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                    Resident parking permits: Carlton, North and West Melbourne

                    Parking sign.
                    Residents of eligible properties in Carlton, North Melbourne and West Melbourne can apply for up to two parking permits as well as visitor parking vouchers.

                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​To balance parking needs in residential areas, permits are only available where a property has not contributed to an increase in residential density.

                    • In areas 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 9A, 9B, 9C: your home must have been issued a certificate of occupancy before 1 July 2005.
                    • In areas 5 and 6: your home must have been issued a certificate of occupancy before 1 July 2008.

                    Residents are not eligible if the property has been reconstructed to increase residential density, is a commercial property or is purpose-built student accommodation.

                    If your property was originally and is currently a residential property: it may be eligible for parking permits if it has been restored to use as a residence after the cut-off dates and does not increase the number of dwellings.

                    Find your parking permit area.

                    How to apply

                    ​Please read the Conditions of Issue and Use (DOC 86 KB) before applying.

                    You can either apply online or submit a completed application form by email, post or in person.

                    Apply online.

                    Apply by email, post or in person

                    Alternatively, you can download the Application form (PDF 658 KB) or view the Accessible application form for screen readers (DOC 97 KB) and submit your completed form by email, post or in person.

                    • Email: residentialparking@melbourne.vic.gov.au
                    • Post:
                      City of Melbourne Permits Team
                      PO Box 488
                      Melbourne VIC 3001
                    • In person:
                      Melbourne Town Hall Administration Building
                      120 Swanston Street, Melbourne
                      Business hours, Monday to Friday (public holidays excluded)

                    In most cases, parking permits applied for in person can be issued on the spot.

                    Number of permits available to you

                    ​If your property has:

                    • no off-street parking spaces, you can apply for up to two permits
                    • one off-street parking space, you can apply for one permit
                    • two off-street parking spaces, you’re not eligible for a permit.

                    If your garage or carport is housing items other than a car, it is considered to be a parking space under the scheme.

                    Permit options available

                    • Single registration: a permit for use by one specific vehicle, with the vehicle registration printed on it.

                    Example of permit 

                    • Dual registration: a permit for use by two specific vehicles, with the two vehicle registrations printed on it. The permit can only be displayed on one of those vehicles at a time.

                    Picture of permit. 

                    • Visitor vouchers:
                      a booklet of 18 single-use visitor vouchers. A booklet contains 12x 3-hour, 4x 24-hour and 2x weekend vouchers. 
                      Visitor vouchers do not have an expiry date. If you require more, you may buy one booklet every two months by applying online.

                    Picture of permit. 

                    All permits are issued for 12 months. Vouchers do not have an expiry date.

                    Permit combinations

                    An eligible property can have one of the following combinations:

                    • up to two single registration permits
                    • one single registration permit and one dual registration permit
                    • up to two dual registration permits.

                    You can also buy one booklet of 18 visitor vouchers.

                    Required documents

                    You must provide us with two documents (one from each category). A list of accepted documents from each category are below.

                    Documents submitted must be current and dated within the last three months.

                    Category 1

                    Confirmation you reside at the property.

                    Provide one of the following:

                    • Utility bill, (e.g. gas, electricity, home telephone - excluding water bills)​ or welcome letter from utility company issued in the last three months, showing supply charges billed to applicant's name at the property address.
                    • Signed lease or tenancy agreement by tenant and landlord or agent with at least six months remaining from the permit application date.​
                    • Statutory declaration signed by the property owner or landlord with at least six months remaining from the permit application date.

                    Category 2

                    Confirmation you own or use the vehicle appearing on the permit.

                    Provide one of the following:

                    • ​A vehicle registration certificate showing the vehicle is registered in your name.​
                    • The vehicle’s Bill of Sale (if issued within the last 3 months) or a copy of the vehicle’s Transfer of Registration.
                    • A registration certificate and statutory declaration (PDF 186 KB) from the owner, indicating that you have personal use of the vehicle.
                    • For company vehicles: a letter from your employer on company letterhead, indicating the vehicle is for your exclusive use.​

                    If the supporting documents are in someone else's name, they should apply for the permit instead.

                    Note: A permit is only valid for registered motor vehicles, less than 7.5 meters in length and less than 4.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass.

                    Fees and payments

                    • ​First permit issued at the property (12-month permit): $47
                    • Second permit (12-month permit): $137
                    • Visitor voucher booklet (18 vouchers): $60.

                    After we approve your permit application, a payment request notice will be sent to you. Please use one of the payment methods specified on the letter to pay​.​

                    Permits and vouchers are non-refundable.

                    Concessions

                    Fees are waived for applicants who hold one of the following cards:

                    • Pensioner Concession Card
                    • Veteran’s Affairs Pensioner Concession Card
                    • Repatriation Health Card for either TPI or War Widow.

                    You must produce a copy of the card when you apply. Your card must show the same address as the permit application. Health Care Card holders are not eligible for concession.

                    Interim permits

                    If your property is eligible for a permit but you're still gathering the required documents, we can issue you a four-week interim parking permit in the meantime. No extensions are available.

                    To apply for an interim permit, you must visit the Melbourne Town Hall Customer Service Centre with photo ID and provide at least one piece of documentation on a company letterhead that has your new residential address.

                    Interim permits cost $47 for the first permit and $137 for the second permit.

                    Picture of permit.

                    Replacement permits

                    All requests for replacement permits must be made in writing by the permit holder.

                    All requests for replacement permits must be made in writing by the permit holder.

                    If a permit is missing in the post, lost, stolen, damaged or you've changed your vehicle registration, the permit holder may request a replacement permit in writing.

                    You can do so here.  For replacement permit requests, use 'Replacement residential Permit' as the subject.

