Skip to main content

                    Parking FAQs

                    Parked vehicles on narrow street
                    Demand for parking spaces in the City of Melbourne is extremely high, with more than one million parking transactions recorded every month. Read the frequently asked questions about parking so you can safely and legally park your car when visiting the city.

                    ​​​​​​

                    Public holiday parking rules will apply on the Queen’s Birthday, Monday 14 June 2021. If the sign has days of the week printed on it, you can park without a time limit.

                    For all other parking signs that do not state days of the week, you must observe parking and time restrictions.

                    Parking payment and restrictions

                    Why do we need parking restrictions?

                    Parking restrictions are in operation to encourage a regular turnover of parking bays, giving residents, workers, businesses and visitors a reasonable chance of finding parking. These restrictions are regularly enforced to ensure the safe and fair use of on-street parking in the municipality.

                    Without regular patrols the limited number of parking spaces would be occupied continuously by the same vehicles, reducing the amount of parking for others.

                    How much does it cost to park in the city?

                    Can I leave my car unattended to get change for the parking meter or ticket machine?

                    ​If you wish to use cash for paid parking areas, you must ensure you have sufficient coins prior to parking. Cars parked at expired meters or without valid parking tickets are liable to receive a parking fine.

                    Can I pay for parking time using my credit card?

                    Some parking machines provide credit card facilities as an additional option to coins. All meters also accept payments via a digital wallet (for example, Apple Pay or Google Pay). ​

                    Some parking meters are cashless, which means only credit card or digital wallet payments can be made at these meters. If you prefer to pay with cash, there will always be a coin meter nearby (generally, no more than 50 metres from the cashless meter). ​

                    It’s a good idea to have coins handy at all times, even if you wish to pay using your credit card or digital wallet. In the absence of a credit card payment option, drivers still have an obligation to pay for parking where alternative forms of payment remain. All parking machines accept coins.

                    Can I pay for parking using pay-by-phone?

                    EasyPark allows drivers to pay for on-street parking using their credit card and a mobile phone. 

                    If using EasyPark, remember to check that you have a valid session (for the correct zone and vehicle registration) before leaving your vehicle unattended. If you have difficulty operating the EasyPark system, you should pay for your parking time using alternative forms of payment payment via a parking meter (coins or credit card).

                    Download the EasyPark app today, or contact 1300 73 40 70 for support. 

                    Read more about pay-by-phone parking.

                    All meters also accept payments via a digital wallet (for example, Apple Pay or Google Pay). ​

                    What are the off-street parking options available?

                    The City of Melbourne owns two off-street car parks at Council House in the central city and Elgin Street in Carlton, which offer competitive parking rates.

                    Find more commercial car parks operating within the City of Melbourne.

                    Parking fines

                    How much are parking fines?

                    What is the role of a parking officer?

                    Parking officers enforce the Road Rules and parking restrictions. Officers encourage voluntary compliance by motorists. This means whenever a driver is with their vehicle they are given an opportunity to move their vehicle before a parking fine is issued. If you fail to comply with a request made by a parking officer, you may receive a parking fine.

                    What can I do if I disagree with a parking fine?

                    ​If you believe there is a good reason for you not to pay a parking fine, you may request a review of your infringement notice.

                    How is an internal review of a parking fine conducted?

                    When undertaking reviews of parking fines, the City of Melbourne takes into account all of the available information, including:

                    • information collected by the parking officer who issued the fine
                    • photographs taken by the officer (there is no legislative requirement for an officer to take photographs to support a parking fine, but most officers take photographs in the course of their work)
                    • information provided by the applicant in their request for internal review (and any supporting documentation)
                    • requirements under the relevant legislation.

                    What grounds will City of Melbourne not consider as a basis for reviewing a parking fine?

                    The following grounds are not considered valid reasons for the withdrawal of a parking fine:

                    • re-feeding a parking meter
                    • being new to or unfamiliar with the City of Melbourne or a particular road rule
                    • appointments or meetings running over time
                    • a parking ticket displayed incorrectly (for example, face down or blown off the dashboard)
                    • not noticing or misreading a parking sign
                    • being unaware of which vehicles can use loading zones or permit zones
                    • incorrectly displaying a dual registration or transferable parking permit
                    • running out of petrol or experiencing vehicle issues that did not require repair/towing.

