Tips and Rules for Safe and Legal Parking

• Read all signs - regulated parking areas are clearly sign posted to advise motorist of parking requirements for that particular area, paying particular attention to multiple signs and time restrictions.
• “No Parking” areas can be utilised for drop off and pick up zones were the driver does not stay longer than 2 minutes and is within 3 metres of the vehicle.
• Be aware of signage changes as some timed zones may become School Zones, Clearways, Transit Lanes or Bus Lanes.
• Do not stop at anytime in a No Stopping zone, Clearway or Bus Zone.
• Only park in a Loading Zone if your vehicle is principally designed for the carrying of goods as sedans are not permitted at any time.
• Disabled Zones are designated for vehicles with a valid RTA Mobility Parking Scheme permit, which has to be displayed clearly on your vehicle in the correct manner (the penalty is excess of $430).
• Do not park within 10 metres of an intersection without traffic lights.
• Vehicles parked in 15 minute free parking areas must displayed a valid ticket available from the nearest parking meter.
• Report any faulting parking ticket machine by following the directions on the machine.
• Ask a Community Safety Officer for assistance or advice regarding parking rules - they are only too happy to provide assistance and advice, directions and general information about parking related matters and Parramatta City Council.
• Resident Parking Permits – must be displayed on vehicles in designated areas. Trailers are not permitted in these areas.

Recieved a Parking Fine? check below first

Parking Rules

No Stopping

The NO STOPPING sign means you are not permitted to stop unless traffic conditions require it (e.g. in a queue of traffic). These zones are created for public safety.

Bus Zones and Lanes

In a BUS ZONE, BUS LANE or BUSES ONLY LANE, you are not permitted to stop unless you are driving a public bus.

Taxis and motorcycles may stop in a BUS LANE (but not in a BUS ZONE or BUSES ONLY LANE).

Taxi Zones

In a TAXI ZONE, you are not permitted to stop unless you are driving a taxi.

Mail Zones

A vehicle must not stop in a mail zone unless the vehicle is an Australia Post vehicle.

No Parking

The NO PARKING symbol means you may stop for a maximum of two minutes. The driver must be in attendance and not more than three metres from the vehicle. This is to allow a vehicle to pick up or drop off passengers and goods.

Park In Marked Bays Only

When parking in a car park that has marked parking bays, a driver must position the driver’s vehicle completely within a single parking bay, unless the vehicle is too wide or long to fit completely within the bay. Such areas are usually signposted as a Restricted Parking Area.

Intersections

A vehicle must not stop within 10 metres of an intersecting road at an intersection without traffic lights unless a sign allows you to park there. This extends to 20 meters if the intersection has traffic lights.

Pedestrian and Children’s Crossings

A vehicle must not stop within 20 metres before and 10 metres after a children's crossing or pedestrian crossing.

Parking on Footpaths and Driveways

Under the Road Rules 2008 it is an offence for a motor vehicle to stop on a path/strip in a built up area unless there are permissible parking signs or a hard bay surface constructed for the purpose of motor vehicle parking. It is also an offence to park on or across a driveway or other property entrance (except on private property).

Council will exercise discretion in enforcing the rules in some streets where the footpath has been increased (e.g. rollback kerbs have been installed). For more details refer to Council’s Parking Enforcement Policy, pages 12 and 13.

Loading Zones

Loading Zones are clearly signed parking areas set aside for short term use by certain vehicles when loading and unloading goods in the course of business or when dropping off or picking up passengers. Loading Zones are generally located in urban centres for the use of vehicles principally designed for carrying goods. Loading zones may apply during certain hours only, or they may operate 24 hours.

Loading zones in the CBD area are shown on this map.

Station wagons and three-wheeled motorcycles may park in a loading zone for up to 15 minutes. The majority of 4WD, hatchback and other coupe and sport type vehicles are not defined as a station wagon under NSW Regulations as they are not principally designed and constructed for carrying goods. They are excluded from parking in loading zones.

