How do I appeal a council parking ticket?

In three stages. Challenge it informally with the council first, as soon as possible — doing that within 14 days protects the 50% discount, and most councils freeze the discount while they consider an early challenge. If they reject it and serve a Notice to Owner, you have 28 days to make formal representations on one of the statutory grounds. If those are rejected too, you can appeal free to an independent adjudicator, and you do not have to pay the penalty first.

Which tribunal hears my appeal?

London Tribunals if the council is one of the 33 London authorities; the Traffic Penalty Tribunal for the rest of England and Wales. Both are independent judicial bodies, both are free to the motorist, and neither requires you to pay the penalty before your appeal is decided. Scotland and Northern Ireland operate separate regimes.

How much is a council PCN?

It depends on the council and the contravention. In London a higher-level PCN is £160 in a Band A borough and £140 in Band B; lower-level is £110 and £90. Elsewhere in England it is typically £70 higher-level and £50 lower-level. All are halved if paid within 14 days. Each council page below carries that council's own figures with the source they came from.

Is a council PCN the same as a private parking charge?

No, and it matters. A council Penalty Charge Notice is a statutory civil penalty under the Traffic Management Act 2004, enforceable through the County Court and ultimately bailiffs if you ignore it. A private "Parking Charge Notice" is an invoice for an alleged breach of contract on private land, which the operator has to sue you for. Never ignore the council one — challenge it properly within the deadlines instead.

Updated 7 August 2026

Appeal a council PCN

A council Penalty Charge Notice is a statutory civil penalty, not a private invoice — so it has a fixed appeal route with hard deadlines, and an independent tribunal at the end of it that costs you nothing. Find your council below for its charge, its deadline, its tribunal and how appeals against it have actually gone. We cover 172 authorities across England and Wales.

Find your council by area

Each area page lists every authority in it, along with the tribunal that hears its appeals.

London (33)Greater Manchester (10)Merseyside (5)West Yorkshire (5)South Yorkshire (4)Tyne and Wear (5)West Midlands (7)North West (9)North East (7)Yorkshire and the Humber (6)East Midlands (10)East of England (11)South East (19)South West (12)West Midlands counties (7)Wales (22)

Greater Manchester

Merseyside

West Yorkshire

South Yorkshire

Tyne and Wear

West Midlands

North West

North East

Yorkshire and the Humber

East Midlands

East of England

South West

West Midlands counties

Common codes on a council PCN

01 — parked on yellow lines 12 — permit bay, no permit 30 — overstayed a free time-limit 40 — disabled bay, no Blue Badge 34 — bus lane fine 31 — yellow box junction fine 24 — not within the bay lines 19 — invalid permit displayed 05 — overstayed paid time 06 — no valid P&D ticket

Draft your council appeal

Enter your PCN details and the ground that genuinely fits, and AppealIQ writes a formal, statute-aware challenge you can send to the council or use at the tribunal. Your first letter each calendar month is free.

Council PCN appeals — frequently asked questions

How do I appeal a council parking ticket?: In three stages. Challenge it informally with the council first, as soon as possible — doing that within 14 days protects the 50% discount, and most councils freeze the discount while they consider an early challenge. If they reject it and serve a Notice to Owner, you have 28 days to make formal representations on one of the statutory grounds. If those are rejected too, you can appeal free to an independent adjudicator, and you do not have to pay the penalty first.
Which tribunal hears my appeal?: London Tribunals if the council is one of the 33 London authorities; the Traffic Penalty Tribunal for the rest of England and Wales. Both are independent judicial bodies, both are free to the motorist, and neither requires you to pay the penalty before your appeal is decided. Scotland and Northern Ireland operate separate regimes.
How much is a council PCN?: It depends on the council and the contravention. In London a higher-level PCN is £160 in a Band A borough and £140 in Band B; lower-level is £110 and £90. Elsewhere in England it is typically £70 higher-level and £50 lower-level. All are halved if paid within 14 days. Each council page below carries that council's own figures with the source they came from.
Is a council PCN the same as a private parking charge?: No, and it matters. A council Penalty Charge Notice is a statutory civil penalty under the Traffic Management Act 2004, enforceable through the County Court and ultimately bailiffs if you ignore it. A private "Parking Charge Notice" is an invoice for an alleged breach of contract on private land, which the operator has to sue you for. Never ignore the council one — challenge it properly within the deadlines instead.