                    What are some common parking mistakes?

                    No one likes to get a parking fine. Some common parking mistakes that could lead to receiving a fine are:

                    • re-feeding parking meters
                    • failing to check that a parking ticket is displayed properly
                    • not realising who can park in a loading zone
                    • not noticing the parking sign
                    • underestimating the time required for appointments and meetings.

                    Parking time

                    How long can I park in a parking bay?

                    The time you can legally occupy a parking bay is shown on the parking sign and starts as soon as your car stops in the bay. For example, you may park for no longer than one hour in a 1P signed area. This requirement applies in all Australian states.

                    When does my parking time start?

                    Your parking time starts as soon as your car stops in the bay, whether or not you remain in the vehicle (for example, if you choose to finish a phone call before paying for parking and leaving your car). Your parking time does not start when you pay the parking fee.

                    Your parking time does not start or re-start when you buy a parking ticket or pay a parking meter. If your parking time has run out or is about to run out, you need to move your car to a new bay.

                    The onus is on you as the driver to make payment for parking as soon as you park your car.

                    Does City of Melbourne give drivers a grace period?

                    No grace period is provided for in the Road Safety Road Rules 2017. According to the Road Rules, vehicles are considered to be illegally parked as soon as the maximum permitted parking time has been exceeded, or as soon as a vehicle is found parked at an expired meter.

                    In the City of Melbourne, drivers are provided with five minutes grace after the maximum permitted parking time has been exceeded. This allows you time to return to your car and avoid incurring a fine. This is the only instance in which a grace period is applied.

                    Any grace period that is applied is a City of Melbourne practice, is not specified in the Road Rules and is strictly limited to five minutes.

                    What about the time it takes me to unload my car or buy a parking ticket?

                    If the maximum permitted time is purchased (for example, you pay for two hours parking in a 2P signed area), five minutes grace is added to the purchased time to allow for these activities.

                    If you instead elect to pay for less than the maximum permitted time (for example, you choose to pay for only one hour in a 2P signed area), it is your responsibility to conclude your parking activities within the time you have chosen to pay for. Five minutes grace will not be added in this scenario.

                    Can I avoid moving my car if there are other free spaces nearby?

                    Availability of other parking spaces nearby does not alter the application of the Road Rules. Once the maximum permitted parking time shown on the parking sign has elapsed, you must move your car to another parking area. Drivers who park their car for longer than indicated on the parking sign may receive a parking fine.

                    Note: Moving your vehicle forwards or backwards within the same parking area does not satisfy this requirement under the Road Rules.

                    Do time restrictions apply on public holidays?

                    Some parking restrictions are different on public holidays. Read more information and examples about parking on public holidays.

                    How long can I park in a loading zone?

                    Eligible vehicles may park in a loading zone for up to 30 minutes, unless otherwise signed.

                    Find more information about which vehicles are allowed to park in a loading zone.

                    Parking meters

                    How do I use a meter parking area?

                    After parking your car, check the applicable signs and locate the designated parking meter for the area. Follow the instructions on the meter to pay for the parking time you wish to use. The onus is on you the driver to make payment for parking as soon as you park your car.

                    Some meter parking areas use multi-bay meters, where a single electronic parking meter services a number of parking bays. In these areas, check for the number painted on the parking bay or kerb alongside the parking bay where your car is parked and follow the arrow to the designated multi-bay meter. Follow instructions on the meter to pay for the bay in which your car is parked.

                    Payment is only valid if made at the designated parking meter and for the correct bay number in which your car is parked.

                    Can I top up or ‘feed the meter’ once it runs out?

                    You cannot insert more money into a parking meter or purchase another ticket to stay longer than the time permitted by the parking sign.

                    Once you have parked and paid for the maximum permitted time as shown on the parking sign, you must move your vehicle to another parking area.

                    If you did not initially pay for the maximum permitted time (for example, you paid for only one hour in a 2P signed area), you may add coins to the meter or place your new ticket beside the original ticket on your dashboard up to the maximum time shown on the sign (for example, you can pay for the remaining one hour allowed in the 2P area).

                    It is your responsibility to be parked for no longer than the time permitted by the parking sign.

                    Why does the meter let me purchase more time than permitted on the sign?

                    Most parking areas in the City of Melbourne are governed by a number of parking restrictions, which are communicated on the parking sign.

