Parking Bays and Discs
Accessible Parking Bays and Discs play an important part to ensure access for people with disabilities. Accessible Parking Bays are specially designed and allocated for People with Disabilities who require the extra space and support to exit and enter their vehicle and have a registered Accessible Parking Disk.
These Accessible Parking Bays are not only close to the entrance, but are also 3500mm wide – wider than the average parking bay – to cater for users who needs the extra space to enter or exit the vehicle.
Whether you physically qualify for to use an Accessible Parking Bay, or not, you will only be able to use an accessible parking bay if you have a registered permit clearly displayed on your windscrean.
This page and the information below deals with all information pertaining to Accessible Parking Bays and Discs. From Regulations; Design; Application to the companies that can assist – We have you covered!
What Are You Looking For?
Making Your Home/Office/Building Accessible: Who can Help?
What you need to know about Accessible Parking Bays and Disks
1. Who can use Accessible Parking Bays?
2. How to apply for a Parking Bay Permit
– NCPD I Western Cape I KwaZulu Natal I Gauteng I Other Provinces
3. The South African National Standard for Building Regulations
5. Who can Help With Universal Design and Access
6. Accessible Parking Bay Regulations
7. Report Abuse of Accessible Parking Bays
Design of Accessible Parking Bays: Who can Help?
Universal Access Consultants specialize in assessing, advising, and guiding the design of environments, services, and systems to ensure they are accessible and inclusive for everyone. Their role goes beyond minimum compliance — they promote universal design principles that make spaces safer, easier, and more convenient for all users, regardless of ability, age, or circumstance.
In South Africa, a Universal Access Consultant use accessibility standards such as the SANS 10400 Part S Building Regulations and align with human rights laws like the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (PEPUDA). Their work may include conducting access audits, developing accessibility implementation plans, and offering guidance on inclusive infrastructure, communication, and customer service practices.
There are various Organisations and Companies that specialize in Universal Design and Access and can advise you on how to adapt your building and environment to make sure that persons with disabilities have equal rights and no loss of dignity. This includes the design of Accessible Parking Bays.
They include: National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), Bradshaw LeRoux Consulting, Universal Access Collective and DiSA.
What you need to know about Accessible Parking Bays and Disks?
Accessible parking bays are specially designed parking spaces for people with disabilities that provide extra space and safe access and can only be used by those with a valid registered Accessible Parking disk. To ensure that these Accessible Features are available and suitable for those that they were designed for, the proper design standards and official procedures should be followed. Please see the information below to find out more.

1. Who Can Use Accessible Parking Bays?
Accessible Parking Bays are specially designed and allocated for People with Disabilities who require the extra space to exit and enter their vehicle and have a registered Accessible Parking Disk clearly displayed on the wind screen of their vehicle.
Click Here to Learn More about the use of Accessible Parking Bays.

2. How Do I Apply For Parking Permit?
Those who qualify to apply for an Accessible Parking Permit would need to contact their local municipality or Organisations such as NCPD, or a provincial branch (APD). After completing an application form, it would need to be sent back for approval.
Click Here to Learn More about the application of Accessible Parking Permits.

3. Building Regulations & Who Can Help?
Universal Access Consultants specialize in assessing, advising, and guiding the design of environments, services, and systems to ensure they are accessible and inclusive for everyone, including persons with disabilities. They promote universal design principles that make spaces safer, easier, and more convenient for all users, regardless of ability, age, or circumstance.
1. Who can use Accessible Parking Bays?
If you are a visitor to South Africa and have a Blue Badge parking permit, this would be acceptable to use for a period up to a month, but if a visitor is staying for more than a month, they should apply for a temporary parking permit. Please contact NCPD via the following details.
2. How to apply for a Parking Bay Permit?
You can apply to register and receive an Accessible Parking Disc through most local municipalities and a number of Disability Support Organizations, including the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD).
Each province has different procedures with regards to the application for parking permits for persons with disabilities.
Below are listed the procedures that you need to follow to register an Accessible Parking Disk with The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) or QASA. If you wish to register your Disabled Parking Disc in your province and it is not listed below, we recommend that you contact your local Association for Physically Disabled (APD) or your municipality for the procedures in your area.
3. Building Regulations & Who Can Help?
1. The South African National Standard for Building Regulations

Unfortunately many buildings and businesses in South Africa still do not have adequate Disabled Parking Bays to accommodate wheelchair users. The owners of these buildings and businesses may therefore be challenged by the need to find suitable equipment, specialists and renovators familiar with accessible design issues in order to advise them and make there Parking areas accessible to persons with disabilities, especially those in wheelchairs.
There are various Organizations and Companies that can assist with Universal Design and Access to make sure that persons with disabilities are not excluded from any events and venues.
NOTE: Road signs for persons with disabilities should be provided in accordance with the latest edition of The Southern African Development Community Road Traffic Signs Manual (SADC RTSM) published by the Department of Transport.
4. Abuse of Accessible Parking Bays
Disclaimers and References
Simplified Summary
The Accessible Parking Bay page on the DiSA Information Desk explains what accessible parking bays are, who can use them, how they should be designed, and how to apply for an official parking disk.







