Old Palo Alto Residential Parking Permits

The Old Palo Alto Preferential Parking (RPP) Program requires all vehicles to have a permit to park on designated streets for more than 2 hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. If parking for less than two hours, a permit is not needed. View the Old Palo Alto map(PDF, 72KB) to confirm your block's participation in the program.

How to Get a Permit

How to Get a Permit

Step 1.Gather Your Documents

To obtain a permit, you will need proof of Old Palo Alto residency i.e. driver’s license, Palo Alto utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, etc. and vehicle registration information and vehicle registration information.

Step 2.Establish or Sign In

Visit the Duncan Solutions Permit Portal and create or sign into your account.

Step 3.Register Your Vehicle

 In the Duncan Solutions Permit Portal, click “Register New Vehicle” and fill in the required fields.

Step 4.Order Permit

For an Old Palo Alto Residential Preferential Parking Permit, click Type: 2022-23 OLD PALO ALTO ANNUAL RESIDENT VIRTUAL or HANGTAG. Select the vehicle, add to cart, upload documents, and check out.

Step 5.What to Expect Next

Following checkout, a confirmation email will be provided and your permit order will be fulfilled digitally or mailed as appropriate. Digital RPP permits will be activated on the following business day after purchase. Once your purchase is complete, the payment receipt via email will serve as a temporary permit, valid 30 days after purchase. If receiving a physical hangtag, please print and fully display, face-up until your order arrives by mail. Physical RPP Permits are processed and shipped by USPS, and we recommend ordering your permits in advance to avoid shipping delays.

Duncan Solutions Portal Help

If you need additional help on the Duncan Solutions permit portal, consult this Step by Step Duncan Permit Purchasing Guide(PDF, 1MB) or check out the FAQ(PDF, 234KB). On occasion, permit emails will be directed to your spam/junk folder. Please check this folder if you do not receive a message in your inbox. For technical or fulfillment issues, please contact our permit vendor for assistance. You can reach Duncan Solutions between 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. PST at (866) 210-2417; please listen carefully to the full list of menu options to reach the phone tree's permit section. You can also email Duncan at Onlineissues@DuncanSolutions.com.

To fully utilize the online system, we ask RPP participants to review the instructions to apply for a permit. Visit the Permit Portal and create an account with the required information:

  1. Secure your login credentials by email (permit emails may be directed to your spam/junk folder)
  2. Enter vehicle information
  3. Order your permits - Online permit renewal for residents will begin the following year
  4. Customer will be charged a service fee of $1.00 for each permit
  5. Submit program eligibility documentation
  6. If applicable, pay for permits
  7. Monitor inbox for order confirmation

Residents creating new accounts will be required to upload proof of residency (i.e., driver’s license & Palo Alto utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement etc.). For more information, please review the RPP Administrative Guidelines.

 

Annual Permit Types

Annual Permits can be purchased by RPP Program area residents and intended for use by the residents of a specific property within the RPP Program district.

Virtual Permits are vehicle-specific and are not transferable between vehicles. Virtual Permits are intended for use by the residents of a specific property within the RPP Program district. A vehicle’s license plate number shall serve as the RPP parking permit, uploaded into the City’s parking permit database, and enforced using License Plate Recognition (LPR) software. Customers must provide a current DMV motor vehicle registration for each vehicle requesting a virtual permit.

Hangtag Permits are permits hung from the rear-view mirror or fully displayed, face-up on the front dashboard and may be used by the resident, nanny, baby-sitter, caregiver, household employee, or other regular visitor to the property. Annual RPP Permit Hangtags must be purchased by the resident of the property and may be transferred between standard passenger motor vehicles. A DMV motor vehicle registration is not required when ordering hangtag permits.

Residential Parking Permit Eligibility

To be eligible to receive an Old Palo Alto Residential Parking Permit, you must have:

  • An online user account in the residents’ name and address;
  • A current DMV registration for the vehicle; and
  • Proof of residency/ownership in the resident’s/owner’s name reflecting the permit address in the RPP Program area

Helpful Resources

Duncan Solutions Account and Permit Order Support

Hours: 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. PST

Phone: (866) 210-2417

Email Onlineissues@DuncanSolutions.com

Office of Transportation - Parking Program Support

Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST

Phone: (650) 329-2520

Email transportation@cityofpaloalto.org

Book an in-person appointment

Have questions about parking? Need help with your parking needs? Appointments are available at City Hall with Parking staff.

Book an appointment

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