Richmond Code 86 PCN Appeal (2026)

1. What does Richmond Code 86 mean?

Code 86 alleges that a vehicle was not parked correctly within a marked bay or space. It is a positioning allegation, not an automatic finding that an obstruction occurred. The order and conditions matter when deciding whether wheels, the vehicle's full outline or an authorised multi-bay arrangement is relevant.

Contravention

Code 86 alleges that a vehicle was not parked correctly within a marked bay or space

Category

Council Car Park PCNs

Issuing authority

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

Formal representation deadline

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

Penalty and discount

Use the charge and discount printed on your PCN; the applicable amount depends on the notice and contravention date.

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

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

2. What must Richmond establish?

Read the instruction about parking within marked spaces alongside any larger-vehicle or multi-bay terms. Photograph both sides and ends of the bay to show its full outline.

Off-street bay conditions are not determined by imposing a standard on-street bay diagram. Code 86 concerns positioning; obstruction is a separate allegation.

• The order or parking conditions must require the vehicle to be positioned within the marked bay or space in the manner alleged.
• The markings must identify the relevant boundary sufficiently clearly. Compare worn or conflicting lines with the wider layout, not just a close-up photograph.
• The evidence must show which part of the vehicle breaches that condition. Do not assume a universal whole-wheel, overhang or tolerance rule for every car park.
• Any authorised multi-bay arrangement or staff direction must cover this positioning and vehicle. Extra payment does not automatically permit occupying adjacent spaces.

3. Grounds and exemptions for a Richmond Code 86 appeal

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

A large vehicle, Blue Badge or neighbouring badly parked car does not automatically remove the bay requirement. Some car parks expressly allow larger vehicles across several spaces; others do not. Establish the permission and conditions for this site.

• The vehicle was within the applicable boundary. Use wide and close photographs to compare the wheels or vehicle outline with the condition being enforced.
• The markings did not adequately identify the space. Show worn, overlapping or conflicting lines in their wider setting and explain how they affected the parking position.
• The scheme permitted this positioning or use of multiple bays. Provide the actual large-vehicle or multi-bay permission and any required payment; do not infer permission solely from purchasing another ticket.
• A specific instruction or exceptional circumstance explains the position. Evidence of staff direction, an unusable adjacent space or necessary disability access should be presented accurately, distinguishing authorisation from a request for discretion.
• 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 Richmond

For a parking PCN attached to the vehicle or handed to the driver, send an informal challenge to Richmond. 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.

For informal challenges to officer-issued parking or bus-lane PCNs, Richmond says a challenge made within the 14-day discount period retains the opportunity to pay at 50% if rejected. The case is held pending its reply. This is not a moving-traffic discount policy.

• The officer's full photograph set, including both sides and ends of the vehicle.
• Wide photographs showing bay lines, adjacent spaces and any hatching.
• The parking order or displayed condition defining correct positioning.
• Multi-bay permission, staff instructions or evidence supporting a discretion request.

1. Open Richmond's PCN service below. Enter the PCN reference (prefix RT) and vehicle registration to find the notice and evidence.
2. Use the PCN number and vehicle registration to look up the notice and evidence. Richmond says PCN information becomes available after 10am on the next working day; its web chat cannot accept an appeal.
3. The online challenge and representation forms allow up to five supporting files, no larger than 5MB each and 23MB in total. Accepted formats include PDF, JPEG, DOC and DOCX.
4. Explain which part of the Code 86 allegation you dispute. Include the PCN reference, vehicle registration, your address and copies of photographs or records supporting each point.
5. Postal alternative: Parking Services, PO Box 221, Twickenham, TW1 3TL. Allow time for receipt before the deadline and retain proof of posting.
6. Save the full submission, attachments and dated acknowledgement.

5. How long does Richmond have to respond?

Richmond 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 Richmond rejects your representation

A formal Notice of Rejection explains Richmond'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 86 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 Richmond appeal to London Tribunals

London Tribunals is independent of Richmond. Use the registration instructions and verification details in the Notice of Rejection, upload your evidence and explain why the alleged Code 86 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 Richmond'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

49 of 107 recorded cases were allowed (45.8%).

Full Code 86 PCN Appeal Guide

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