Public car parks/zones

Pay and display parking

Street parking throughout the Darwin Central Business District is controlled by parking meters. The cost ranges between $1.20 cents and 60 cents per hour depending on where you park. The more expensive parking is in streets closest to the main shopping and business precinct.

To use this convenient system, park your vehicle, decide how long you expect to need the spot then insert the appropriate coins in the nearest meter and press the big silver button. You will receive a ticket clearly indicating when your parking time is up. Place the ticket on the driver's side of your vehicle dashboard so it is clearly visible to Council parking inspectors who check regularly to make sure spaces are not being used illegally.

If you insert your coins and don't receive a ticket, or your coins get jammed and they're the last coins you've got, report the number of the faulty parking meter to Council on the freecall number 1300 661 322. You will not be penalised if you have genuinely tried to do the right thing.

Off-Street Parking

Darwin City Council provides nine off-street city carparks which are clearly shown on Council's carparking map and well marked with the familiar international parking emblem. Each has a number of parking bays designated for use by disabled people. The off-street city carparks are located at:

• Cnr. Mitchell and Daly Streets
• Cnr. Daly and Woods Streets
• McLachlan Street opposite St Mary's Cathedral
• Cavenagh Street next to the Post Office
• West Lane off Bennett Street
• Chinatown off Smith Street
• Cnr. Herbert Street and the Esplanade
• Nichols Place off Harry Chan Avenue
• McMinn Street at the lower end of Bennett Street

These off-street outdoor carparking stations provide 1968 spaces in the city area and have very reasonable fees for full day parking. Special monthly, six-monthly and annual access fees are available for most of Council's city car parks. 

For more information on off-street parking, phone 8930 0570

West Lane Carpark

West Lane Carpark is a multi-storey undercover parking facility located in Darwin 's central business district and has a shopping arcade and public toilets located on the ground floor. It offers 446 spaces and is serviced by two passenger lifts. 

Parking in West Lane costs from $1.20 for the first hour through to a maximum $8.40 for a full day. Entry is free after 4.00pm on Thursday, Friday and all day on weekends.

The Early Bird special provides all day parking for just $6.60 for patrons who enter before 9.00am .

West Lane Carpark is open for the following hours:

• 7am-7pm    Monday - Wednesday
• 7am-8pm    Thursday & Friday
• 7am-4pm    Saturday & Sunday

Please note, as of Friday 15 February 2008 West Lane Car Park will change from a cashier system to Pay and Display.

Chinatown Carpark

Chinatown Carpark is a multi-storey undercover parking facility located in Darwin 's central business district offering 500 spaces. 

Parking in Chinatown costs $1.20 per hour or in lesser increments for part hours. The Early Bird special provides all day parking for just $6.60 for patrons who enter before 9.00am. Parking is free Saturday and Sunday and for motorcycles.

Long-term reserved parking is available. For applications, phone 8930 0570.

Chinatown Carpark is open for the following hours:

• 7am-8pm    Sunday - Thursday
• 7am-10pm  Friday & Saturday

Disabled Persons Parking Permits

Permits are available for people with mobility limitations and who need special parking consideration. The permit must be displayed inside the windscreen in the vicinity of the vehicle registration label whenever the permit holder is using the vehicle. Permits are valid when travelling interstate and are transferable from vehicle to vehicle whenever the disabled person requires special parking consideration. There is an initial charge of $10 for disabled permits and then renewals are free of charge. Disabled permits are for a three year period.

The permit allows parking in any time restricted (on-street) area for twice the period indicated, and free on-street parking where Darwin City Council parking meters are installed.

To obtain an application form, phone 8930 0622 or 8930 0595

For further enquiries, phone 8930 0601 or 8930 0603, or

email: dcc@darwin.nt.gov.au

Loading Zones

Several loading zones are located within the Darwin Municipality to assist business people. They give ready access to business houses and have 15 minute time limits. Loading zones are for goods vehicles only,  ie vehicles such as trucks, utilities and commercial vans which are primarily designed to transport goods. Sedans, station wagons and various other makes and models do not fall into this category. Drivers of non goods vehicles may obtain a permit to use a loading zone by contacting Council's Customer Service Centre in the Civic Centre. Loading zone permits are valid for a  12 month period for a fee of $115.

Parking Time Zones

The parking signs marked 1/4P, 1P,  2P and 3P; refer to 15 minute, 1 hour, 2 hour and 3 hour parking times. They bring us in line with the standards set out by the Australian Road Rules. 1/4P parking is free but 3P parking requires drivers to obtain and display a valid pay and display parking meter ticket. Parking time zones are regularly patrolled by Council officers between 8.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday excluding public holidays.

Parking Meters

Council parking meters were implemented on 19 August 2002 and are in operation between 8.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday excluding public holidays. Parking is not time restricted and is free of charge outside these times and on public holidays and weekends free of charge. However, during the hours of operation, drivers are required to have a valid pay and display ticket on the dashboard of their vehicles. The CBS has three different parking zones and these are patrolled regularly for vehicles not displaying a valid parking ticket or which have a parking ticket that has expired. Council Officers allow a grace period for drivers to obtain and display ticket but please note that this grace period is not free parking.

ZONE A

It will cost $1.20 cents an hour to park in Zone A (or part thereof) and vehicles must be moved to another location after three hours. If you move to another location in Zone A, B or C before the time on the ticket expires, you can continue to use that ticket until the time is up - but you cannot stay parked in the same spot beyond a maximum of three hours.

ZONE B

Parking in zone B is 80 cents an hour (or part thereof) with a maximum limit of three hours. The vehicle must be moved to another location at the end of the three hours. If you move to another Zone B or C before the time limit of the ticket expires, you may use that ticket until the time is up - but you cannot remain in any parking bay for more that three hours.

ZONE C

Zone C parking has been set up for drivers who do not wish to park in off-street car parks but still wish to park on-street all day.

The cost of parking in Zone C is 60 cents an hour (or part thereof) or a maximum $3.60 a day. If you move to another parking bay within Zone C before the time on your ticket expires, you may use that ticket until the time runs out.

Double Yellow Lines

Yellow edge lines mean no stopping and no parking. They are put in places where vehicle, pedestrian or other traffic hazards exist. If Council officers observe you stopped in your vehicle on a yellow edged line, you can face a $50.00 penalty infringement notice.

To enquire about parking matters, phone 8930 0602.

Other Parking Permits

Application for a parking permit

Application for a parking permit for community service organisations

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