Guidance

Take legal action against businesses for nuisance parking: local authorities

As a local authority, you can issue a fine or take legal action against businesses for nuisance parking.

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Published
12 June 2015

You can take legal action if a business:

  • leaves 2 or more cars for sale on the road within 500 metres of each other
  • repair cars on the road

You cannot take legal action if:

  • private individuals are selling their own car on the road
  • emergency repairs are being carried out within 72 hours of a breakdown or accident

You can either:

  • issue a £100 fixed penalty notice
  • take the business to court on behalf of the complainant

Taking a business to court

If a business continues to nuisance park or does not pay a fixed penalty notice you can take them to court. You can prosecute:

  • the person directly responsible for the nuisance parking
  • the director, manager or secretary of the company that employs the person responsible for the nuisance parking

A magistrates’ court can issue the business with a fine of up to £2,500.

Stop a business selling vehicles on a road

If a member of the public has concerns that a business is selling a vehicle on a road, they can ask you to make a control order.

If a control order is issued, the offender must stop selling vehicles on the road and can be fined £1,000.

A control order cannot be made against:

  • shops
  • petrol stations
  • markets where a toll or rent is payable
  • lay-by refreshment stalls

If they do not stop selling vehicles within 7 days of the order

You can fine the business £10 every day until they stop.

Published 12 June 2015
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