A permit type is the template behind every permit and registration in Offstreet. It defines the rules:
- the dates and times the permit is good for,
- the locations it covers, the price,
- who is allowed to register, and
- what information you collect from them
then applies those rules automatically to everyone who registers under it.
How it works
Creating a permit type walks you through a short series of stages. Only the name is required to get started — everything else can be configured now or added later from the permit type's Details page.
| Stage | What you set |
|---|---|
| Details | The name parkers will see, plus a description for internal reference. |
| Times | Start rules, expiry rules, additional restrictions and availability & timing rules. Choose Flexible Time for an ongoing, reusable permit type rather than one tied to fixed dates. |
| Locations | One or more locations the permit is valid at, whether the parker must pick one, and optional capacity limits per location. |
| Pricing | A pricing type such as Flat Rate, the amount, and whether the parker is charged directly. |
| Permit Type Rules | Controls that apply across the whole permit type rather than to a single parking option. |
| Directions | A map of the selected locations so you can confirm the addresses parkers will be sent to are correct. |
| Tenants | Optionally tie the permit type to specific groups or departments, with usage limits set for all tenants at once or individually. |
| Codes | Whether a code is required to register, the codes themselves, usage limits, and any internal labels you want tracked against each code. |
| Settings | The registration experience itself and any additional information you want to collect from parkers. |
If the new permit type is a close relative of one you already run — a new term, a second lot, a different price — skip the full build and jump to Duplicating a permit type below.
Step-by-step guide
Follow along in the dashboard: Permits → Permit Types → Create permit type.
Tips while you build
- Name it the way a parker would search for it. The permit type name is parker-facing, so "Day Permit – Visitor Lot" beats "DP-VL-2026". Use the description field for internal shorthand instead.
- Fixed times cut down on mistakes. Setting a Specific Time for start and expiry (for example 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM) removes the guesswork for day permits. Use User Selects only where parkers genuinely need the flexibility.
- Turn on "Require users to choose a location" whenever you attach more than one location, so every permit is tied to a specific lot.
- Bulk codes save time. Rather than adding codes one at a time, open the Add Code dropdown to add several at once or upload them from a spreadsheet.
- Check the Directions tab before you launch. It is the fastest way to catch a location pinned to the wrong address.
Duplicating a permit type
Most permit types are not built from scratch — they are a variation on something you already run. Duplicate copies an existing permit type's configuration into a brand new one so you only have to change the parts that differ.
How to duplicate
- Go to Permits → Permit Types and open the permit type you want to copy.
- Click Duplicate in the top right of the Details page.
- Give the copy a new name. The title does not carry over, so this is yours to set.
- Offstreet creates the copy and takes you straight to it as a fully created permit type — there is no builder to step through.
- From the new permit type's Details page, adjust whatever needs to change and add your codes.
What carries over
Copied to the new permit type
- Parking options — locations, schedules, rates, payment settings and limits
- Description
- Priority and visibility
- Permit rules, limits and overrides
- Tenant assignments
- Instructions and expiry notifications
- Branding and files
- Parker Terms
- Segments
Not copied — set it yourself
- The title — you name the copy
- Codes
- Additional information fields
- Tenant-specific limits, which reset
Everything copied across is created as new records on the new permit type. Editing the duplicate never changes the original, and permits already issued under the original are untouched. The one exception is branding and files, which stay linked to the same uploaded file rather than being copied.
Because codes do not carry over, a duplicated permit type has an empty code list. If the new type is meant to be gated, remember to re-enable Require codes to register and add codes before you share it with parkers.
Use cases
A new term or season
Duplicate last term's student permit, rename it for the new term, update the dates and issue fresh codes. The previous term's permit type stays exactly as it was for reporting and history.
The same offering at a different lot
When a second property comes online with identical rules, duplicate the original and swap the location and capacity. Times, pricing and rules come with it.
A price or rule change you want to phase in
Rather than editing a live permit type that people are registering under, duplicate it, change the pricing on the copy, and switch which one is visible when you are ready.
Department or tenant variations
Start from a standard staff permit and duplicate it for a department that needs different limits or its own code set. Tenant assignments carry over, so you only have to reset the limits.
Events and short-term parking
Keep a well-configured day permit as your starting point and duplicate it whenever a one-off event needs its own permit type, codes and capacity.
FAQ
Do I have to finish every stage before the permit type exists?
No. The name is what you need to get going. Click Create when you are ready and finish the rest from the permit type's Details page, where every section can be edited afterwards.
Should I edit an existing permit type or duplicate it?
Edit when the change should apply to the offering as it stands going forward. Duplicate when you want the original to keep running as-is — a new term, a parallel option, or a change you want to stage before switching over.
Does duplicating copy my registration codes?
No. Codes are deliberately left off the copy so that a code is never live on two permit types at once, or counted against the wrong usage limit. Add codes to the new permit type once it is set up.
Do my tenants come across?
Tenant assignments do, so the same groups are attached to the copy. Tenant-specific limits reset, so revisit the Tenants section on the new permit type and set them again.
Will editing the duplicate affect the original?
No. The two are separate permit types with their own records, and existing permits stay attached to whichever type they were issued under.
Can parkers register for the new permit type straight away?
Only once it is enabled for the portal. Check Enabled in Portal on the Details page — a permit type can be available to your team in the dashboard while still hidden from parkers.
Can I use one permit type across several locations?
Yes. Add as many locations as you need under Locations, then toggle Require users to choose a location so each permit is tied to a specific one. Capacity can be set per location.
How do I cap how many permits are issued?
There are a few levers, and they stack: capacity limits per location, usage limits on codes, and usage limits per tenant. Pick the one that matches what you are actually trying to control.
Still stuck?
Reach out to the Offstreet support team from the Support link at the bottom of the dashboard and we will help you get the permit type configured.
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