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Parking heavy vehicles in residential areas

Depending on the size, type and purpose of heavy vehicles, there are restrictions for where you can park them in residential areas.

Heavy vehicle parking on residential land is regulated by the Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Regulation 2017 and heavy vehicle parking in residential streets is regulated by the Road Transport (Road Rules) Regulation 2017.

Able to park on most residential land

Vehicles meeting the following criteria can park on most residential land. These vehicles must:

  • have a gross vehicle mass (GVM) less than 4.49 tonnes
  • be less than 7.49 meters long
  • be less than 2.6 meters high.

The exception is when the land contains multi-unit dwellings such as townhouses or apartments.

Prohibited from parking near multi-unit dwellings

Vehicles with a GVM over 3.75 tonnes, longer than 6 metres or higher than 2.6 metres are prohibited from parking on residential land containing multi-unit dwellings.

Prohibited from parking on residential land

Heavy vehicles with a GVM over 4.5 tonnes and longer than 7.5 meters can’t park or remain stationary on certain types of residential land for more than 1 hour.

The following, whether loaded or unloaded, are prohibited from parking on residential land:

  • stock trucks
  • semi-trailer pantechnicons (load space permanently enclosed by rigid construction or with sides enclosed by non-rigid material and a rigid roof)
  • vehicles higher than 3.6 metres and used for commercial purposes.

Heavy vehicles of this class can only stay for more than 1 hour when:

  • it is necessary to park on residential land to avoid contravening a law
  • collecting or delivering goods or passengers
  • providing services.

Conditions that apply when parking on residential land

The following conditions apply to heavy vehicles that can park on residential land:

  • Only one heavy vehicle can park on residential land at any given time. An exception applies when a second vehicle contains plant or equipment such as a bobcat or crane. If you have a second vehicle, the combined height of both vehicles must not exceed 3.6 meters.
  • The vehicles must not be in front of your home, close to neighbouring properties or be less than 1.5 metres from any residential land boundary.
  • You can only operate a heavy vehicle in residential areas between 6 am and 10 pm except where a person holds an ‘existing operator certificate’. Existing operators can operate their vehicle between 5:30 am and midnight.
  • While parked, all heavy vehicles are prohibited from operating a refrigeration unit on residential land except when collecting or delivering goods.