Vehicles which are entitled to park in a loading zone for a maximum of 30 minutes include:

• Any sized truck
• A utility
  
• A Panel Van
  

Vehicles that are entitled to park for a maximum of 15 minutes in Loading Zones include:

• Station Wagon
• A Motor Bike that has three wheels
  

Vehicles excluded from parking in load zones include:

• Any AWD or 4WD type of vehicle
• Any type of People Mover vehicle
• Any small SUV type vehicle

Ticketed Loading Zones

Some of the loading zones in the Parramatta CBD area are ticketed loading zones. If the word TICKET is displayed on the Loading Zone sign, a free loading zone ticket must be obtained from the nearest ticket machine. It should then be displayed on the kerbside of the dashboard. All details on the ticket must be clearly visible from outside the vehicle.

Time Limited Parking Areas

A time limit may be stated on permissive parking signs. This enables anyone to use the available parking space for a set period instead of one vehicle parking for a maximum period of 24 hours (all day). The limited time is shown by a number beside the letter 'P' symbol (e.g. '1P' means one hour parking; ½'P' means half hour parking). Where the limit is very short (e.g. 5 minutes) the word MINUTE or MIN is shown with the number. Once the time limit has been reached a vehicle must leave the area.

Ticketed Parking Areas

The majority of the Parramatta CBD, as well as parts of the surrounding areas, are ticketed parking zones. Where the word TICKET appears on the sign, a current ticket must be purchased from a meter and displayed on the vehicle, on the kerbside of the dashboard. All details on the ticket must be clearly visible from outside the vehicle. Time restrictions also apply (as per Time Limited Parking Zones). A new ticket must not be purchased if the time limit has been reached.

Ticket machines accept coins (exact change only) and credit cards (MasterCard, Bankcard and Visa). The rates per hour are:

• $3.30 CBD (central)
• $2.20 North Parramatta (north of Parramatta River, except Church Street) and the southern part of the CBD (south of Parkes Street)
• $1.10 after 6pm and all day Saturday for operating meters
• $1.10 where there is 10 hour parking or all day parking

In most ticketed parking areas the time restrictions change after 6pm on weekdays and 4pm on Saturdays, allowing you to park longer.

Where more than one parking sign is displayed, please check the restrictions and times on all signs.

In time limited and ticket parking areas other road rules still apply (e.g. you must park in the direction of travel; you cannot park across a driveway.)

Free Parking

Free parking, for 15 minutes, is available in the following Parramatta City centre streets:

• CBD streets bounded by Marsden Street, Phillip St, Smith Street & railway line plus Church Street, south of Argyle Street. 
  
• Ross Street (between Villiers and Sorrell Streets).
  
• Grose Street (between Villiers and Sorrell Streets).
  
• Fennell Street (between Villiers and Sorrell Streets).
  

A map of these locations is available here.

A 15 minute free ticket MUST be displayed. The free ticket must not be renewed. Time restrictions still apply as per posted signs.

Five minute free parking is available in following streets of Parramatta (near schools, railway stations, Parramatta Central Library and Australia Post outlets):

Civic Place

• Macquarie Street (between Smith & Charles streets during 8:30 - 9:30am & 2:30 - 3:30pm, School Days)
  
• Little Street (8:30 - 9:30am & 2:30 - 3:30pm, School Days)
  
• Villiers Street (8:30 - 9:30am & 2:30 - 3:30pm, School Days)

Council Free Carparks

Parramatta City Council has several free carparks:

• Epping Carpark (Rawson Street) - maximum of two hours parking PER DAY
  
• Parramatta Swimming Pool Carpark (O’Connell Street) - maximum of two hours parking PER DAY
  
• Granville Carpark (Memorial Drive) - two hours parking (outer perimeter) or no time limit (inner section only)
  
• Granville Town Hall Carpark (Carlton Street) - three hours parking
  
• Guildford Carpark (off Talbot Road) – two hours free parking (as per signposted areas) and no time limit
  

In all of these carparks vehicles must park wholly in a marked parking space. The Town Hall Carpark also has two spaces reserved for Councillors. Signs explaining these conditions are posted at each entry to the carparks.
 

Private Parking Areas Patrolled by Council

Parramatta City Council has agreements in place to patrol several privately owned parking areas:

• 85 George Street Carpark (Parramatta)
  
• McDonald’s Carpark (Parramatta)
  
• 8-12 Sorrell Street Complex (Parramatta)
  
• Park Road Complex (Rydalmere)
  

Vehicles parked in the above locations must park in a marked space. They must also observe any time limits as and mobility parking areas as designated. Signs explaining these conditions are posted at each entry to the carparks.

