Parking regulations are State Laws, which are supervised by Council's Parking Officers and are designed to maintain safety and turnover of parking spaces. The Victorian Government sets the penalty amounts.
The types of parking restrictions that are found throughout the municipality are set under State Government Legislation.
Monash Council does not have any control over the requirements of the various parking restrictions, however, in most cases, Council decides which restrictions should operate in a specific location and when.
Council, in conjunction with Tenix Solutions, patrol and enforce parking restrictions in the municipality.
Parking Officers, who patrol the streets and check for compliance, do not set the restrictions or make the laws and, having issued an infringement notice, cannot withdraw it. They can make relevant notes so that any requested review of the infringement notice can be made with facts, as recorded by the officer at the time, taken into account.
The following are general parking rules and regulations enforced by Council inspectors:
General Rules
You must not leave a vehicle stationery or parked, if it is:
- Double parked
- Within an intersection
- Across a lane or private driveway
- Where you would leave less than 3 metres of road clear for traffic
- On the wrong side of the road
- On a footpath or reservation
- In a bus or transit lane
- Opposite continuous a solid white line unless there is 3 metres clear between your car and the line for the passage of other vehicles
Parking around Schools and next to Driveways
Council is often contacted by local residents who are concerned about the parking practices of parents dropping off or picking up children from a school in their neighbourhood.
When people double park or park too close to school crossings, it can make the situation unsafe for children and other people in the area.
We also hear regularly from residents who have been inconvenienced by people parking across their driveways (read also Parking Safely in your Street).
Our parking officers regularly patrol the areas around schools (and other local streets) so please make sure you obey the road rules at all times or you risk being fined.
- If you are stationary in a queue of traffic and a person gets in or out of your vehicle, you are double parking which is not allowed.
- You're not allowed to stop or park on a road in a position that obstructs access to a driveway or footpath.
Timed Parking
Time limits are set to allow as many people as possible to have access to parking in an area. The intention of these time limits is to ensure that vehicles leave the area after the initial time has expired and provides an equal opportunity to all users.
This approach helps businesses by ensuring parking is available for as many potential customers as possible.
Area-Specific Parking
Some residential areas are Residential Permit Parking Areas. There are several different parking signs located in these areas which indicate the parking restrictions eg, 2P Area and/or No Standing.
Nature Strip Parking
It is an offence to park on a nature strip.
Council uses its discretion not to enforce this road rule if a person parks on the nature strip next to their own home, if the vehicle does not present a safety issue or cause a hazard to other road users. Council also requires that the nature strip is not damaged. Residents who choose to park on a nature strip are always at risk of being fined by police.
Clearways
Clearways are used to improve traffic flow during peak periods. A clearway is a length of road where vehicles must not stop for any reason during the times set out on the sign. Clearways are usually along main roads such as Springvale Road.
No Stopping Zone
Means no stopping at all.
Stopping to let someone out of or into a car regardless of whether you leave the engine running or stay in the vehicle is not allowed.
No Parking Zone
You can stop in a No Parking area for up to two minutes, provided that you are setting down or picking up a passenger or loading or unloading.
Loading Zone
Loading Zones can only be used by authorised vehicles while actually delivering or picking up goods, services or people. These vehicles include taxis, buses, trucks, vans, utes and other vehicles used for delivery who have permanent signs fixed to both sides of the vehicle. Magnetic signs are not permitted.
If there is no time limit on the Loading Zone sign, then 30 minutes is the maximum time that an authorised vehicle can park in a Loading Zone.
Disabled Bays
Holders of Category 1 Disabled Parking Permits (blue in colour) can park in:
- Disabled Parking Bays for the time indicated, or
- Ordinary Parking Bays for double the period shown on the parking sign and, if parking fees apply in the area, payment of any initial applicable fee.
Holders of Category 2 Disabled Parking Permits (green in colour) can park in any ordinary parking bay for double the period shown on the parking sign and, if parking fees apply in the area, payment of any initial applicable fee.
Note that Disabled Parking Permits do not provide any other concessions or exemptions from parking restrictions. The permit must be current and clearly displayed to be effective.
To obtain a permit, please visit the Disabled Permit page for details.
Public Holidays
Some parking restrictions do not apply on public holidays.
For parking signs that have days of the week on them (e.g. Monday to Friday or Saturday/Sunday), the restrictions do not apply on public holidays. These include Loading Zones and No Stopping signs only if they have a day of the week on the signage.
This means that, if a restriction normally applies from Monday to Friday and a public holiday falls on one of those days (such as Monday), the restriction does not apply on that day (the Monday).
Parking signs without any days listed on them apply every day, regardless of whether it’s a public holiday or not.