How to Fill Out the Oregon Disabled Parking Permit Application (Form 735-265)

To apply for an Oregon disabled parking permit, complete Form 735-265, have a qualifying medical provider sign the Certificate of Disability on the bottom half, and submit it to the DMV in person, by fax, or by mail. The permit is free. Walk a complete application into any DMV field office and you leave with your placard the same day; fax or mail submissions take up to three weeks.¹

Do You Qualify

ORS 801.387 sets the medical bar. You qualify if you have severely limited mobility from paralysis or the loss of use of some or all of your legs or arms, or vision loss or a substantial reduction in visual acuity or field that cannot be corrected.²

You also qualify if any other disability prevents you from walking without an assistive device or from walking more than 200 feet. The statute names chronic heart conditions, emphysema, arthritis, rheumatism, and ulcerative colitis or related chronic bowel disorders as examples, but the list is not exhaustive.² Your medical provider makes the call, so a condition not on that list can still qualify if it limits your mobility to that degree.

Getting Form 735-265

Download the form from the Oregon DMV website or pick up a paper copy at any DMV field office.³ The same form covers every permit type: temporary, individual, family, program, wheelchair user, and Oregon Wounded Warrior.¹

Fill Out the Applicant Section

Enter your full legal name (last, first, middle), date of birth, and residential address with apartment number if applicable. You also need your Oregon driver license number, disability golf cart permit number, or state identification card number.⁴ If you don’t have any of those, you can apply for a parking identification card at the same time.

Check the box for the permit type you’re requesting. If you use a wheelchair, mark the wheelchair designation so your placard is issued with the “W” marking that grants access to wheelchair-only spaces, and confirm your provider marks it too.

Take It to a Qualifying Medical Provider

The bottom half of the form is the Certificate of Disability, and the provider fills it out, not you. They certify under penalty of perjury that your condition meets ORS 801.387.³

Oregon accepts signatures from a wider range of providers than many applicants expect. The following can sign: doctors of medicine, osteopaths, podiatrists, chiropractors, naturopaths, nurse practitioners, physician associates, and licensed optometrists (for vision-related disabilities).¹ If a chiropractor or naturopath treats the condition causing your mobility limitation, their signature on the form is enough.

The provider must print their name, enter their license number, and sign. The certificate must be signed and dated within six months of the date the DMV receives your application.⁵ A stale certification is the most common reason applications are rejected. Bring the blank form to a fresh appointment rather than digging an older signed form out of a drawer.

Submitting the Completed Application

You have three options, and the choice affects how fast you get the placard.¹

In person at any DMV field office. No appointment is needed, and none is currently available for this transaction. A complete application is processed on the spot and you leave with your placard. Expect a wait.
By fax to 503-945-5181. The placard is mailed to you.
By mail to the DMV Driver Transactions Unit, 1905 Lana Ave NE, Salem, OR 97314. The placard is mailed to you.

Fax and mail submissions take up to three weeks to produce a placard, assuming the application is complete.¹ If you need it fast, go in person.

What You’ll Be Issued

The permit type you receive depends on the nature and expected duration of your disability, and all types are free to qualifying residents.¹

Temporary. Valid up to six months when the disability is expected to last less than four years. Reapply with a new medical certification if you still need it after six months.
Individual. Valid for eight years, for long-term or permanent disabilities.
Family. Valid for eight years, issued when multiple family members at the same address qualify.
Program. Valid for eight years, issued to organizations that transport people with disabilities.
Wheelchair User. Available across the other types. The placard shows a large white “W” and the words “Wheelchair User” and grants access to wheelchair-only spaces.
Oregon Wounded Warrior. For qualifying veterans with service-connected disabilities.

Renewing or Replacing Your Permit

Renewals use the same Form 735-265 and the same submission channels. You need a fresh medical certification every time you renew; the old one expires with the permit.¹

To replace a lost or stolen placard while your current permit is still valid, submit Form 735-265 with a certification that the original is lost or destroyed and that you continue to qualify. You can file in person or mail it to the DMV Driver Transactions Unit in Salem. If the DMV has no valid medical certificate on file for you, you’ll need a new one before a replacement issues.⁶

Visiting Oregon With an Out-of-State Permit

If you already have a valid disabled parking permit from another state or country, you don’t need to apply in Oregon. The state recognizes out-of-state and foreign permits as long as the placard displays the international symbol of accessibility and the vehicle is transporting the person with the disability.¹ One limit worth knowing: if your home-state placard doesn’t specifically designate you as a wheelchair user, Oregon’s wheelchair-user-only spaces may be off limits. Call ahead to the facilities you plan to visit if that matters for your trip.

1
Oregon Department of Transportation. Disabled Person Parking Permits
2
Oregon Public Law. Oregon Code 801.387 – Person With a Disability
3
Oregon Department of Transportation. Application for Parking Permit for an Individual With a Disability
4
Oregon Public Law. Oregon Administrative Rule 735-080-0020 – Issuance of Disabled Person Parking Permits
5
Cornell Law Institute. Oregon Administrative Code 735-080-0020 – Issuance of Disabled Person Parking Permits
6
Oregon Public Law. Oregon Administrative Rule 735-080-0040 – Replacement of Disabled Person Parking Permits