On Street All Day Parking and Carparks

All day ticket parking (at a maximum fee of $7.70 or $6.00) is available on the streets on this map.
There are various carparks in and around the Parramatta CBD. Some are operated by Council; some are operated by the Parramatta Park Trust and; the remainder are privately operated. A list is available here.

Motorcycle Parking

Free motorcycle parking is provided in the following Parramatta locations:

• Civic Place Public Carpark (west end)
  
• Civic Place
  
• Macquarie Lane (adjacent Horwood Place Carpark)
  
• Erby Place (behind Phillip Street)
  
• Macquarie Street Carpark (north end)
  
• Parkes Street (outside Wentworth Street car park)
  
• Fennell Street Carpark (North Parramatta)
  

Council acknowledges the difficulty of displaying a ticket on a motorcycle. Therefore in ticket parking areas motorcycles are not required to purchase one. Note that all other parking rules apply (e.g. time limits and restrictions re parking in marked bays).

School Safety

Parramatta City Council is committed to providing a safe environment for the community around schools. Parking unsafely can put children’s lives at risk. Increased fines and loss of demerit points apply when certain parking offences are committed in an operating school zone:

• Parking in a driveway or on a footpath
  
• Stopping in a Bus Zone or No Stopping area.
  
• Stopping on a near a pedestrian or children’s crossing
  
• Double parking
  
• Parking in a No Parking area.
  

Council encourages parents to park legally in neighbouring streets and walk to schools.

Residents’ Parking Scheme

Council has introduced Parking Permit Schemes in parts of the Parramatta LGA near large employment areas and educational establishments so that on-street parking is available to residents and visitors. Parking permit schemes are currently available in the following suburbs:

• North Parramatta
• Parramatta
• Harris Park and Rosehill
• Granville (North and West of the City centre)
• Westmead
• Northmead
• Dundas & Rydalmere

Details are available here.

Set-Down/Pick-Up Areas For Parramatta Railway Station

Commuters can conveniently and legally be picked up and dropped off at the following locations:

• Darcy Street (north side outside Council Building) – No Parking area
• Civic Place (outside Parramatta Library & Australia Post) – 5 Minute Parking area
• Civic Lane (north side behind Parramatta Library and south side behind Sydney Water; only access via Civic Place) – No Parking area
• Smith Street (west side outside Sydney Water) - No Parking area
• Fitzwilliam Street (north side, outside railway station) - 5 Minute Parking, No Parking and No Parking Coaches Excepted areas
• Valentine Avenue (south side, near Wentworth Street south side) – 5 Minute Parking area
• Fitzwilliam Lane (west side, off Fitzwilliam Street) – No Parking area
• Wentworth Lane (east side, behind parking station) – ½ Hour Parking area

Parking For Disabled Drivers

Disabled drivers with a Mobility Parking Scheme (MPS) permit displayed on the windscreen are entitled to the following parking concessions:

• When parking in a ticket parking area, no charge is applied.
• Where parking is limited by a sign to more than 30 minutes, the vehicle can park for an unlimited time.
• Where parking is limited by a sign for 30 minutes, the vehicle can park for 2 hours.
• Where parking is limited by a sign to less than 30 minutes, the vehicle can park for a maximum of 30 minutes.

All disability parking permits issued in NSW will consist of an MPS permit and an Australian Disability Parking Permit. You must display the new Australian Disability Parking Permit along with your NSW MPS permit to be eligible for parking concessions. The permit must only be displayed when the vehicle is being used to transport the permit holder. Heavy fines apply for misuse.

Full details regarding obtaining and using MPS permits are available from the RTA here.

Parramatta City Council has provided several dedicated parking spots for MPS permit holders. They are shown on this map.

Further Information

The following links provide detailed policy and legislative information:

• Road Rules 2008
• Road Transport (General Act) 2005
• Road Transport (General) Regulations 2005
• Local Government Act 1993
• Parramatta City Council Parking Enforcement Policy
• Mobility Parking Scheme