City of London Code 21 PCN Appeal (2026)

1. What does City of London Code 21 mean?

Code 21 alleges parking in a suspended bay, space or part of a parking place. A suspension temporarily removes ordinary permission to park, often for works, removals or access. The important evidence is the suspension notice and the vehicle's position, not merely whether a permanent parking sign or payment machine remained nearby.

Contravention

Code 21 alleges parking in a suspended bay, space or part of a parking place

Category

On-Street Parking PCNs

Issuing authority

City of London Corporation

Formal representation deadline

28 days beginning with service of the Notice to Owner or postal parking PCN.

Penalty and discount

£160 higher level / £110 lower level. Standard parking penalties shown on the City of London's Parking tickets page, updated 10 July 2026: higher-level and lower-level parking contraventions. Not a moving-traffic tariff or a statement of the amount due on older notices.

Initial discount

The initial 50% discount applies for 14 days beginning with PCN service, or 21 days for an approved-device postal parking PCN. An early challenge may lead to a renewed discount if rejected; check the council's policy and the amount and deadline in its reply.

Appeal route

City of London, then London Tribunals after a formal Notice of Rejection.

2. What must City of London establish?

Read the entire suspension notice: dates, hours, house numbers, bay count and any vehicle-specific permission. Show how that description relates to the parked vehicle.

Permanent signs and working payment machines do not by themselves restore suspended parking. There is no universal advance-warning period for every suspension; record when the temporary notice appeared.

• The suspension must have a lawful basis under the applicable parking order or other power and cover the space the vehicle occupied.
• Use the suspension dates, hours and extent actually in force, including any amendment or cancellation, rather than an earlier booking alone.
• Temporary signing must adequately convey which spaces are suspended and when. Compare the sign-erection record with the vehicle's arrival where notice is disputed.
• Any permission must expressly cover the suspended space, vehicle and activity. An ordinary permit, payment or Blue Badge does not generally override the suspension.

3. Grounds and exemptions for a City of London Code 21 appeal

The statutory ground must match what happened. These code-specific points explain how to establish it.

Ordinary permits, payment and Blue Badges do not generally override a suspension. Loading for the purpose of the suspension may be authorised, but an unrelated delivery is not automatically exempt. Check the authority's suspension order, local policy and any emergency circumstances before assuming a particular exception applies.

• The vehicle was outside the suspended spaces. Compare the notice's house numbers, bay count or measured extent with wide photographs; a nearby suspension does not necessarily cover every space in the street.
• The PCN falls outside the stated dates or hours, or the council had cancelled or amended the suspension. Obtain the record in force at the time rather than relying on an earlier booking confirmation.
• The suspension was not adequately conveyed when you parked. Provide dated arrival evidence, photographs and any records of when the sign was erected. Parking before a sign appeared is relevant evidence, not an automatic cancellation rule.
• The vehicle had express authorisation for the suspended area and activity. Produce the approval and registration details, and show that its conditions and period covered the stay.
• The alleged parking contravention did not happen, including where a relevant exemption applied or the restriction was not adequately signed.
• You were not the owner at the relevant time: you never owned the vehicle, sold it before the event or acquired it afterwards.
• The vehicle was under someone else's control without the owner's consent at the time of the alleged contravention.
• You are a vehicle-hire firm and the vehicle was hired under a qualifying agreement with a signed statement accepting PCN liability. Supply the hirer's name and address.
• The authority is demanding more than the penalty legally applicable to this case.
• The authority failed to comply with a statutory requirement in imposing or recovering the penalty: a procedural impropriety.
• The traffic order relied on is invalid, except an order subject to Part 6 of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
• For a postal PCN relying on prevented service or a qualifying drive-away under regulation 10(2)(b) or (c), nobody prevented the officer from attaching or handing over the PCN. This is not the ground for an approved-device postal PCN.
• The enforcement notice should not have been served because the penalty was already paid in full, or at the valid discounted amount by the applicable deadline. Paying a parking tariff is different from paying the penalty.

4. How to make a formal representation to City of London

For a parking PCN attached to the vehicle or handed to the driver, send an informal challenge to City of London. Formal representations are made against the Notice to Owner, or directly against a postal parking PCN, within 28 days beginning with service. Respond to the formal notice even if an earlier informal challenge is unanswered.

The initial 50% discount applies for 14 days beginning with PCN service, or 21 days for an approved-device postal parking PCN. An early challenge may lead to a renewed discount if rejected; check the council's policy and the amount and deadline in its reply.

• The entire suspension notice showing dates, times, locations and any vehicle-specific permission.
• Wide photographs matching the vehicle to the numbered or described spaces.
• Dated arrival or parking evidence and the council's sign-erection record.
• Suspension amendments, cancellation records or written permission for the vehicle.

1. Open City of London's PCN service below. Enter the PCN reference (prefix CL) and vehicle registration to find the notice and evidence.
2. Use the City of London's council-linked portal to view the photographs or footage and challenge the ticket. The portal asks for a PCN number starting CL and your vehicle registration.
3. Include the ticket number, vehicle registration, your name and address, a detailed explanation and supporting evidence. Read the document you received carefully because the available grounds depend on the notice.
4. Submit the challenge through the portal rather than relying on a telephone enquiry: the City says its advice-line staff cannot decide challenges over the phone.
5. Explain which part of the Code 21 allegation you dispute. Include the PCN reference, vehicle registration, your address and copies of photographs or records supporting each point.
6. Save the full submission, attachments and dated acknowledgement.

5. How long does City of London have to respond?

City of London must serve its decision within 56 days beginning with receipt of qualifying formal representations. If it fails to comply, those representations are deemed accepted. This statutory period applies to formal representations, not an informal challenge or a request for photographs.

6. If City of London rejects your representation

A formal Notice of Rejection explains City of London's decision and how to appeal to London Tribunals. You have 28 days beginning with service of that notice to pay or register your tribunal appeal.

Compare the reply with the Code 21 grounds and evidence you submitted. Identify any unanswered point, missing evidence or inconsistency between the restriction and the recorded event. Keep the rejection notice and the appeal details supplied with it.

An informal rejection is different: formal representations can be made if a Notice to Owner follows.

7. Taking your City of London appeal to London Tribunals

London Tribunals is independent of City of London. Use the registration instructions and verification details in the Notice of Rejection, upload your evidence and explain why the alleged Code 21 contravention or liability is disputed.

There is no fee to register the appeal. If it is refused, the full penalty is normally payable; an earlier discount does not automatically continue. If registering late, explain the delay so the adjudicator can decide whether to accept the appeal.

Read City of London's evidence pack and respond to the points relevant to your case. Keep to the tribunal's directions and evidence deadlines.

2025 London Tribunals results: shared context

187 of 444 recorded cases were allowed (42.1%).

Full Code 21 PCN Appeal Guide

Read the detailed legislation, signage requirements, exemptions and case analysis for this contravention.