France’s free blue parking zones: who can use them and for how long

Parking rules in France can be complex for those who are not used to driving in the country. 

Alongside the specifics of parking near driveways and on streets, pay-in-advance parking spots, and the search for free parking spaces, there are also ‘blue zones’ for parking. Below, we look at the rules for these zones. 

Blue zones are not the same as parking for disabled people

The first thing to note is these blue zones are not related to disabled parking bays.

While part or all of a disabled parking spot in France is usually painted blue, what denotes a bay as being for disabled people is a wheelchair sign on the floor (or on a sign next to the spot). 

To use a French disabled parking spot, you need a French or EU recognised disabled badge – post Brexit UK blue badges are not always accepted.

Instead, these blue zones denote an area where short-term free parking is allowed. 

They are often found in city centres but can also be in rural areas. They are meant to promote the regular movement of traffic and allow people to quickly park to run errands or, for example, to visit a nearby cemetery.

The zones sometimes have blue markings on the ground (such as blue dashes around a string of parking spots) but this is rare. 

However, the zone is always marked with road signs. 

The sign stating a zone or area is a blue parking zone is a rectangular no parking sign over a blue circle with a red border and a parking disc symbol in the right-hand corner (more on this later). 

A photo of one of the signs can be seen in at the top of this article, on the left-hand side. 

How to use a blue zone 

The exact timeframe of the free parking offered in a blue zone varies and is set by local authorities, but will be displayed on the sign. 

It is usually between 15 and 90 minutes. 

On Sundays and public holidays, parking usually remains free and these time limits do not apply.

Some blue zones also provide unlimited free parking in the evenings or early morning (for example, by only applying rules between 09:00 and 18:00). 

Again, this will be made clear on the signs.

In rare cases where the signage is not clear, you should ask the local mairie or check its website for rules.

The only rule to use a blue parking zone is that you must have a parking disc compatible with the areas. 

These discs – a blue rectangle with an adjustable time on the front – can be purchased in garages, supermarkets, and automobile shops and online for a few euros. 

Since 2012, use of a Europe-wide variant has been required, but it is almost certain that any you purchase in store will conform to this rule.

When parking in a blue zone, set the timer in the disc to the time you arrive, and make it clearly visible by, for example, placing it on your windscreen. 

In case of inspection, this proves the time you parked the car. 

If you spend too long parked in a blue zone or park in one without a parking disc, you risk a €35 fine.