Apply for a residential parking permit

When you’ve completed the online application including payment, we’ll immediately email your interim parking permit to use until you receive the official permit.

Fees vary and concessions apply for vehicles in the green vehicle guide.

Project Status: When you need to do this

If you are a resident of the City of Sydney living at an eligible address and you do not have any onsite parking, you can apply for a residential parking permit.

If you live in a boarding house at an eligible address, you will need to contact us to apply instead of using our online application form.

What you need to do

Apply for a permit.

When you apply for a permit, the application form will begin by checking if your address is eligible. If you're not eligible for a parking permit, the form will let you know.

Apply now

Before you start

What you need to provide

Proof of registration of your vehicle

We only accept a current registration certificate issued by Services NSW or a screenshot of the online registration details. The vehicle must be registered:
- in your name
- to your residential address
- with vehicle details shown.
If the car is a company vehicle, you must also have a letter from the company that states your home address confirming that you are a company employee and you have full use of the vehicle.
Two documents that show proof of residence

These documents must show your name and residential address. Documents addressed to a post office box will not be accepted. Acceptable documents include:
- utility bill (electricity, gas, water)
- phone bill
- bank statement
- pension/health care card
- current lease
- driver licence
- council rates notice
- electoral card
- other official government correspondence.
If you own the property that you reside in, you can choose rates notice as a document type. We will use your rates notice to verify your name and address. You won’t need to upload your rates notice.

Documents relating to your vehicle cannot be used as proof of residence.

When you move house it can take a while to update your new address details. A temporary parking permit may be issued to tenants or owners of eligible properties. Find out more about temporary parking permits.

Parking permit area map

View the parking permit area map to see where your permit will allow you to park.

How your fees are calculated

Environmental discounts: We aim to demonstrate environmental leadership and are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change.

Green vehicle guide rating: The scaled annual permit fees are based on the star rating of your vehicle in the federal government's green vehicle guide.

Standard permit (vehicles not in green vehicle guide)

First permit: $89
Second permit: $137

Green concessions (What is my green vehicle rating?)

Vehicle emissions	First permit	Second permit
111.9 or less emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$46	$69
112–186.5 emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$67	$103
186.6–261.1 emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$89	$137
261.2 or more emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$178	$272

You'll need a pensioner concession card issued by Centrelink.

Standard permit (vehicles not in green vehicle guide)

First permit: $14
Second permit: $58

Green concessions (What is my green vehicle rating?)

Vehicle emissions	First permit	Second permit
111.9 or less emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$7	$29
112–186.5 emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$11	$42
186.6–261.1 emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$14	$58
261.2 or more emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$27	$116

After you finish

When you’ve completed the online application including payment, we’ll immediately email your interim parking permit to use until you receive the official permit.

If you opted to receive your official permit by post, please allow postage time.

Making changes or applying for a temporary parking permit

Depending on your circumstances, changes can be made to your permit or temporary permit.

If your vehicle is damaged or stolen, and you are using a replacement vehicle, we will issue an interim permit for up to 3 months. Contact us for more information.

3-month and interim parking permits

Vehicle emissions	Fee per permit
111.9 or less emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$46
112–186.5 emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$67
186.6–261.1 emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$89
261.2 or more emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$178

If you get a new car and you have a current permit, we’ll cancel your original permit and issue you with a new permit. This also applies if you want to transfer your permit to a different vehicle.

You’ll need to bring in your existing permit by removing it from your vehicle windscreen (it doesn’t matter if your permit is torn). If you don’t have the old permit you must complete a signed statutory declaration explaining why you no longer have the permit.

You’ll need to apply for the new vehicle permit by providing the new registration papers, or the contract of sale for a new vehicle. If the contract of sale is older than 4 weeks, your new registration papers will be required.