                    Different restrictions apply at particular times of the day or on different days of the week to maximise the number of parking spaces available during various periods (for example, during peak hour).

                    Parking signs showing different restrictions on Monday to Saturday and on Sunday.

                    Due to the various restrictions which appear on parking signs, meters cannot be programmed to reject payment once the maximum parking time indicated on the sign has lapsed at particular times of the day, or on different days of the week.

                    You are required to read the relevant parking signs and insert only the required payment into a meter.

                    Read more about parking rules.

                    What should I do if the parking meter or ticket machine is not working?

                    If you encounter a fault with a parking machine, you should report the fault (via telephone or text message) by following the instructions on the meter. After receiving a fault report, a technician will investigate the fault.

                    If the parking machine is not working, can I stay in the bay for as long as I like?

                    No, the time restrictions indicated on the parking sign apply even if the parking meter or ticket machine is not in operation.

                    Ticket machines and parking tickets

                    How do I use a ticket parking area?

                    After parking your car, check the applicable signs and locate the designated ticket machine for the area. Follow the instructions on the machine to purchase a ticket, and display the ticket face up on your dashboard.

                    The onus is on you as the driver to purchase and display a parking ticket as soon as you park your car.

                    A ticket is not valid unless displayed face up on the dashboard, with the expiry time and all other inscriptions visible to a parking officer from outside of the car. Check this before leaving your car.

                    What if I accidentally displayed my ticket incorrectly?

                    If a parking ticket is not displayed properly (for example, it is displayed face down or has slipped off the dashboard), parking officers are unable to determine whether the vehicle is legally parked. Any car parked in a ticketed area without correctly displaying a parking ticket is liable to receive a parking fine.

                    Sending the City of Melbourne a copy of your parking ticket after receiving a parking fine does not fulfil the conditions of parking in a ticketed area.

                    Parking sensors

                    What is a parking sensor?

                    A parking sensor is a small electronic device that is installed underneath a parking bay to detect and record the time a car arrives and departs from a parking bay.

                    Sensors are being updated in approximately 5500 parking bays in the central and inner city areas between January 2022 and April 2022.

                    How do the sensors work?

                    The sensors record when a vehicle arrives in a bay; once a vehicle has overstayed the maximum time permitted in a bay, plus a grace period of five minutes, a parking officer in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle will receive a notification from the sensor. The officer will then check to see if a parking offence has occurred before issuing a fine.

                    Are the sensors accurate?

                    The sensors are extremely accurate. They record the exact time that a vehicle enters and departs a parking bay. Each sensor conducts a self-test each morning to ensure it is in working order. If not, the sensor does not switch on for the day.

                    How do the sensors affect me as a driver?

                    There has been no change to your obligations as a driver. You still need to pay for parking where necessary and observe the time limit on the parking sign.

                    Are sensors linked to parking meters?

                    No. Sensors and parking meters are two separate devices and are not linked.

                    Why did City of Melbourne install the sensors?

                    Sensors offer a more consistent and accurate approach to parking management by encouraging drivers to comply with parking restrictions.

                    This supports the steady turnover of parking spaces and helps to make on-street parking more readily available for shoppers, visitors and residents. It also ensures the limited supply of on-street parking is managed in a fair and equitable manner for the large number of vehicles in the city each day.

                    How was this change communicated to the public?

                    City of Melbourne ran a communications campaign around the time the sensors were installed to inform residents, business owners and visitors.

                    There are ongoing measures in place to enhance awareness among motorists, including brightly coloured ‘Your parking time starts as soon as your car stops in the bay’ flyers attached to parking signage, meters and ticket machines around the municipality.

                    Do sensors affect how parking fines are issued?

                    There is no change to how parking fines are issued. Once a vehicle has overstayed the time permitted in a bay (as indicated by the sign), a parking officer in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle will receive a notification from the sensor. The officer will check to see if a parking offence has occurred before issuing a parking fine.

                    Are sensors installed in non-standard size loading zone bays?

                    Parking officers will continue to enforce parking restrictions for these bays in line with the signage. The expectation for commercial drivers using non-standard size loading zone bays remains the same – to observe the time limit on the parking sign.

                    What if the sensor time is slightly different to the time on my watch/clock?

