- Code
- 16
- Type
- On-street parking
- Level
- Higher level
- Who uses it
- On-street parking enforced by the council (and TfL on red routes).
What the council's evidence usually is
Windscreen photos, a check of virtual permits, the bay sign.
Points to check before you pay
- Check that your permit type is one the sign allows.
If one of these applies, the usual statutory ground is that the contravention did not occur. Other grounds (not the owner, stolen vehicle, already paid, wrong amount, procedural impropriety) apply whatever the code. The checker shows which fit your case.
How much is a code 16 PCN?
Outside London, councils charge higher level contraventions at £60 or £70 depending on their band, halved if paid early (SI 2022/71, Sch 3). In London it is £160 (Band A) or £140 (Band B) from 7 April 2025 (London Councils). Wales sets its own levels: check your PCN.
Questions
What does PCN code 16 mean?
Parked in a permit space or zone without a valid virtual permit or clearly displaying a valid physical permit where required. Parking in a permit-only bay (for example business or doctor permits) without the right permit.
Is code 16 a higher or lower level contravention?
It is a higher level parking contravention, so it is charged at the council's higher rate.