A road is deemed ‘narrow’ if the drivable surface, excluding kerbs and gutters, is less than 6 metres wide.
Traffic calming measures and devices, such as slow points or temporary street narrowings, designed to reduce vehicle speed, do not mean a street is inherently narrow.
A width of 6 metres allows for a vehicle to park on the road and for another vehicle including emergency and service vehicles to safely pass.
It is not always possible to parallel park on the side of a narrow road and allow sufficient space for other vehicles to safely pass.
When parking your vehicle on any road you must:
- park at least 3 metres away from any continuous dividing line, dividing strip or median strip
- ensure there is at least 3 metres of clear roadway beside your parked vehicle to allow other vehicles to pass
- leave enough space for emergency and service vehicles (e.g. ambulance, garbage truck, utilities) to safely pass.
Nature strip parking - roads less than 6 metres wide
When there is no other safe option, you can park your vehicle partially or fully on a nature strip if:
- the road is narrow - less than 6 metres wide
- you don’t block a footpath
- you can leave a gap of at least 1.2 metres to allow pedestrian or mobility access
- you don’t block access to a mailbox
- you don’t park over or obstruct utility covers or fire hydrants
- vehicles must be parallel parked when parked on a nature strip (where allowed on a narrow road). Parallel parked means the vehicle must be parked facing in the same direction as the flow of traffic directly adjacent to the vehicle.
Where can I park?
Understanding where you can park can be confusing. See the diagram below to find out where you can and cannot park on a narrow road.
