REAL ESTATE NEWS

Expensive parking permits for non-residents

Expensive parking permits for non-residents

Landlords in downtown Prague are worried their tenants with cars will move out as a new parking-permit rule goes into effect at the end of October. Foreigners and others who don’t have listed permanent addresses at their apartments must pay 12,000 Kč for parking permits in Prague districts 1 , 2, 7 and part of 3 to park their cars on the streets under a new rule passed recently by the Prague City Hall.

The new parking permit calls for permanent residents to pay 700 Kč a year for a permit. The permanent resident rate only applies to people whose national ID card lists their residence in these areas. Since most foreigners and others do not have permanent residency in the Czech Republic or at that particular address, they’re not eligible for the lower rate.

To be eligible for a permanent address, a foreigner needs to live in the Czech Republic for at least five years. Landlords also worry that the new permit system will raise the cost of services since companies will need to buy several permits for different zones for their service workers’ vehicles.

New permits will be required in districts 1 and 2 between Oct. 15 and Nov. 1 and in Prague 7 and part of Prague 3 by Dec. 1. Two-hour permits can also be bought for 120 Kč. Cars without permits will be towed by city authorities.