                    The sensors are synchronised through a central server which is set to Australian Eastern Standard Time. The devices used by parking officers to issue infringement notices are also synchronised through this same server.

                    Role of enforcement officers

                    Do City of Melbourne parking officers have quotas that they need to meet, and do they get bonuses or commissions?

                    No, City of Melbourne parking officers do not have individual quotas or numbers of infringements they need to reach in a given period, nor do they get bonuses or commissions.

                    Why can’t City of Melbourne parking officers withdraw infringements on the spot?

                    When a parking officer issues an infringement notice, they do so in good faith and on the basis of the information and evidence that’s immediately available.

                    If illegal or unsafe parking has occurred and a customer is either in their car or returning to their car before the officer has printed an infringement notice, the officer is able to cancel the process.

                    However, once a parking infringement notice has been printed, it cannot be voided by the officer.

                    If a person believes they wrongly received an infringement and that they had not parked illegally or unsafely, then by law they are entitled to one internal review which the registered owner of the vehicle, or the nominated driver, must request.

                    As a local government body which must operate fairly, consistently and transparently, this process means that infringements go through an auditable, legal process.

                    How do City of Melbourne parking officers know how long a vehicle has been parked?

                    Our parking officers use a range of ways to determine how long a vehicle has been parked. This includes visual observation and tyre markings, as well as data from in-ground sensors, which automatically record when a car arrives and exits.

                    A parking officer will take notes and may take photographs to accompany the infringement notice, which will be used as part of internal reviews of infringements.

                    Are the interactions between parking officers and the public generally positive or negative?

                    Even though no one enjoys getting a parking infringement, our parking officers generally report friendly and positive interactions from drivers and the general public. Most people appreciate that enforcement encourages the smooth flow of traffic and that parking officers are simply doing their job.

                    However, it’s not uncommon for drivers to become upset about getting an infringement. Occasionally this results in verbal or physical abuse towards the parking officer.

                    What does City of Melbourne do in cases of verbal or physical abuse towards its officers?

                    City of Melbourne takes these matters very seriously. No one should ever feel unsafe or threatened in their workplace, and it’s important to remember that the streets are a parking officer’s workplace.

                    It does not matter if the driver feels justified in their reaction, the City of Melbourne will document these incidents and reports them to Victoria Police for investigation.

                    Private parking agreements

                    What is a private parking agreement?

                    A private parking agreement (PPA) is a contract between the City of Melbourne and owners or occupiers to prevent illegal or unauthorised parking on private property.

                    What is a private enforcement agreement?

                    A private enforcement agreement (PEA) is a contract between the City of Melbourne and owners or occupiers to prevent illegal or unauthorised parking on privately owned roads.

                    Why do I need a private enforcement agreement?

                    You may need a PEA if unauthorised vehicles are preventing owners, tenants, staff or customers from being able to park on a privately owned road or road-related area.

                    Once a PEA is in place, parking officers will attend the area as part of a regular patrol or on request and will encourage compliance with parking rules and regulations.

                    Who receives the money raised from the parking fines?

                    The City of Melbourne. A driver who parks illegally in the City of Melbourne is at risk of being fined.

                    Am I eligible?

                    You won't be eligible if the road or area:

                    • is a commercial multi-level or underground car park
                    • requires 24-hour enforcement services
                    • requires security access
                    • has poor visibility and/or poor radio reception
                    • is otherwise considered unsafe for parking officers to patrol.

                    How do I apply?

                    ​You can apply online for a private parking or private enforcement agreement via City of Melbourne Services

                    How much will it cost?

                    Agreement fee 

                    There is a fee of $659 (GST inclusive), payable if your application is accepted. This includes processing of your application, evaluation of the parking plans, site inspections, other administration costs and maintaining the agreement for one year. 


                    Annual fee

                    You’ll receive a reminder when your agreement is ending so that you can renew. The cost is $659 (GST inclusive) which covers ongoing administration involved in maintaining the agreement for one year.  ​

                    Are there any other costs?

                    Yes, further costs may be involved in meeting the following requirements:

                    • Parking plan – to be drafted by a recognised traffic engineering consultancy firm and submitted to the City of Melbourne.
                    • Site works – such as purchasing and installing signs and line marking. Works should be undertaken by a registered traffic control company.

                    More information

                      Was this page helpful?

                      If you'd like to give more feedback or ask a question, please contact us.