Parking Permit for Moving Day in Switzerland

A parking permit for a move is often needed as soon as the van, the furniture lift or a skip occupies the public highway: street, pavement or parking space. You apply to the commune or the municipal police in advance, giving the address, the date and the times. On a private parking space, the agreement of the owner or the letting agency (régie) is usually enough.

When is a permit needed?

The principle is simple: anything that blocks or reserves public space during the move may require the commune’s approval. This applies in particular to:

• the removal van parked along the road or on parking spaces;
• the furniture lift, whose crane truck sets up in front of the façade and often takes up more room than an ordinary van;
• the skip for a house clearance or bulky items, placed on the pavement or on the road;
• the reservation of several parking spaces in front of the building, so that the vehicle can get close to the entrance.

Conversely, a vehicle parked legally, without reserving space or hindering traffic, does not in principle require any formalities. The line is a fine one, however: as soon as you want to keep a space free in advance, or the vehicle overhangs the pavement, it is better to check.

In towns and cities, applying is the rule rather than the exception, because space is scarce and traffic is dense. In a village or a residential area of detached houses, the commune is sometimes more flexible, but it remains free to require an application. The safest course is to ask before fixing the date.

The details to prepare for the application

Each commune has its own form, but the information requested is similar. Gather it before contacting the administration:

1. The exact address of the loading point and, if needed, of the unloading point: the new home may also be on the public highway.
2. The date and times: the van’s arrival time, the expected length of occupation, and possibly a second day in case of postponement.
3. The area or number of spaces to reserve, taking the length of the vehicle into account.
4. The type of vehicle: van, van with furniture lift, skip, trailer.
5. Your contact details and, where relevant, those of the removal company.

Some communes also ask for a simple plan of the location, or specify whether the pavement must remain passable for pedestrians. Ask at the counter: a complete application avoids back-and-forth and saves time.

Fees and temporary signage

A permit may involve fees, that is, administrative charges. Whether they exist and how much they are depends on the commune: there is no point looking for a general tariff, so ask directly or check the commune’s website.

The commune may also require temporary signage: no-parking signs, cones or tape put up before the day so that the spaces are genuinely free when the van arrives. Depending on the case, the commune takes care of this, or you must put it in place yourself, or the removal company does. Ask clearly when you apply, because a vehicle parked in your reserved spaces can quickly wreck the whole organisation.

When to apply

As early as possible, once the moving date is settled. Communes generally recommend applying a few days, or even a few weeks, in advance; the exact lead time varies from one commune to another. At the end of the month and the end of the quarter, which are very busy periods for moves, the services are in greater demand and putting up signage can take longer.

The right approach: fix the date, ask the commune what lead time it requires, then submit the application without delay. Also note the task in your moving checklist, alongside registering with the residents’ registration office (contrôle des habitants).

What you risk without a permit

Occupying the public highway without the required approval exposes you to several problems:

• a fine;
• the removal of the vehicle, which can happen in the middle of the loading day;
• having to park further away, and therefore a long carrying distance: boxes and furniture then travel on foot, which lengthens the day and tires the crews;
• tension with neighbours or residents if a street is blocked without notice.

The amount of a fine depends on the commune and the offence: do not rely on a figure you have heard here or there. Above all, remember that an application almost always costs less than a ruined moving day.

In French-speaking Switzerland: what changes by location

The procedure is not uniform: each commune sets its own forms, lead times and fees, and some entrust the matter to the municipal police rather than an administrative department. Always check with your commune, or with the destination commune if it is a different one.

• In towns and cities: in Geneva and in Lausanne, as in most cities, occupying the public highway with a van, a furniture lift or a skip in principle requires a permit. Narrow streets, limited-parking zones and building sites make the organisation trickier. In an old town, access is often restricted or pedestrianised, which adds constraints.
• On the lakeshore: a commune such as Vevey combines dense districts near the centre with sloping streets; an early application helps ensure a workable spot.
• In the mountains: narrow roads, winter snow and limited access may call for a specific location or an adapted schedule. The commune can tell you about local restrictions.
• Near the border: if you are coming from abroad, the customs procedure is dealt with separately from the commune’s procedure; the parking permit concerns only the vehicle’s position in Switzerland.

Cantonal and communal rules change: always confirm with the competent authority before fixing the date.

Doing it yourself or getting help

Private individuals can perfectly well apply themselves: simply contact the commune or the municipal police, provide the address, date, times and type of vehicle, then arrange the signage if it is required. It is a short procedure, especially for a residential move into a medium-sized home.

It becomes trickier when the job is large: several vehicles, a skip, difficult access or the need for a furniture lift. Professional movers often know the local procedure and can handle it or tell you how to proceed. If you would like to compare, you can request a quote: your request is passed on to removal companies in the region, who provide a free, no-obligation quote. State in your message whether access is from the public highway.

Frequently asked questions