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Handicap parking permits, plates, and placards in Florida are required for anybody who wants to park in the accessible handicap parking spaces scattered throughout the state’s commercial centers. To obtain a handicap parking permit for yourself, there are just a few things you need to know.
The Two Categories of Disabled Parking Permits
Florida, like other states, uses two different kinds of disabled parking permits: permanent and temporary permits. Each of these permits has different requirements, expiration dates, and more. Let’s break it down.
Permanent
People with long-term disabilities (particularly those including mobility impairments) may qualify for permanent handicap parking permits. These permits are designed for people who—according to the medical experts who treat them—will never be able to physically get around as well as the average person.
Temporary
Temporary handicap parking permits are designed for people with disabilities that might last only a specific period of time, can be recovered from, or otherwise are not expected to last a lifetime. Examples include if you broke a leg or temporarily lost the ability to walk due to a brain injury.
As the name suggests, these temporary permits are not permanent and only last a short period of time or until the disability has passed (whichever comes first). It is possible to have them renewed if the disability lasts longer than the placard’s registration.
What Is Considered a Disability?
The legal definition of a disability might not be the same definition used by other organizations. Keep that in mind when applying for a handicap parking permit. In order for a condition to qualify as a disability in the government’s eyes, it must meet one or more of the following requirements:
The Inability to Walk 200 Feet Without Rest
If your condition makes it unbearable for you to walk more than 200 feet without stopping to take a break, that may qualify you for a handicap parking permit.
Severely Disabled Mobility as a Result of Arthritis or a Neurological or Orthopedic Condition
If you have joint-related arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or bone-related conditions that severely reduce your ability to walk around, you may qualify for a handicap parking permit.
Severe Lung Disease (with Specific Qualifying Measurements)
In order for a lung disease to qualify you for a handicap parking permit in Florida, it must have a forced expiratory volume (FEV) of one second with, when measured by spirometry, one liter of your arterial oxygen tension totalling less than 60mm/hg at a resting position.
Being Permanently Wheelchair-bound
If you are physically incapable of getting around without the use of a wheelchair, you may qualify for a handicap parking permit.
Legal Blindness
If you are legally blind, you may qualify for a handicap parking permit. Keep in mind that you do not need to be fully blind to be considered legally blind. Examples of legal blindness include severe tunnel vision and worse than 20/200 vision in both eyes.
When Do Permits Expire?
Contrary to what you might believe, both temporary and permanent handicap parking permits in Florida do expire. However, the rate at which they have to be renewed varies. Permanent handicap parking permits must be renewed every four years (48 months), whereas the temporary ones must be renewed every six months.
How Much Do Disabled Parking Permits Cost?
The cost of a handicap parking permit in Florida varies between permanent and temporary permits. In an effort to keep costs low for those people who may be less capable of affording them due to a life-long disability, the cost for permanent parking permits is $0. The cost for temporary parking permits, however, is $15.
How to Apply for a Disabled Parking Permit
The application process for a disabled parking permit is straightforward and simple. All you have to do is fill out the Form HSMV 83039 (click here for a PDF), complete it with a certification of disability from a qualified medical authority (see the next section for more information on medical authorities), and submit it to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV)
The process for renewing a disabled parking permit is even easier. Simply fill out Form HSMV 83146 (click here for a PDF) and submit it to the FLHSMV.
Who Is Considered Medical Authority?
Not every doctor is considered a medical authority when it comes to disability applications in the state of Florida. To find out if your doctor is qualified to assist you with your application, the best thing you can do is ask them. In the meantime, here’s a list of healthcare professions that the government considers to be medical authorities on the matter of disability:
| Profession |
| A physician licensed under Chapter 458 (for medical practice), 459 (for osteopathic medicine), or 460 (for chiropractic medicine). |
| A podiatric physician licensed under Chapter 461. |
| An optometrist licensed under Chapter 463 (for sight-related disabilities only). |
| An advanced practice registered nurse licensed under Chapter 464 when working in tandem with a licensed physician as stated above. |
| A physician’s assistant licensed under Chapter 458 or 459. |
| Any of the above personnel who are licensed in another state if the application is accompanied by documentation of the provider’s licensure in the other state alongside Form HSMV 83039 signed by the out-of-state provider. |
Disabled Person Parking Permit Rules
Not only are there rules for obtaining a handicap parking permit in Florida; there are also rules on how you can use one once you’ve obtained it.
Must Only Be Used by the Permit Holder
Only the person who has been granted the permit is authorized to use the permit. That means, under no circumstances can you allow somebody else to use your permit if the vehicle is not being used to transport you.
Must Be Properly Displayed
The handicap parking placard must be hung from the rear-view mirror and the permit number must be visible from the front of the vehicle when the vehicle is parked. Do not hang the permit from the rear-view mirror when the vehicle is in motion.
Must Display Valid Registration Decals
Each placard must have the proper yellow registration decals attached to each side of the permit. In total, there should be two yellow decals. Be sure to keep up with the registration dates on your permit paperwork.
Must Display Accurate ID Information
One side of your placard must show the permit holder’s driver license or non-driver ID card number. If this is an organizational permit, the placard should show the authorized organization’s FEID number instead.
What Is Handicap Abuse?
Handicap abuse occurs when somebody misuses a handicap parking placard, plate, or permit with the intention of skirting the legal system. A common example of handicap abuse is when somebody borrows a handicapped person’s parking permit so that they can park in accessible parking spaces even when driving without the handicapped person.
The following are all common examples of handicap abuse:
- Borrowing somebody’s handicap placard when they are not in the vehicle or being picked up from the vehicle’s destination.
- Stealing somebody else’s handicap placard or plate.
- Counterfeiting a handicap placard or plate.
- Knowingly letting somebody else use your handicap placard or plate to violate the law.
Fines for Handicap Abuse
Handicap abuse in any way, shape, or form is a crime punishable by steep fines and potentially even jail time—depending on the specific charges.
Fortunately, the majority of handicap parking permit violations in Florida have to do with people illegally parking in handicap parking spaces, which is the least severe form of handicap abuse. These violations tend to cost $250, but the court has the ability to charge you up to $500. Illegally parking in a handicap parking space is a non-moving parking violation, does not add points to your license, and typically does not increase your insurance premiums.
If you’ve been ticketed for violating handicap parking laws in Florida, don’t give up just yet. Download the WinIt app from the App Store or Google Play and talk to an expert lawyer in your area today. You might be able to take that case to court and win it with WinIt!
Here Is a List of Tax Collectors Offices in Florida
For more help applying for a handicap parking permit in the state of Florida, consult with the experts at your local tax collector’s office. Here’s a list of locations: Click here.
