Car Park Signs in 2026: What Could Change for London and Kent Car Parks?
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
Private parking regulations could change significantly during 2026, with the government preparing a new statutory Private Parking Code of Practice.
Although the final rules and implementation dates have not yet been confirmed, landowners, managing agents, parking operators and businesses should start reviewing their car park signs now.
This guide explains the current position, the changes that may be coming and what car park owners across London and Kent can do to prepare.
Why are private parking rules changing?
The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 requires the government to introduce a statutory Code for private parking.
An earlier version of the Code was published in 2022 but was later withdrawn following legal challenges relating to parking charges and debt-recovery fees.
A further government consultation took place in 2025, covering areas including parking charges, grace periods, appeals, debt recovery, ANPR enforcement and private car park signage.
The government has indicated that a revised statutory Code is expected to be introduced during 2026. However, until the final version is published, businesses should be careful about claims that every private car park sign must immediately be replaced.
What rules apply to private car park signs now?
Private parking is largely governed by contract law.
The signs displayed at the site communicate the terms on which a driver is allowed to park. For those terms to be enforceable, they should be clear, visible and easy to understand.
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 also requires consumer terms to be transparent and prominent.
Where a parking operator intends to pursue a vehicle’s registered keeper, adequate notice of the parking charge is particularly important.
Members of the British Parking Association and the International Parking Community currently operate under the Private Parking Sector Single Code of Practice.
This industry Code includes requirements for entrance signs, terms and conditions signs, visibility, legibility and the prominent display of parking charges.
What could change under the new Code?
The final statutory requirements may differ from the consultation proposals, but several areas are likely to receive greater attention.
Clearer entrance signs
Drivers may need to be given clearer information before entering a private car park.
An entrance sign may need to explain:
That the area is private land
Whether parking is allowed or prohibited
Whether terms and conditions apply
Whether payment is required
Whether free parking is time-limited
Who manages or operates the parking controls
The entrance sign should communicate the main parking arrangement quickly.
More detailed conditions can then be shown on additional car park signs within the site.
This is particularly important at busy London properties, where drivers may only have a few seconds to read the sign while turning from the public highway.
Sign size and viewing distance
There is unlikely to be one panel size that is suitable for every private car park.
The right size will depend on:
Vehicle approach speed
Viewing distance
Road layout
Mounting position
The amount of information shown
Nearby visual clutter
Daytime and night-time lighting
A sign installed beside a slow-moving office forecourt will have different requirements from a sign at the entrance to a large retail park or industrial estate.
The important point is that motorists must have a realistic opportunity to see, read and understand the information.
Larger and more legible text
Older parking signs often contain too much information in very small lettering.
The proposed rules are expected to place greater emphasis on legibility, text size and information hierarchy.
A professionally designed car park sign should use:
Clear sans-serif lettering
Strong contrast between the text and background
Plain and unambiguous wording
A clear order of importance
Prominent display of parking restrictions and charges
The most important terms should not be buried within a dense block of small print.
Signs that remain readable after dark
Where parking restrictions are enforced during the evening or overnight, the signs must remain readable.
Depending on the location, this may require:
Suitable car park lighting
Dedicated illumination
Reflective sign materials
Careful positioning near existing lighting
This is particularly relevant to residential developments, hotels, hospitals, railway-adjacent sites and 24-hour commercial premises.
A sign that looks clear during a daytime survey may be difficult to read once natural light disappears.
ANPR and camera warning signs
Automatic Number Plate Recognition is widely used in private car parks to record vehicles entering and leaving.
Where ANPR or CCTV is being used, motorists should be informed clearly.
The signage may need to identify:
That camera technology is operating
Why vehicle details are being collected
Who controls or processes the information
Where motorists can find further privacy information
The ANPR notice should be visible without overwhelming the main parking terms.
Many sites use a brief camera warning at the entrance, with more detailed privacy information on an additional sign or website.
Payment instructions
The government has considered additional protection for drivers who have paid for their full stay but took longer than expected to complete the payment process.
Clear payment signs are therefore essential.
Car park signs should explain:
Where payment must be made
When payment must be made
Which payment methods are accepted
Whether the vehicle registration must be entered
Whether payment is made on arrival or before departure
What motorists should do if the machine or payment system is not working
Poorly explained payment instructions can lead to complaints even where the parking technology itself is working properly.
Consideration and grace periods
The proposed Code is expected to address the amount of time given to drivers before and after their permitted parking period.
A consideration period allows motorists time to enter the site, find a space, read the terms and decide whether to stay.
A grace period allows additional time at the end of an otherwise permitted parking period.
The final rules could affect the way free parking periods, tariffs and restricted-user conditions are described on car park signs.
The wording on the signs should always match the operator’s actual enforcement policy.
Will every existing car park sign need replacing?
There is currently no confirmed rule requiring every existing private car park sign to be replaced immediately.
However, signs should be reviewed where they are:
Damaged
Faded
Outdated
Hidden by trees or parked vehicles
Difficult to read at night
Displaying old tariffs or contact details
Missing important entrance information
Inconsistent with the current enforcement policy
The future statutory Code may include a formal transition period for older signage.
Until that is confirmed, landowners should avoid replacing signs based only on unverified claims of a national deadline.
A site survey can identify which signs genuinely need replacing and which may remain suitable.
Planning permission and advertisement consent
Parking-sector compliance does not automatically give permission to install a sign.
Some car park signs may benefit from deemed advertisement consent, while others may require approval from the local planning authority.
Extra care may be required for:
Illuminated signs
Larger sign panels
Listed buildings
Conservation areas
Signs close to the highway
Historic town centres
This is particularly relevant across central London and in historic parts of Kent, including Canterbury, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Folkestone and other conservation areas.
Planning requirements should be checked before signs are manufactured or installed.
What should property managers check now?
Landowners, businesses and managing agents can prepare by reviewing each controlled site.
Check whether:
Every vehicle entrance has appropriate parking information.
Drivers can understand the main restrictions before parking.
The parking charge is displayed prominently.
Signs remain visible and readable after dark.
Trees, vehicles or street furniture obscure any signs.
ANPR or CCTV use is properly communicated.
Payment and registration instructions are clear.
Different parking zones are clearly identified.
Existing signs show the correct tariffs, operator details and terms.
The signs match the actual enforcement arrangements.
A photographic site survey can provide a useful record of the existing car park signage and highlight areas that may need improvement.
Car park signs in London and Kent
Adplan Creative designs, manufactures and installs professional car park signs throughout London and Kent.
We work with commercial landlords, managing agents, offices, residential developments, schools, healthcare providers, hospitality businesses and parking-management companies.
Our car park signage services include:
Private car park entrance signs
Terms and conditions boards
ANPR and CCTV warning signs
Permit-holder parking signs
Customer-only parking signs
Payment and tariff boards
Disabled parking signs
Directional and wayfinding signs
Wall-mounted parking signs
Post-mounted car park signs
Complete car park signage schemes
We can provide a complete service including site surveys, artwork, manufacture and installation.
Need new or replacement car park signs?
Whether you need one replacement panel or a complete car park signage scheme, Adplan Creative can assess your site and recommend suitable sign sizes, positions, materials and installation methods.
We provide professional car park signs across London, Maidstone, Ashford, Canterbury, Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Folkestone, Hythe and the surrounding areas.
Call 01303 684066, email hello@adplancreative.com, or visit www.adplancreative.com to request a quotation.
Request a car park sign quote today.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Requirements may change when the final statutory Private Parking Code of Practice and its transition arrangements are published.
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