indicate the times when waiting restrictions within that zone are in force. The times may differ from zone to zone. Outside these times parking on single yellow lines is permitted, unless otherwise stated on a separate nearby timeplate.

CPZs in Westminster

The whole of the City of Westminster is a Civil Enforcement Area (CEA) and is split into CPZs based on hours of control. Large CPZ signs displayed at the entry points into each zone indicate the times when waiting restrictions within that zone (i.e. single yellow lines) are in force. Only when a particular stretch of single yellow line within a CPZ differs from the CPZ hours of control is this variance indicated by a specific kerbside plate. Double yellow line controls apply at all times.

The hours of control for paid-for parking facilities (pay and display, pay by phone) follow the CPZ hours in which they are situated, but are also specified on bay signage and conditions of use plates. However, the hours of control for residents' bays may differ and the motorist should therefore check the residents' bay sign(s) within the bay to ascertain the bay's hours of control. Where a sign merely states "Resident permit holders only" and no days/times are quoted, this means the bay is for appropriate permit holders only at all times. 

Where will I see a CPZ sign?

CPZ signs are posted at the point where a motorist enters a new zone. 

What happens if I park in a CPZ when the restrictions are in force?

The times on the sign show when single yellow lines, Pay & Display bays and Pay by Phone bays are enforced. If you park on a single yellow line within these times, or in a Pay & Display or Pay by Phone bay without making payment, you may receive a parking ticket. Double yellow lines are enforced 24 hours a day, and some individual parking spaces, including resident bays and single yellow lines, may have their own timeplates indicating the hours of enforcement.

Residents' Parking Zones

Within its CEA, Westminster also has 8 residents' parking zones (A-H) which differ from the CPZs, although they are commonly mistakenly referred to as such. Individual respark zones may cross CPZ boundaries (e.g. B zone is situated within parts of 3 separate CPZ areas). The appropriate respark zone is indicated on all residents' and shared-use bay signage.

The 8 respark zones are further split into 36 sub-zones (A1, A2, A3 etc). The sub-zones are merely administrative and have traditionally been based on differing hours of control for residents' bays (e.g. the hours of control for residents' bays in A1 differ from those in A2). A residents' permit is issued for the zone (A-H) in which the resident resides and allows the permit holder to park in any residents' bay within that zone. If a resident's permit holder wishes to park in a different zone during controlled hours, they must pay to park.

The hours of control for a residents' bay is specified on the signage within the bay itself.

Paid-for Parking Tariffs

Standard paid-for parking tariffs are banded by respark zone regardless of the CPZ in which they are situated (e.g. all standard pay by phone bays in B zone have a tariff of £2.20 per hour)

In short, CPZs relate to single yellow line hours of control, residents' parking zones (A-H) relate to tariffs and residents' permits, and respark sub-zones (A1, A2 etc) relate to residents' bay hours of control. 

The above PDF document shows the City of Westminster's CPZ areas as illustrated by the map's different coloured zones and illustrates the CPZ hours of control for single yellow lines within each zone*. The map also shows the 8 respark administrational zones (A-H), and their sub-zones (e.g. C1, C2 etc). The respark zones and their sub-zones are not CPZs.

* Note, where single yellow line controls differ from the CPZ hours, the times will be indicated by separate kerbside plates. It is still a contravention to park adjacent to a dropped footway even if the vehicle is parked on a single yellow line outside of the hours of control. The hours of control for residents' bays are specified on the signage within each bay.