Car park signage: is your site clear, visible and ready?
The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 requires the Government to introduce a statutory Code of Practice for private parking. Following consultation in 2025, the final government code is still being prepared. Alongside this, the British Parking Association (BPA) and International Parking Community (IPC) operate a single industry Code of Practice, with version 1.1 current from 13 April 2026.
For landowners, facilities teams and parking operators, the sensible approach is to review signage now. Waiting until standards or transition dates are finalised could leave a large number of sites needing attention at the same time.
Why signage matters
Drivers should be able to see, read and understand parking terms before they decide to park. Entrance signs set the expectation, while signs throughout the site reinforce the conditions, payment information and restrictions.
Signs that are too small, poorly positioned, faded, damaged or hidden by vegetation can cause confusion and weaken confidence in the way a car park is managed. A planned signage review helps identify those issues before they become complaints, appeals or urgent replacement work.
What should a signage review cover?
Entrance visibility: Can a driver identify that the land is privately managed and understand that terms apply as they enter?
Legibility: Is the important information easy to read at the location and viewing distance intended?
Coverage: Are there enough signs, in the right positions, to give users a clear line of sight across the site?
Consistency: Do entrance, tariff, payment and terms signs communicate the same information?
Condition: Are panels, posts, fixings and printed graphics secure, clean and in good repair?
Accessibility: Is information positioned and presented so it can be understood by as many users as possible?
Future changes: Will updated operator terms, payment methods or statutory requirements mean panels need replacing or adapting?
A complete car park signage service
Allen Signs can support individual sites and multi-site estates with a straightforward service from initial survey through to installation. We can assess existing signage, identify gaps, recommend suitable locations and manufacture durable signs designed for the environment in which they will be used.
Site surveys and signage audits: A practical review of locations, sightlines, condition and quantities.
Design and artwork: Clear layouts produced around your approved wording and operator requirements.
Manufacture: Durable aluminium composite or solid aluminium panels, posts, frames and fixings.
Installation: Professional fitting by our experienced team, with health and safety managed throughout.
Rollouts and maintenance: Consistent production for multiple locations, plus replacement of faded or damaged signs.
Who can we help?
Our car park signage service is suitable for retail parks, offices and business parks, healthcare sites, hotels and leisure venues, residential developments, education sites, industrial estates and privately managed visitor car parks.
Plan ahead with Allen Signs
If your car park signage has not been reviewed recently, now is a good time to take stock. We will help you understand what is already working, what may need attention and how to plan any upgrades with minimal disruption.
Talk to our team about a signage survey, a single-site update or a wider estate rollout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the law apply to all car parks in the UK?
The Private Parking Code of Practice applies to private land car parks in England, Wales, and Scotland that are managed by operators using PCNs and keeper liability under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. Local authority and NHS car parks have separate regulatory frameworks. Northern Ireland has a different parking enforcement regime and is not covered by this Code.
Will operators have to replace all their signs?
Not necessarily all signs, but any sign that does not meet the new standards for content, legibility, positioning, or physical condition will need to be replaced or upgraded. For older car parks where signage was installed under less rigorous requirements, this may mean a near-complete refresh. New installations will need to be built to the Code from the outset.
What happens if an operator’s signage does not comply?
Non-compliance carries multiple risks: loss of BPA AOS or IPC accreditation (which is required to access DVLA keeper data for enforcement), successful PCN appeals by motorists on the grounds of inadequate signage, and potential regulatory action. In practical terms, an operator whose signs do not meet the Code may find their PCNs unenforceable.
Is there a standardised sign design required?
The original 2022 draft proposed a government-mandated standard sign template. Following industry consultation and the judicial review, this proposal was substantially modified. The current expectation is that operators must meet minimum content and legibility requirements, but are not required to use a single prescribed template. BPA and IPC may publish template designs for member guidance.
Where can I find the current BPA signage requirements?
The BPA publishes its AOS Code of Practice on the British Parking Association website at britishparking.co.uk. The IPC publishes its Approved Operator Code of Practice at theipc.org.uk. For the statutory Code itself, the most current version will be available at gov.uk.
