Private Parking Charge Notice: Does It Have to Arrive Within 14 Days?

When the 14-day rule matters

For many private parking charges, the 14-day rule comes from Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. If the operator wants to hold the registered keeper liable, and no windscreen notice was left at the time, the notice to keeper usually needs to be delivered within 14 days of the parking event.

This does not automatically cancel every private Parking Charge Notice that arrives late. It can make a real difference where the operator is trying to transfer liability from an unknown driver to the registered keeper.

What counts as arriving within 14 days?

The important point is delivery, not just the date printed on the notice. A notice issued on time may still arrive late. A notice printed several days after the event may also struggle to meet the keeper liability rules.

Check the parking event date, the issue date and the date the letter reached you. Keep the envelope if you still have it, especially where the postmark or mailmark helps show when it entered the postal system.

Airport PCNs need extra care

Airport parking charges often involve drop-off zones, pick-up areas, approach roads or barrierless payment systems. Many airport sites are subject to byelaws, which can affect whether the land is relevant land for PoFA keeper liability.

That means a late notice can be one useful appeal point, while the airport land point may be just as important. A registered keeper appeal should usually avoid naming the driver and should focus on the operator's ability to pursue the keeper.

What to check before paying

• The date of the parking event.
• The date shown on the notice.
• The date the notice actually arrived.
• Whether the notice claims keeper liability under PoFA.
• Whether the location is airport land, drop-off land or another area covered by byelaws.

How to use this in an appeal

If the notice arrived after the 14-day window and you are appealing as the registered keeper, say so clearly. You can explain that the operator has not met the conditions needed to transfer liability to the keeper. Where the charge relates to airport land, also raise the relevant land and byelaws issue.

Keep the appeal calm and specific. The operator needs to understand the exact point: you are the registered keeper, the driver has not been identified, and the operator has not shown a lawful basis for keeper liability.