Parking glossary

Parking management terms, in plain language.

Definitions for the permits, lot models, payment flows, and property workflows described across getParkFlow.

Approval-first payment: A checkout workflow that authorizes a card first and waits for a property manager to approve or decline the request before capture. The payment processor controls authorization timing and release.
Connected Stripe account: The property’s own Stripe account used for eligible parking charges. The ParkFlow platform fee is applied to the transaction, while Stripe handles processing, settlement, and payouts.
Count-based parking lot: A lot managed by total vehicle capacity rather than individually mapped spaces. ParkFlow Pop-up properties use this model for events, driveways, and temporary parking.
Digital parking permit: A parking authorization stored as a current electronic record rather than only a sticker, hangtag, or paper pass. It can connect a plate, person, assignment, status, and expiration.
Mapped parking lot: A property layout where individual spaces, levels, zones, lanes, ramps, or other geometry are represented visually so a workflow can refer to exact parking locations.
Parking zone: A named group of parking spaces that helps a property organize access or pricing rules without treating the entire lot as one identical inventory pool.
Per-space pricing: A rate override assigned to a specific mapped parking space instead of relying only on the property-wide visitor or resident rate.
Plate-based validation: A staff workflow that checks a normalized license plate against current passes, assignments, and property records. The lookup informs staff; the property still makes enforcement decisions.
QR code parking: A browser-based parking flow opened from a QR code on a sign or placard. The driver can enter required vehicle details, choose eligible parking, and complete checkout without downloading an app.
Resident parking portal: A signed-in web area where an eligible resident can view assigned parking, manage supported vehicle details, reserve eligible parking, or complete resident parking purchases allowed by the property.
Visitor parking pass: A time-limited authorization for a guest or public driver. It can be free or paid and may be associated with a host, plate, mapped space, or count-based lot entry.
Attendant mode: A simplified operational view for an authorized person at a count-based Pop-up lot to see live capacity and parking activity without using a mapped-lot interface.

Need more than a definition?

Use the guides for implementation detail or compare common parking approaches side by side.

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