Transferring resident parking permits

Vehicle emissions	Fee per permit
111.9 or less emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$15
112–186.5 emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$22
186.6–261.1 emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$28
261.2 or more emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$57

Parking permits can't be swapped between vehicles because the permit displays your car registration. Your permit must be permanently affixed to the lower passenger side of the windscreen of the vehicle for which it has been issued. If you bring home different vehicles from your workplace each night, or if you have borrowed a vehicle that’s registered in someone else’s name, you are not eligible for a permit. If you wish to permanently transfer a permit from one vehicle to another, contact us.

Transferring resident parking permits

Vehicle emissions	Fee per permit
111.9 or less emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$15
112–186.5 emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$22
186.6–261.1 emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$28
261.2 or more emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$57

If your original permit is lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged, you can apply for a replacement permit. Contact us.

Replacement resident parking permits

Vehicle emissions	Fee per permit
111.9 or less emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$15
112–186.5 emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$22
186.6–261.1 emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$28
261.2 or more emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$57

If you are moving to the City of Sydney local area and want to get a permit before you change your address details, you can apply for a temporary parking permit if you are moving to an eligible property.

If your vehicle is registered interstate and you’re moving to the City of Sydney local area, we’ll issue you with a temporary resident parking permit valid for 3 months. You’ll need to provide us with a copy of the car’s original registration certificate. When you’ve changed your registration and licence to NSW (you must do so within 3 months), we’ll change your temporary parking permit to a permanent one.

It is compulsory to change your car registration to NSW, but it is not compulsory to change your licence to NSW. If you do not wish to change your driver licence to NSW, you will need to provide us with 2 types of identification.

If the vehicle registered interstate is a company car, then a yearly permit may be issued if your application includes a letter (on company letterhead) that’s signed by an appropriate company officer. It should state that you normally use the vehicle and that it is registered interstate in the company name.

3-month and interim parking permits

Vehicle emissions	Fee per permit
111.9 or less emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$46
112–186.5 emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$67
186.6–261.1 emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$89
261.2 or more emissions (tailpipe CO2 g/km comb)	$178

Other information

You may be eligible for a residential parking permit provided:
- you live permanently at your address within the City of Sydney local area
- you own your vehicle and its registration certificate shows your residential address
- your vehicle is not a trailer, caravan, truck, bus or tractor
- your property is rated residential
- you do not live in a 'restricted property' – see more information below
- you have less than 2 onsite parking spaces at your residence – see more below
- a residential parking permit may be issued to a company vehicle, with appropriate documentation – see point 1 of required proof above.
If you live in a new property, you may not be eligible for a residential parking permit. Check if your property is eligible for a parking permit.

When the City of Sydney approves the construction, conversion or major refurbishment of multi-unit residential developments, we often include a condition that restricts residents of the property from gaining a residential parking permit. This limits traffic congestion from new developments and protects existing on-street parking from excessive demand. It also ensures that new housing is affordable and sustainable, and provides more housing choices for households that do not need a car. Building owners and real estate agents must inform prospective buyers and tenants about any relevant restrictions.

The main restrictions apply to multi-unit developments:
- approved after 8 May 1996 in the former South Sydney Council area
- approved after 1 May 2000 in the former Sydney City Council area.
In Ultimo and Pyrmont, residents of certain developments approved after 2 November 1998 are generally entitled to 1 permit only at a higher fee.

In some other areas, 1 business permit may be issued per restricted property, if a registered business is operating from the property, and provided that no residential permit has already been issued for the property.

Start applying for a parking permit to check if your property is eligible.
In the Kings Cross area (area 19 – former parking areas 19, 23 and 26), more parking permits have been issued than there are on-street parking spaces.

Consequently, households in this area (classified as zone A) are entitled to fewer resident and visitor parking permits. All other parking areas are classified as zone B, and are eligible for more resident and visitor permits.

Eligible households in zone A can apply for up to 1 resident permit provided there is no off-street parking available. A household with an existing second permit or with 1 permit and an onsite space can renew that permit until they move.

Eligible households in zone B can apply for up to 2 resident permits.
If you have off-street parking you are required to use it, regardless of the difficulty of parking in that space.

