How to Complete the Kentucky Handicap Parking Placard Application (TC 96-347)

To apply for a Kentucky handicap parking placard, complete Form TC 96-347, have a licensed healthcare provider certify your qualifying condition, notarize your signature, and submit the form to your County Clerk’s office. The first placard is free, and the clerk can often issue it the same day you walk it in.

Do You Qualify

Kentucky eligibility is based on functional limitations, not on any specific diagnosis. Under KRS 186.042, you qualify if any one of the following applies to you:¹

You cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest.
You cannot walk without a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or the physical assistance of another person.
Lung disease has reduced your forced expiratory volume (FEV1) to less than one liter, or your arterial oxygen tension is below 60 mmHg on room air at rest.
You rely on portable oxygen.
You have a cardiac condition classified as Class III or Class IV under American Heart Association standards.
You have lost the use of an arm or are legally blind.

One thing worth clearing up: receiving Social Security Disability Insurance does not automatically qualify you. SSDI and Kentucky parking placards are handled by different agencies under different standards, so a healthcare provider still has to certify your mobility limitation on TC 96-347 no matter what federal benefits you receive.

Where to Get Form TC 96-347

You can pick up a blank TC 96-347 at any County Clerk’s office in Kentucky, or print one from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s website.² A downloadable Word version is also hosted at transportation.ky.gov.³ It is a single page with two main parts: your information (Section 1) and the physician’s certification (Section 2).

Fill Out Section 1 Yourself

Complete Section 1 before you take the form to your healthcare provider. If Section 1 is blank or incomplete, the provider’s certification will not be considered valid.⁴ You will need:

Your full legal name. An organization name can go here if a nursing home or medical facility is applying on behalf of residents.
Your current street address or P.O. Box.
An identification number: federal ID, Social Security number, or driver’s license number.
Vehicle identification number and current plate number, but only if you are requesting a disabled license plate rather than a hanging placard.

Check the box for what you want: a permanent placard, a temporary placard, or a disabled license plate. This choice matters because Section 2 is structured differently for permanent and temporary permits, and the list of providers who can sign is different too.

Have a Healthcare Provider Complete Section 2

In Section 2, your provider certifies that your condition meets the standards in KRS 186.042. They sign, date, and print their name. The form does not ask for a medical license number.³

Who can sign depends on the type of placard:

For a permanent (blue) placard: a licensed physician, physician assistant, chiropractor, or advanced practice registered nurse.¹
For a temporary (red) placard: any of the providers above, plus a licensed physical therapist or occupational therapist.³

Make sure the provider checks the correct box for permanent or temporary, and that it matches what you selected in Section 1.

Notarize and Submit the Form

Your signature on the application has to be notarized. Any County Clerk’s office in Kentucky can notarize it on the spot if you bring a valid photo ID.² You can also get it notarized at a bank or by a notary public before you submit.

Submit the notarized form to the County Clerk’s office in your county of residence, in person or by mail.⁵ Watch the deadline: the application must be submitted within 60 days of the date the provider signed Section 2.⁶ Miss that window and you need a new certification.

In Person

Walking the form into the clerk’s office is the fastest route. The clerk verifies your documents, notarizes your signature if you have not already done so, and typically hands you the placard that same visit. Bring your photo ID and the completed form.

By Mail

If you mail the form, include a copy of your photo ID with the notarized application. Contact your County Clerk’s office for the correct mailing address. Turnaround varies by county; some offices mail the placard back within three to four business days.⁷

What It Costs

Kentucky does not charge for the initial issuance of a permanent or temporary placard. Your first one is free.⁶ Fees apply only in these situations:

Second or replacement permanent placard: $10, split as $8 to the state road fund and $2 to the county clerk.⁸
Replacement temporary placard: $10.
Disabled license plate: $21 annual registration, plus standard vehicle registration fees.⁷

Permanent or Temporary: Which to Request

Kentucky issues two kinds of hanging placards, and the right one depends on how long your condition will affect you.

The permanent blue placard is valid for six years from the date of issuance, and you can renew it for another six years with a new application and physician certification.⁶
The temporary red placard is valid for up to three months and can be renewed once for an additional three months if the condition continues.⁹

If you are recovering from surgery or dealing with a short-term injury, the temporary placard is the right fit, and a physical therapist or occupational therapist can certify it without a separate doctor’s visit.

Renewing or Replacing a Placard

When a permanent placard approaches its six-year expiration, you renew by filling out a new TC 96-347 with a fresh physician certification and submitting it to your County Clerk. There is no separate renewal form; the process mirrors the original application.

If your placard is lost, stolen, or damaged, contact your County Clerk to request a replacement. Replacements cost $10. If it was stolen, consider filing a police report so there is a record if the placard turns up in misuse.

1
Justia. Kentucky Code 186.042 – Accessible Parking Registration Plates and Parking Privileges for Persons With Certain Disabilities – Application Procedure – Issuance
2
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Disabled Parking Permits
3
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Form TC 96-347
4
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Application for Disabled License Plate or Parking Placard
5
Madison County Clerk’s Office. Disabled Parking Placards
6
Jefferson County Clerk. Disabled Parking Permits
7
Kenton County Clerk. Disabled Placards or Plates
8
Barren County Clerk. Disabled Parking Permits
9
Justia. Kentucky Code 189.458 – Temporary Accessible Parking Placard for Person With a Temporary Disability