Illegal parking
As a driver on ACT roads, you have a responsibility to make sure you follow the road rules. This includes parking.
Some examples of where it is illegal to stop or park your car are:
- on a taxi rank or bus stop
- in a no stopping zone
- in a no parking zone (you can stop but not park)
- on a traffic island, the median strip or plantation in a divided carriageway
- in a loading zone unless you or the vehicle have a permit
- across any passage, thoroughfare, entrance, driveway or foot crossing
- so that any part of the vehicle overhangs any line marking or parking space or bay
- anywhere other than in a marked bay in a car park marked into bays
- on footpaths or nature strips
- on the wrong side of the road and not in the direction of traffic.
Read about parking permits.
The ACT Parking Infringements Guide (PDF 4.7MB) (DOCX 8.4MB) explains where and when it’s illegal to stop or park your vehicle.
The ACT road rules handbook [PDF 5.5MB] [DOCX 4.7MB] gives a full description of the parking rules.
If you don’t follow the rules, you risk getting an infringement notice.
Read about traffic and parking infringements.
Report illegal parking
If you see a car that's parked illegally, you can report it to us.
We'll investigate and confirm the report before issuing a fine (infringement).
We can’t investigate or take action on many anonymous reports. If you make an anonymous report we'll use the information you provide to target areas where risks are the greatest.
What you'll need
You can help us investigate your report by providing:
- photos of the vehicle
- the location of the vehicle
- the vehicle's numberplate.
Licence plate recognition
The ACT uses licence plate (numberplate) recognition (LPR) technology.
Car-mounted cameras take infrared photos of vehicles and their licence plates to confirm they are legally parked.
The registered owners of vehicles illegally parked will receive an infringement notice in the mail.
Focus areas include on-street parking areas around schools, in high pedestrian areas and in town centres.
LPR frees up Parking Officers to target illegal and unsafe parking on foot.
Illegally parked vehicles identified by Parking Officers will still receive an infringement notice on their windscreen.
Read about traffic and parking infringements.
Mobility parking permit holders
LPR recognises vehicles with mobility parking permits. Holders of these permits can park in ACT Government car parks for free, and past the time restrictions.
Read about disability parking permits.
LPR will not issue an infringement to permit holders who have parked beyond the time restriction.
If you think you received an infringement notice in error, you can request it is withdrawn.