How to park legally

There are many different parking restriction signs, which may seem confusing at first. Refer to the parking signage page information to help understand the different general signs.

Parents or visitors to school zones should be aware of the parking regulations in school zones and surrounding streets. Illegal parking in these areas can obstruct the vision of the pedestrian and/or motorist and put children at risk.

Drivers must be particularly careful when parking and driving in and around school zones. Pay attention to signs and restrictions in school zones.

Pick up and drop off areas are often situated in school zones to allow parents and guardians to safely drop off or pick up children. These areas are indicated by signage noting the short time limit that applies.

Cars must not park or stand a vehicle that is for sale or hire on land or a road under council's control. Council officers may issue fines to vehicle owners breaching this rule.

Loading zones allow for the following parking:

• 2 minutes for all vehicles to drop off and pick up passengers
• 5 minutes for all vehicles to drop off and pick up persons with a disability
• 20 minutes for non-commercial vehicles to pick up and drop off goods
• 30 minutes for commercial vehicles to pick up and drop off goods.

The sign may give a length of time for stopping. If so, you must follow the times displayed on the sign.

The commercial vehicle identification label permit provides for an additional 10 minutes of parking, for non-commercial vehicles, in loading zones. Customers interested in obtaining a commercial vehicle identification label can apply online through council’s parking permits application form.

No stopping zones are installed for the safety of both motorists and pedestrians. A no stopping zone is indicated by a yellow line or signage. These zones refer to the whole road reserve, including the footpath or unformed section adjacent to the road, not just the formed section of road.

It is an offence to park a vehicle adjacent to a yellow line or between no stopping signs:

• on the road
• shoulder of the road
• footpath or unformed section of the road.

Drivers risk an infringement if they do so.

For more information refer to the stopping on a yellow line fact sheet (DOCX, 361KB).

Council staff have a scheduled maintenance timeframe for repainting faded or worn yellow lines.

Council no longer installs, or maintains any existing yellow lines:

• across driveways
• on either side of your dwelling driveway
• over an entire length of a residential street.

For more information refer to the on-street parking: yellow no stopping lines fact sheet (PDF, 551KB).

Under the Transport Operations Road Use Management Act 1995 (QLD) section 200 - stopping on roads:

1. The driver of a heavy vehicle, or long vehicle, must not stop on a length of road that is not in a built-up area, except on the shoulder of the road
2. Subject to subsections (2A) and (2B), the driver of a heavy vehicle, or long vehicle, must not stop on a length of road in a built-up area for longer than 1 hour, unless the driver is permitted to stop on the length of road for longer than 1 hour by information on or with a traffic control device
   • (2A) The driver of a heavy vehicle, or long vehicle, may stop on a length of road in a built-up area for longer than 1 hour if the driver is engaged in dropping off or picking up goods for all of the period when the vehicle is stopped
   • (2B) Subsections (2) and (2A) apply unless a local law otherwise provides.
3. In this section:
   • heavy vehicle means a vehicle with a GVM of 4.5t or more
   • road does not include a road-related area, but includes any shoulder of a road.

Definition

Built-up area - in relation to a length of road, means an area in which either of the following is present for a distance of at least 500m or, if the length of road is shorter than 500m, for the whole road:

1. buildings, not over 100m apart, on land next to the road
2. street lights not over 100m apart.

Exempt vehicles include:

• vehicles carrying out emergency work
• trucks that have broken down. Exemption applies only for the minimum time necessary to effect minor repairs sufficient to permit removal to a place where it may be lawfully parked
• vehicles delivering goods or providing services to the area.

Long vehicles

Complaints about long vehicles (measuring 7.5 metres or longer), which do not exceed 4.5 tonne, standing on a road in a traffic area for more than 1 hour are to be referred to Queensland Police. This is not a council matter. It is enforced by the Police under section 200 of Transport Operations (Road Use Management - Road Rules) Regulation 2009 (QLD) on the Queensland Transport and Main Roads website.

Unless otherwise signed, the following rules apply at intersections and bus stops:

• park at least 10 metres from an intersection without traffic lights
• park at least 20 metres from an intersection with traffic lights
• park at least 20 metres behind, or at least 10 metres in front of a bus stop.

Refer to parking in the Sunshine Coast region fact sheet (DOCX, 538KB).

You must not park your vehicle so that it restricts the lane to less than 3 metres. This will restrict access by emergency vehicles.

Call the Queensland Police or contact council (during business hours) if a vehicle is parked on a street restricting the through lane to less than 3 metres.

Council manages a small number of public parking spaces in the Sunshine Coast Health Precinct and Birtinya area. These parking controls help visitors, businesses and residents access parking safely and fairly. Council manages about 2% of all parking spaces within the health precinct.

On-street parking options

View the Birtinya parking area map (PDF, 675KB) to locate available on-street parking in the precinct. On-street parking includes both paid metered and time restricted parking.

The meters use smart technology and can be topped up with coins, credit cards and smart phones through the EasyPark app.

Additional off-street parking is available in privately operated car parks within the health precinct, including the Secure P Parking Station on Eccles Boulevard.

Pay with EasyPark

You can pay for Council-managed metered parking using the EasyPark app.

The app allows you to:

• start and stop your parking session from your phone
• pay only for the time you use
• receive reminders before your parking expires
• extend your parking session - up to the maximum permitting parking time.

Visit the EasyPark website or download the EasyPark app for more information or call EasyPark on 1300 734 070.

Alternatively, customers can choose to pay at the parking meters according to their bay number using coins or credit card.

How to use the EasyPark app

In ground parking sensors integrated with the EasyPark app allow customers to view available parking bays in real time before arrival to the area.

1. Once parked, customers enter the 5 digit EasyPark area code (61001 which will be visible on the pole mounted signs and parking meters) or select it from the map on the EasyPark app.
2. Customers enter their rego number, select an end time and start parking.
3. Customers using EasyPark will receive a reminder to their phone 15 minutes before their parking time is up. They can then choose to extend parking or come out to move their car if the parking time limit is reached.
4. When leaving the bay, click stop parking and pay only for the time actually used.

Public transport options

The Sunshine Coast Health Precinct is well connected by public transport.

Use the TransLink’s Journey planner to find the best bus and public transport options for your trip.

Parking rules

Drivers must follow all parking signs and restrictions. Parking with the Birtinya Regulated Parking Area is regulated under the Queensland road rules and local laws. Always check the signs before parking your vehicle. Infringements may be issued.

Parking in residential streets

A two hour parking (2P) limit applies in the residential streets within the Birtinya Regulated Parking Area. Refer to the purple area on the Birtinya Parking Area map (PDF, 675KB) at the following times:

• 8.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday

Residential parking permits are available to allow residents to park on the street for unlimited periods (permits not required if residents wish to park on their own property). Application fees apply.

Hospital parking

Visitors can access a range of parking options within the Sunshine Coast Health Precinct, including hospital and private parking facilities.

For the latest information about hospital parking and transport options, visit the Sunshine Coast University Hospital website.