City centre loading restrictions

Where can you load and unload in Leeds?

You might be surprised at how many areas you can load and unload your vehicle in the city.

Read this handy guide to find out where you can stop off to load and unload goods in Leeds.

First, let’s be clear on what a loading bay is and when it can be used.

What is a loading bay?

A loading bay can be used to collect or deliver pre-ordered goods. The bay may operate at certain times and there may also be a limit on how long you can load and unload there – this information will be displayed on nearby signage so make sure you check to avoid a penalty charge notice.

Loading bays will be indicated by road markings or by contrasting paving materials.

Who can use a loading bay?

You don’t always need to have a goods vehicle to use a loading bay. However, when loading bays are reserved for goods vehicles only it will be displayed on nearby signage. 

A loading bay may also permit waiting by other vehicles, such as hackney carriages, at certain times and this will be indicated on nearby signage. Loading and unloading is still permitted during these times.

What is classed as loading and unloading?

Loading and unloading generally involves the delivery and collection of pre-ordered goods, including the checking of goods, completion of paperwork related to the delivery, and payment.

Loading and unloading must be a continuous activity and you must move your vehicle as soon as you’ve finished – you can’t stay parked after the loading activity is complete, even if it is only a short delivery. 

Where else can I load or unload? 

In addition to designated loading bays, there are also other areas you can use to load and unload in the city. These are usually indicated by road markings or appropriate signage.

Read on to find out what different road markings mean for loading and unloading.

Kerb Blips

If you look at a kerb, you’ll see that they sometimes have rectangular yellow marks on them. These are called ‘blips’ and may either be displayed as singular or double markings.

Single yellow blips indicate that loading and unloading is permitted at the times displayed on nearby signage. 

Picking up and dropping off passengers is still permitted during the restricted times. 

Double blip markings mean that loading and unloading goods is prohibited and you cannot use these to load or unload at any time.

Picking up and dropping off passengers is still permitted at times when loading and unloading is prohibited.

Where there are no yellow blip markings on the kerbs, loading is generally permitted at any time, unless there are other restrictions in place like bus stop clearways, single or double red lines, or white zig-zag markings on the kerbside.

Pedestrian and cycle zones can also be used for loading at the times specified on the signs at the entry to the zone. 

What about single or double yellow lines?

Single yellow lines indicate that waiting is not allowed during the times indicated on nearby signage.

Double yellow lines indicate that waiting is not allowed at any time. 

Although single and double yellow lines indicate waiting restrictions, you can still load and unload on them unless there are accompanying loading restrictions (such as those indicated by double blip markings). 

In Leeds, a maximum of 20 minutes is permitted for loading and unloading on yellow lines. However, you should only park for as long as necessary.

Enforcement officers will wait for 5 minutes before issuing a ticket to vehicles on yellow lines: this is to make sure you’re seen delivering or picking up items. If there’s no evidence of loading or unloading whilst on a yellow line, you may receive a penalty charge notice.

What do other markings mean for loading and unloading?

Loading is always prohibited in bus stop clearways, which are marked with a thick yellow line along the kerbside and dashed yellow lines around the bus stopping area. 

Loading is always prohibited on the white zig-zag markings along the kerbside at the entrance and exit of controlled pedestrian crossings. Controlled crossings give priority to pedestrians or cyclists crossing the road, such as zebra and pelican crossings.

Loading is not permitted on the yellow zig-zag markings marked along the kerbside at the entrances to schools at the times when the school keep clear area is in operation. 

Single red lines indicate that stopping a vehicle, including for loading and unloading, is prohibited during the times indicated on nearby signage.

Double red lines indicate that stopping a vehicle, including for loading and unloading, is always prohibited.

We hope this handy guide helps when loading and unloading in Leeds. If you have any questions, please get in touch with the Connecting Leeds team by emailing connectingleeds@leeds.gov.uk