Vehicle access permits
We control vehicle access and parking in areas that are primarily for use by pedestrians:
- Swanston Street, between Flinders and La Trobe streets
- Bourke Street Mall, between Elizabeth and Swanston streets.
You must have a vehicle access permit to enter, stop and park in these areas. Access is limited to permitted vehicles only, and only during designated times.
The permit scheme maintains reasonable access for vehicles that are required to service businesses located within these areas.
Permits are applied for online and digitally issued to successful applicants.
Fleet and Media permit holders must print and display their permit on the vehicle dashboard, with all details visible through the passenger side of the front windscreen while parking in designated areas.
All other permit holders are not required to display a permit. Their permit is associated with each authorised vehicle’s registration.
Eligibility
To apply for a vehicle access permit, you must:
- be a business that is servicing properties (delivering goods or services) in Swanston Street or Bourke Street Mall
- (for Bourke Street Mall) be servicing a business that has no alternative access to its premises
- be verified in writing by your client
- not be operating a bus, coach, taxi or ride share service or vehicle.
Better parking in your neighbourhood
As per our Parking and Kerbside Management Plan we’re making parking simpler and fairer in your neighbourhood.
Find out more at Better parking.
How to apply
Permit holders are responsible for ensuring:
- Records of authorised vehicle registrations are up-to-date on their digital permit.
- Vehicles only access restricted areas when and where access and parking signs indicate an exception is provided.
- Vehicles observe parking signs and time limits within excepted areas.
Before you apply, review the vehicle access permit conditions:
To start an application, you'll need to log in with your registered customer account.
Find out more about how to register and log in.
Apply for vehicle access permit
When you apply, you will need to upload a letter, on letterhead, from your client.
- Your client’s premises must be located in the area where you are applying for a permit.
- The letter must state the area where you require access, and the pick-up/drop-off points.
- Your client’s premises must be serviceable only from Bourke Street Mall if you are applying for a Bourke Street Mall permit.
The permit fee is $542 per vehicle, per access area.
Bourke Street Mall vehicle access permits include access to Swanston Street.
Example:
- For access to Swanston Street only, the permit fee is $542 per vehicle.
- For access to Bourke Street Mall and Swanston Street, the permit fee is $1084 per vehicle.
Permits are valid for 12 months from date of issue.
Fees for this permit discourage non-essential vehicles from accessing Swanston Street and Bourke Street Mall, which are not open to regular vehicle traffic. Delivery drivers can still use existing loading zones and parking spaces located in surrounding streets.
A vehicle displaying a vehicle access permit is permitted to park:
- in areas marked 'Authorised Vehicles Excepted'
- during the times that the signs operate
- during the times that the permit is valid
- for no longer than the time indicated on the permit.
Vehicle access permits for Swanston Street typically only allow parking for up to 30 minutes and are not valid between:
- 7.30am and 9.30am
- midday and 2pm
- 4pm and 7pm.
Vehicle access permits for Bourke Street Mall and Swanston Street typically only allow parking for up to 30 minutes and are not valid for entry to Bourke Street Mall between:
- 7.30am and 9.30am
- 10.30am and midnight.
Where you can't park
Vehicle access permits do not allow you to:
- stop or park in 'No Stopping' areas
- enter tram super stops.
If you’ve replaced a vehicle, changed your vehicle registration or need to temporarily use a loan vehicle to service your client, you can manage your own permit to substitute authorised registrations as required:
- Log in to City of Melbourne Services onlineOpens in new tab.
- Navigate to your vehicle access permit.
- Amend the permit by replacing one of the authorised registrations with an alternative registration.
Changes made to authorised registrations are not active until the following day.
If you’ve purchased a new (additional) vehicle:
- Existing permits do not support additional vehicles. For example, a permit for 10 vehicle registrations can't have an 11th vehicle registration added.
- To obtain a permit for any additional vehicles, you need to apply for a new permitOpens in new tab for those vehicles.