                    You'll need to outline the reason/s for replacement and submit the required documents as follows:​

                    For permits not received or missing in the post:

                    • Permits are typically issued and posted within two business days with delivery times via Australia Post ranging from two to four business days. If more than six business days have passed and your permit has not been delivered, this permit may be cancelled and replaced at your request. Replacement of a missing permit will incur a fee of $47/137, no supporting documentation is required and replacement permits are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. This fee may be waived in the first instance of a missing permit at this property address if missing permit is reported within three weeks after payment.

                    For lost permits:

                    • We will replace your lost permit for a fee of $47/137 (equivalent to the annual permit fee) without any supporting documents required. The new permit will be valid for 12 months.

                    For stolen permits:

                    • Provide a copy of a police report. We take permit misuse very seriously and after receiving a police report, we’ll cancel your old permit immediately.

                    For damaged/unusable permits:

                    • Return the damaged permit to us via post or by visiting Melbourne Town Hall. We’ll wait to receive this before issuing your replacement permit.

                    If you’ve recently purchased a new car or changed your vehicle registration:

                    • Return the old permit to us via post or by visiting Melbourne Town Hall and provide a copy of your new vehicle’s registration certificate. We’ll wait to receive your old permit before issuing your replacement permit.
                    • If you’re not the registered owner of the new vehicle, you’ll also need to provide a statutory declaration (PDF 17 KB) from the vehicle owner indicating that the vehicle is for your personal use.
                    • If the vehicle is owned by a company, you must supply a letter from your employer on company letter head indicating that the vehicle is for your exclusive use.
                    • The permit being replaced will be cancelled.

                    If you provide the above information for stolen, damaged or change of registration permits, the replacement permit will be free of charge and have the same expiry date as the permit it replaces. If you can’t provide the above information, a new permit may be issued (with a new expiry date) at the cost of an annual permit ($47/137).

                    If you prefer, you can visit the Melbourne Town Hall and have your new permit issued on the spot.

                    Residential parking permits – FAQs

                    How do visitor vouchers work?

                    • Vouchers can be used where parking signs specifically indicate permits are excepted. The area indicated on the voucher (for example, Area 4a) must match the area noted on the sign.
                    • Vouchers must be filled in with a permanent marker and are not valid if completed in pencil. Each voucher is single-use only and is not valid if re-used or altered.
                    • 3-hour vouchers allow an additional 3 hours on top of the time shown on the sign. For example, if a vehicle displaying a 3-hour voucher is parked in a 2P (two hour parking) area, the voucher extends the legal parking time to 5 hours.
                    • 24-hour vouchers are valid for 24 hours from the handwritten time and date on the voucher.
                    • Weekend vouchers are valid from Friday noon through to Sunday midnight. If there is a public holiday on the Friday, then the voucher starts on the preceding Thursday noon. This does not extend to public holidays on a Monday.
                    • The correct display of a valid voucher exempts the driver from paying parking fees.

                    What is considered to be ‘off-street parking’?

                    Properties that have garages, driveways or car ports etc. are considered as having off-street parking, regardless of their use.

                    Why is the fee for my second permit higher than my first permit?

                    ​One of the objectives of our parking scheme is to ease demand on parking, making it easier for residents with permits to find a parking space.

                    Evidence suggests that the increased fee is an incentive for residents to:

                    • make better use of any available off-street parking
                    • reconsider the purchase of a second permit unless absolutely necessary
                    • use public transport, cycling and walking for travel around Melbourne.

                    Fewer permits mean more available parking for residents.

                    My house was issued a certificate of occupancy after the specified date. Can I still get a permit?

                    No. You will not be eligible for a permit if your property was issued a certificate of occupancy after the specified date, or if it has been reconstructed, increasing residential density. We do not make exceptions for individual residents or properties.

                    I own a property within the permit area, but I don’t live in it. Can I get a permit?

                    No. Property owners who do not reside at the property are not eligible for a permit.

                    I require a nanny or in-home carer. Can they get a permit?

                    Yes. However you must meet strict eligibility criteria before a permit may be issued for use by a nanny or carer. A nanny may need to supply a payslip or letter from their employer showing proof of employment as a nanny at the nominated property; a carer may need to supply a letter from your treating medical practitioner and a tax invoice from the carer’s employer. Please contact the Permits Team on 9658 9658 for further information.

                    I use company vehicles that change frequently. Is there another permit option available?

                    Yes. If you use a company vehicle that changes frequently you may be eligible for a Fleet permit. You must meet strict eligibility criteria before this permit can be issued. Please contact the Permits Team on 9658 9658 for further information.

                    I recently bought my vehicle and don’t have the registration certificate. What other proof of ownership can I supply?

                    If you can’t supply a copy of the vehicle’s current registration certificate, we will also accept a copy of the vehicle's Bill of Sale (if issued within the last 3 months) or a copy of the vehicle's Transfer of Registration. Documents need to show your name and the vehicle registration number for which the permit will be issued.

                    Do I need to send in the required documents or can these be sighted instead?

                    Documents must be sent to us. If you have concerns about providing copies of the required documentation, you can apply for the permit in person at Melbourne Town Hall Administration building, 120 Swanston Street, Melbourne, where your documents can be sighted by staff.

                    How can I pay online?

                    Read our online payments advice for information on what is needed to pay for your permit online.

                    Find your parking permit area​

                    ​Using the map and zoom controls, select your area to see the permit area number. 

                    ​​Note: while your property may be in a permit area, you can only use a permit where the parking sign displays an exception for residents.​

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                    Parking permit areas
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                    More information

                    ​The Carlton Access and Parking Strategy forms the basis for the current parking permit eligibility criteria as it applies to the Carlton area.

                    Contact us

                    Need more help? Ask us a question here.

                    For permit-related questions, use 'Residential permits' as the subject.​

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