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Reduction in car parking requirements

You may need a planning permit for a car parking reduction (or waiver) when:

  • You want to start a new use
  • You want to change the way an existing use operates
  • You want to construct or extend a building that would increase the floor area of a use
  • You want to build more dwellings and provide less car parking than what the planning scheme says.

The car parking requirements in the planning scheme are set by the State Government and apply across Victoria. It is common for a car parking reduction to be required in the City of Yarra, because there may be less room for car parking and we have good access to public transport and pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.

Car parking requirements are found at Clause 52.06 (Car Parking) of the Yarra Planning Scheme for most sites. In some instances, where a Parking Overlay applies to the land, different rates may apply.

In some instances you may need to apply for car parking to the satisfaction of the Responsible Authority. This is different to a normal planning permit application process, but the same supporting information should be provided.

You can contact the planning team if you require assistance.

  • Completed application form, which you will fill in online when you lodge your application.
  • The applicable Fee. You can learn more about fees here.
  • A recent copy of Certificate of Title from Landata that’s no more than 3 months old, including a full copy of any restrictive covenants or section 173 agreements.
  • A Car Parking Demand Assessment which includes:
    • Full details of the existing and proposed use (e.g. nature of the use, proposed number of dwellings, days and hours for trading, number of tables and chairs within the premises, as relevant).
    • Number of patrons, size of net, leasable and gross floor area (as relevant).
    • Number of existing and proposed on-site car spaces/bicycle spaces and end-of-trip facilities.
    • Any car parking credits that may apply to the site.
    • Number of on-site car spaces provided in accordance with expectations of the AS2890.01.
    • Number of on-site car spaces provided in accordance with expectations of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and AS2890.06.
    • Availability of nearby on-street loading/unloading bays.
    • Details of use including anticipated frequency of deliveries.
    • Details of parking available in the area (including any variation over time, if applicable).
    • Details of public transport in the area.
    • Details of sustainable transport options (such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities).
    • The short-stay and long-stay car parking demand likely to be generated by the proposed use (including any variation over time, if applicable).
    • The anticipated car ownership rates of likely or proposed visitors to or occupants (residents or employees) of the land.
    • An empirical assessment or case study (e.g. any data relating to a similar land use in a similar context and the breakdown of selected transport options or car ownership of visitors/employees/residents etc as relevant).
  • Note: Where a reduction of more than 10 car parking spaces is sought, the car parking demand assessment should generally be prepared by a suitably qualified traffic engineer and may be required to include empirical data about existing availability of public car parking in the area such as car parking surveys.
  • A covering letter explaining your proposal (including if it is a change of use where no construction is proposed).
  • Existing and proposed floor/site plans (and elevations, as necessary) showing the full site and:
    • Any existing and new buildings, with net, leasable and gross floor area annotated (as relevant) for all floor levels.
    • Abutting streets clearly labelled.
    • Existing and proposed car parking spaces provided on-site, with all spaces dimensioned (length and width of each space).
    • If car parking spaces are to be provided on another site, the location of proposed car parking spaces (with car parking spaces dimensioned).
    • The width of vehicle entry doors dimensioned (if applicable).
    • The minimum internal clearance – i.e. length and width - of a garage (if applicable).
    • Location of existing and proposed vehicle crossovers servicing car parking.
    • Access lanes, driveways and associated works (with width, length and internal radius (if applicable) dimensioned).
    • Allocation of specific car parking spaces to specific uses or tenancies, if applicable.
    • Sectional diagrams (typically 1:20 scale) that demonstrate the dimensions and grade of the proposed driveway, parking area, or crossover.
    • The angle of parking for any proposed parking spaces.
    • Headroom height dimensions of any garage/carport and minimum clearance to vehicular entry door/s dimensioned.
    • Finished floor levels, if relevant to car parking accessibility.
    • Any other information required to address the Design Standards at Clause 52.06-9.
  • A Green Travel Planprepared by a suitably qualified person outlining site-specific initiatives and actions to encourage the use of more sustainable transport options.
  • A site context plan to show the site and surrounding context including:
    • Surrounding on and off-street public car parking spaces and any applicable parking restrictions.
    • The location of public transport infrastructure;
    • Other surrounding uses and development.
  • Swept path diagrams and/or a vehicle ground clearance assessments for B85 and/or B99 template vehicles (as relevant) (preferably prepared by a suitably qualified traffic engineer) to demonstrate vehicular accessibility to site / car spaces.
For more information