Each November, we remind you to sign up or reapply for a visitor parking pass if you live on a block that requires a Residential Parking Permit to lawfully park on the street for more than two hours. If you have RPP, then you normally apply for a free Visitor Parking Pass (VPP) or guests who stay at your home. But not this year… wait until next year, says the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT).

DDOT is planning on rolling out a new digital parking permit system later in 2021, and for now is telling residents to continue to use their existing 2020 visitor parking passes.

What’s a Visitor Parking Pass?
In days of yore, when Covid wasn’t a thing… Visitor Parking Passes (VPPs) allow guests to park on restricted blocks within the single member district of the homeowner (for example, 4C10). A VPP does not waive the requirement to register a vehicle in the District after 30 days of establishing residency or seeking a Resident Out-of-State Auto exemption. Passes are not necessary on holidays or other times when parking restrictions are not subject to enforcement.

Because of the Covid-19 public health emergency as declared by DC Mayor Bowser, DDOT is not enforcing expired residential parking permits and visitor parking permits/passes, expired DC license plates and inspection stickers, nor expired meters.

If you don’t have a visitor parking pass, lost or damaged the one you had or need a parking permit, DDOT’s advice is for residents to go to their local Metropolitan Police Department precinct to request a temporary parking pass instead of a VPP.

When DDOT rolls out the new system in 2021, we’ll let you know!