Under some circumstances we can temporarily change parking signs to reserve specific parking bays in an area or issue an exemption permit for your vehicle to avoid parking fees and time limits. This flexible option enables you to find the nearest available parking bay(s) and display your permit for extended parking.
Please note that we require five clear business days’ notice to process your application.
If private, off-street parking is not suitable for your requirements, you can apply for reserved parking for activities such as:
- visiting VIPs
- public events
- weddings
- school and community groups in buses
- removalists
- trades parking for building renovation/maintenance
- film crews.
Reserved parking can’t be used for non-vehicles, such as skip bins, cranes or scissor lifts. The City of Melbourne issues permits for occupation of public space for these activities.
How reserved parking permits work
A reserved parking permit allows registered vehicles to park and be exempt from fees and time limits in the areas specified on the permit.
However, depending on the location and amount of parking bay(s) you request, there are two possible outcomes regarding signage:
1. Signs unchanged (Self-Managed Locations)
- Signs cannot be changed at your requested location.
- Upon arrival, locate a permissive (green-signed) parking bay, park, and display your permit clearly on your dashboard.
- You are permitted to use bollards or witches hats to reserve your specified bay(s) as per your permit
2. Temporarily change signs (‘Reserved Parking’ signs)
- In some instances when signs allow, we may temporarily change signs to read: ‘No Stopping, Reserved Parking Permit Holders Excepted.’
- When you arrive, look for ‘No Stopping, Reserved Parking Permit Holders Excepted’ signs. Park within these bays and ensure your permit is clearly visible on your dashboard with all inscriptions legible.
See examples of both possibilities below.
Example of signs unchanged (Self-Managed Location) for one or two parking bays
Example of temporarily changed signs (‘Reserved Parking’ signs) for three parking bays
Before:
After:
If reserved signs are missing or the parking bays are occupied, park in the nearest available permissive bay, display your permit, and call us at 9658 9658 and quote your permit number.
General guidelines
- Permits are issued electronically, allowing you to print and distribute them to drivers as needed.
- Always park in the location indicated on your permit, ensuring the permit is visible from outside the vehicle.
How to apply
1. Please review the permit conditions:
2. Scout your location in person and take note of the arrangement of public parking bays in the area.
Photograph the location you require.
3. Download and complete the application form.
Submit your photograph of the location.
Bookings can begin at any time from 5am onwards. In the above example, the permit would apply from 1 December 8am to 5 December 5pm.
4. Submit your completed application form
Reserved parking permits cannot be issued on the spot.
Submit form
Fax
Post
Permits Team
PO Box 488
Melbourne VIC 300
In person
Melbourne Town Hall
Administration Building
120 Swanston Street, Melbourne
You must submit your application more than five business days before your required dates (allowing for weekends and public holidays) as per the example below:
5. We'll contact you before your booking with confirmation and payment instructions for your permit.
Your payment must be receipted by 10am on the business day before your booking.
6. You will receive your permit via email.
Print and distribute your permit to drivers.
7. Park in the agreed location and display the parking permit on your dashboard.
Supporting documents are required to confirm your eligibility for discounted reserved parking. See discounts above for more information.
To assist in stakeholder management, if you need parking for a film crew, public event or to operate rail replacement bus services please include the following uploads when you apply:
- A map showing the location of your activity and the location and extent of any parking changes.
- A copy of the letter you will provide to local stakeholders (via letter drop). You can use our stakeholder notification letter template (DOC 350 KB).
- A map of the letter drop area, clearly showing the properties where stakeholder notification will be delivered. You can use our distribution map stakeholder notification template (DOC 583 KB).
- $200 per day for the first parking bay.
- $100 per day for each additional bay.
For example, a booking of three bays would cost (200 + 100 + 100) = $400 per day.
GST does not apply to reserved parking.
No fees apply for buses transporting groups with specific needs for accessible parking. You will be required to upload either:
- a copy of a current Australian Disability Parking (ADP) Permit (for organisations)
- a letter on letterhead from your organisation, stating that the purpose of the application is to transport people with disabilities.
A 50 per cent discount applies for City of Melbourne residents needing reserved parking outside their home address for building maintenance, renovations or a removalist.
You will be required to upload either:
- a copy of a current utility bill or welcome letter from a utility company (showing your name and the supply address)
- a current lease agreement or letter of tenancy.
Frequently asked questions
If you require changes to your permit, an amendment fee of $200 per permit will apply.
We normally require five clear business days’ notice to process your application.
If you urgently need a permit, applications received with four clear business days or less notice before the required start date may be accepted at our discretion.
The following priority processing fees will apply:
- Four business days’ notice: $200
- Three business days’ notice: $297
- Two or less business days’ notice: $400
The availability of reserved parking depends on the existing parking signs in the area.
Parking bays can be reserved in permissive parking areas. These are public parking areas with green signs, for example: ‘2P Ticket’, ‘1P Meter’ and ‘1/2P’ areas.
‘No Parking’ and ‘Loading Zone’ areas may be reserved at our discretion and only in special circumstances.
We can’t reserve parking bays in any restricted parking area or area reserved for accessible parking:
- Clearways (during Clearway times)
- No Stopping areas
- Bus, Taxi and Permit Zones
- accessible parking areas
- narrow streets or lanes where parking would prevent normal access for other traffic
- Bourke Street Mall
- Swanston Street (between Flinders Street and La Trobe Street).
Reserved parking is available at Melbourne Town Hall on the north side of Collins Street, closest to Swanston Street.
Parking spaces in front of Melbourne Town Hall. At the Swanston Street/Collins Street intersection there is a no parking area, then along Collins Street there is a disabled parking space and a further six parking spaces.
This location is available only to essential vehicles or vehicles unable to park off-street due to height restrictions.
Vehicles transporting special guests or volunteers should be parked in private off-street parking.
Signs must be changed for bookings in this location. Bookings of two, four, or six bays are possible.
Trucks require a minimum of two bays.
Buses (normal passenger bus) require three bays.
A typical parking bay is six metres long. You can calculate the number of bays required by measuring the total length of your vehicle.
Remember to allow for additional space if you need to load or unload your vehicle from the rear.
Separate permits are required for non-consecutive dates.
For example, to reserve parking bays in Collins Street on 5, 11 and 22 January:
- You will need to submit your application with multiple locations, one for each date.
- We will issue three separate permits.
