A Guide To Disabled Parking In Florida
If you are a disabled driver who lives in the sunny southeastern state of Florida, you will certainly want to avail of the world-class disabled parking program that exists in the state. Disabled parking in Florida encompasses state-of-the-art facilities that hugely improve quality of life for disabled drivers.
All of the Sunshine State’s municipalities, from massive Miami with its miles of seaside suburbs to diminutive Davenport nestling snugly in the heart of the state, are generously decked out with disabled parking spaces.
If you live in Florida and have yet to get yourself a disabled parking permit, now is the time to take action! You won’t regret the day you decided to bite the bullet and apply for your Florida disabled parking permit.
Here’s all you need to know about how to get a disabled parking permit in Florida.
What Are the Qualifying Conditions For Disabled Parking in Florida?
To get a disabled parking permit in Florida, an applicant must have one or more of the following disabilities:
- Cannot walk 200 feet without having to stop to rest
- Cannot walk without the aid of an assistive device such as a brace, cane, crutches, zimmer frame, wheelchair, prosthetic device, or another person
- Is restricted by a heart condition of a severity classified as Class III or Class IV by the American Heart Association
- Has a limitation in their mobility caused by a neurological, arthritic or orthopedic condition
- Suffers from lung disease to the extent that their forced respiratory expiratory volume for 1 second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter or the person’s arterial oxygen is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest
- Requires the use of a portable oxygen tank
- Is legally blind.
What Types of Florida Disabled Parking Permit Are Available?
There are four separate types of Florida handicap parking permit available.
Permanent placards are for people with a disability that is considered to be permanent in duration. Temporary disabled placards for people whose disabilities will be relatively short-term. These are valid for six months.
The state also offers permanent disabled number plates for people with a lifelong disability, and Disabled Veterans plates for military service veterans whose disabilities are 50% related to their service with the armed forces.
Who Can Provide Medical Certification For a Disabled Parking Permit in Florida?
A medical professional must provide certification to anybody applying for disabled parking in Florida. The easiest way to get this certification is by having an online consultation with a qualifying medical professional through Dr. Handicap.
In Florida a qualifying medical professional can be a physician, physician’s assistant, osteopath, podiatrist, chiropractor, optometrist, or a nurse practitioner.
How Do You Use A Florida Handicap Parking Permit?
Correct usage of a Florida handicap parking permit is essential. Placards need to be clearly visible hanging from the rearview mirror when the vehicle is parked. Placards must be removed from the rearview mirror and safely stowed while the vehicle is in motion.
A Florida disabled parking permit allows its holder to park in any designated disabled parking space in the state, as well as in metered on-street spaces free of charge.
Is an Out-of-State Disabled Parking Permit Valid in Florida?
Disabled parking permits from all other U.S. states are valid in Florida and they afford their holders the exact same rights as a local disabled permit holder.
How Do You Apply For a Florida Disabled Parking Permit?
To apply for disabled parking in Florida, you must get your medical certification emailed to you and then fill in the remainder of the form yourself. Once this is complete, simply submit the form to your local tax collector’s office, along with a copy of your driver’s license or ID and the necessary fee. Permanent placards cost nothing, while temporary placards cost $15. Forms must be submitted in person.
Do You Need to Renew Your Florida Disabled Parking Permit?
Every Florida handicap parking permit expires after varying amounts of time. When they expire, they become invalid and must be renewed. A permanent placard or plate expires after four years; a temporary placard expires after six months.
To renew any type of permit, a new application form must be submitted to the local tax collector’s office, along with new medical certification and relevant fees.
How Do You Replace a Lost, Damaged, or Stolen Florida Disabled Parking Permit?
To replace a lost, damaged, or stolen placard or plate, you must submit an application form to the local tax collector’s offices.
Whichever area of the Sunshine State you reside in, if you have a disability, short or long term, it is certainly a great idea to apply for a Florida disabled parking permit as soon as possible. Being able to use disabled parking in Florida will greatly enhance your quality of life!