The The Highland Council has published a draft order proposing changes to off-street parking across the Highlands. This is a formal public notice and residents are encouraged to review the details and provide feedback.
Overview
The draft Off Street Parking Places (Decriminalised Parking Enforcement and Consolidation) (Variation Five) Order 2026 proposes to amend the current parking order to:
- Increase availability of off-street parking
- Update control and regulation at selected car parks
- Introduce Pay & Display parking at specific locations
- Introduce Permit Parking at specific locations
- Introduce conditions of use at certain cemetery car parks
- Make administrative and consequential updates to the existing Order
Parking contraventions will continue to be enforced under Decriminalised Parking Enforcement provisions.
Pay & Display Car Parks Affected
- Achmelvich – Achmelvich Beach Car Park
- Contin – Rogie Falls Car Park
- Dornoch – Dornoch South Car Park
- Fortrose – Chanonry Point Car Park
- Newtonmore – Highland Folk Museum
- Isle of Skye – Fairy Glen Car Park
- Isle of Skye – Staffin, Storr 2 Car Park
- Isle of Skye – The Quiraing Car Park
- Isle of Skye – Staffin, Kilt Rock Car Park
- Isle of Skye – Portree, Bayfield West Car Park
- Inverness – Longman Lorry and Coach Park
- Inverness – Torvean Car Park
- Inverness – Shore Street Motorhome Car Park
Permit Parking Locations
- Inverness – Harrowden Road Car Park
- Inverness – Kenneth Street Car Park
- Inverness – Castle Grounds Car Park
- Inverness – Old Edinburgh Road Car Park
- Inverness – Dochfour Drive Car Park
- Inverness – Waterloo Car Park
- Fort William – Charles Kennedy Building Car Park
Motorhomes – Invitation to Pay Car Parks
Car parks operating an Invitation to Pay system that accommodate motorhomes will introduce a mandatory charge for motorhomes.
Cemetery Car Parks
The amendment will include certain cemetery car parks.
New conditions of use will be introduced and enforced under decriminalised parking regulations.
Charges and Concessions
- Tariffs may include different pricing for:
- Motorhomes
- Public Service Vehicles (PSVs)
- Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs)
- Some car parks may include free parking periods.
- Blue Badge parking remains free in all Council off-street car parks except Inverness Multi-Storey Car Park.
- Permit parking schemes and season tickets will apply at selected sites.
How to View the Documents
The following documents are available to view:
- Draft Order
- Plans
- Statement of Reasons
- Existing 2016 Parking Order
View online at:
www.highland.gov.uk/parking (select Parking consultations)
Paper copies can be inspected during normal office hours at Highland Council Service Points, including:
Inverness Town House
Castle Street, Inverness, IV1 1JJ
Opening hours:
Mon–Fri 10:00–12:30 and 13:30–16:30