You are not eligible to apply for a permit if your onsite space is unusable for reasons within your control, such as the size or weight of your vehicle.

Onsite parking is deemed to be available where it can accommodate a medium-sized passenger vehicle. In determining whether an onsite parking space exists, we will have regard to:
- accessibility by a vehicle
- the presence of a garage door or roller door
- the existence of a vehicular kerb ramp
- the presence of a carport or garage structure
- evidence of the space being used for parking
- any approved or registered plans.
When you apply for parking permits you will be required to disclose on the application form how many onsite parking spaces you have. We will maintain a record of onsite parking supply at each eligible residential or business address.

If your property has onsite parking, you will have a reduced entitlement to resident parking permits. For households in zone B the permit entitlements are:
- If your residence has no onsite parking spaces, you are eligible for 2 permits per property, provided both cars are registered to the address.
- If your residence has 1 onsite parking space and you have 2 cars registered to the property, you may be eligible for 1 parking permit.
- If your residence has 2 or more onsite spaces, you are not entitled to a parking permit.
For households in zone A, the parking permit entitlements are:
- If your residence has no onsite parking spaces, you are eligible for 1 permit per property, provided the car is registered to the address.
- If your residence has 1 or more onsite spaces, you are not entitled to a parking permit.
- If you currently have an existing second permit or have 1 permit and an onsite space, you can renew that permit until you move.
A maximum of 2 permits are available per eligible property in zone B. This entitlement is reduced by the number of onsite parking spaces available for the property – see above. The 2 permits can be in different names and must be for different vehicles. A higher fee applies for the second permit issued to a household.

A business and a residential parking permit may be issued to the same property, if:
- the property is a residence with a registered business operating from that property
- there is a vehicle registered in a business name at the same address.
Resident

Applicants for a resident parking permit must be permanent residents in the City of Sydney area. Resident owners, resident managers or resident caretakers who reside in pubs, small hotels, hostels, backpacker hotels or boarding houses are eligible to apply, subject to meeting the other eligibility criteria and having no onsite parking for their vehicles. Permits will not be issued to non-resident landlords, or guests of hotels, hostels or serviced apartments.

Residential dwelling

Applicants for a resident parking permit must live in a property approved for residential use. If a property or part of a property is not approved for residential use, you are not eligible for a resident parking permit. If a property or part of a property is being used for a residential purpose but is not approved for such use, the owners should complete a change in category of land form. If approved, the property details will be updated, and you will be eligible to apply, subject to meeting the other eligibility criteria.

Other ways to apply

Transport & parkingApply for a residential visitor parking permitAbout 5 days · $22

PoliciesNeighbourhood parking policyPublished 14 May 2018

Lists, maps & inventoriesParking permit area mapsPublished 29 August 2024

Close-up of a blue motor scooter next to a green scooter

Transport & parkingPark your motorbike or scooter in the city

Apply for a residential parking permit

Project Status: When you need to do this

What you need to do

Before you start

What you need to provide

Proof of registration of your vehicle

Two documents that show proof of residence

Parking permit area map

How your fees are calculated

Resident permit fees

Standard permit (vehicles not in green vehicle guide)

Green concessions (What is my green vehicle rating?)

Pensioner concession – resident permits only

You'll need a pensioner concession card issued by Centrelink.

Standard permit (vehicles not in green vehicle guide)

Green concessions (What is my green vehicle rating?)

After you finish

Making changes or applying for a temporary parking permit

Temporary replacement cars

3-month and interim parking permits

Transferring permits: new cars, different cars

Transferring resident parking permits

Swapping permits between cars

Transferring resident parking permits

Replacing lost or damaged permits

Replacement resident parking permits

Moving to the City of Sydney area

3-month and interim parking permits

Other information

Eligibility for residential parking permit

Restricted properties

Zone A and B permit limits

Onsite vehicle parking spaces

Second permits

Important definitions

Resident

Residential dwelling

Other ways to apply

Residential parking permit application