Residents must purchase an annual pay parking permit to park free of charge at a pay parking meter in Byron Bay. The new pay parking scheme has replaced resident parking coupons.
Apply for or manage your pay parking permit
Location of pay parking car parks
The location of pay parking car parks in Byron Bay are:
- Main Beach Car Park (95 parking spaces / inc 5 Mobility spaces)
- Lawson St North Car Park (135 parking spaces / inc 3 Mobility spaces)
- Lawson St South Car Park (74 parking spaces / inc 1 Mobility space)
- Clarkes Beach Car Park (90 parking spaces / inc 2 Mobility spaces)
Tariffs and operating hours
Pay parking meters are available in all car parks with the designated pay parking car parks clearly signposted. Signage displaying the words “Meter Registration” indicates the requirement to pay for parking in a pay parking meter.
The current tariff for parking is $4.00 per hour, capped at $20.00 for all day parking in these car parks.
Operating hours: 9am to 6pm, seven days a week including Public Holidays.
The car parks are closed to all vehicles between the hours of 1am to 5am.
When parking your car, check the street signs and take note of the time limit. If you wish to stay longer, at the end of your time limit, you will need to move your car. Over staying the time limit, even with a valid e-permit, will incur a fine of $110.
Contact us
Pay Parking Hotline: 1300 811 942
Email: payparking@byron.nsw.gov.au
Meter Fault Line: 1300 308 449
1. When was pay parking introduced?
Pay parking was introduced in December 2015.
2. Where does it apply?
Check the map Pay Parking map. It includes on-street and off-street car park areas.
3. How does it work?
Council is adopting a ‘pay by plate’ system; that is, each and every time you park you will need to enter your licence plate into the meter, choose the duration of your stay and then pay the relevant amount. The amount charged however will depend upon where and how long you park and if you hold an E-permit exemption or not (see Q4-6). Note: E-permit exemption holders are not required to enter their plate in the meter.
No ticket will be issued at parking meter – it’s a paperless system. However, you will be able to print a Tax Invoice if needed.
4. What will it cost?
Unless you have an E-permit exemption (see Q5) Pay Parking will apply seven days a week between 9am and 6pm including public holidays. For those without an E-permit exemption, the rate will be $4 per hour in 1-hour (1P) and 2-hour (2P) locations, while 4-hour (4P) and some all day (4P+) sites will be capped (respectively) at $12 and $20 maximum payment per day. Parking signs and the meter will detail which amount and what time limit applies.
5. Can I get an E-permit exemption, how much is it and how does it work?
Pay parking permits will apply to (and be recognised by) the licence plate of a registered vehicle - regardless of which state/territory the vehicle is registered.
Pay parking permits will be available per vehicle for the following categories:
- $55 per year per vehicle for any resident/ratepayer of the Byron Shire; or
- $110 per year per vehicle for a worker/volunteer whose fixed place of employment or volunteer work is within the pay parking area but are not eligible for the resident/ratepayer E-permit exemption.
- FREE if you are a Byron Shire resident and hold a valid Centrelink issued pensioner (Blue) card.
- FREE if you have a Mobility Parking Permit.
As for paying for the pay parking permit, this can be done as a one-off, each year in full. Please visit www.byron.nsw.gov.au.
6. How do I get an E-permit exemption?
Visit our website, www.byron.nsw.gov.au. You will be required to provide proof of meeting the exemption criteria (Q8) and then once approved pay the exemption fee online.
7. How many E-permit exemptions can a household purchase?
Each motor vehicle in eligible households will be able to apply for an E-permit exemption at $55 or $110 per year per car. See Q5 for exemption categories.
8. How do I prove my eligibility for a Pay Parking Permit?
NEW or RENEWALS will need to prove your eligibility with all documentation to be in the same name as the permit holder. This will depend on which of the two categories you best fit.
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Byron Shire resident
or ratepayer
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Worker/Volunteer within the pay parking area
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Copy of current vehicle registration/certificate
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Copy of current vehicle registration/certificate and drivers licence
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Proof of residence , i.e. being either of the following on the proviso it shows your name and a Byron Shire residential address:
a copy of current vehicle registration; or
a Council rates notice or water bill; or
utility bill (e.g. phone, electricity, gas); or
name on rental lease/agreement or letter from landlord/owner stating length of occupancy (minimum 6 months)
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Proof of employment such as a current payslip with the name of the business and the address listed OR
a letter from your employer stating:
- your name and residential address
- the trading name of the place of employment and its operating address; plus
- the name and role (e.g. owner, manager, etc) of the author (signatory) of the letter plus their direct contact details.
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Completion of E-permit exemption application can beonline.
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Completion of E-permit exemption application can beonline.
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Please note - the residential or commercial property within Byron Shire is required to be in the name of an individual/s.
9. I volunteer in the Byron Bay town centre, can I qualify for the pay parking permit?
Yes, you can if your place of volunteering is located within the pay parking area. The volunteer organisation will need to apply for an account. Within the account, they can apply for a number of permit exemptions and include your number plate details. The cost for a volunteer who lives outside of Byron Shire is $110 per year, and $55 for residents.
You can email payparking@byron.nsw.gov.au for more details.
The permit will not exempt the holder from the signed time limits which must be adhered to at all times, otherwise penalties can apply. For example if 1P is signed then 1 hour limit applies, 2P is 2 hours, 4P is 4 hours, etc. You must move your vehicle once maximum time limit is reached.
10. Can I still come into Council’s Mullumbimby Administration Office and get a pay parking permit?
Yes you can. Staff at the front counter will be more than happy to assist.
11. What happens if I need to change my number plate for my pay parking permit?
From time to time, this may occur due to:
- the sale of a vehicle
- car insurance providing a rental car following a car accident
- Byron Shire ratepayers who choose to hire a car when they are visiting their property.
You can let us know the new vehicle number plate by sending us your new vehicle details plate and a copy of the new rego papers and or hire car rental agreement. Send us your details here for the 'Change Your Plate' link.
12. Can the pay parking permit be paid in instalments?
No. It will be a one-off payment, valid for a year.
13. When my time limit expires, will I need to move my car?
Yes, you will. Once your time has expired you need to leave your car parking space and park in another space.
Even if you hold a pay parking permit exemption you must obey the parking time limits indicated by signage. Not doing so, can attract a penalty.
With this in mind, it is best to park in an area that has a longer time limit than you think you may need.
Therefore, if a car space is available nearby (even as close as one space over) you can park in that space. Council's licence plate licence recognition system will be able to prove if a car has been moved or not.
14. As a rate payer, why can't we have parking stickers issued each year as some other Councils in NSW do?
Council acknowledges that some larger urban Councils mail out stickers as they may not have access to the newer parking machine technology (the ‘pay by plate’ system), or their population density and larger rate base means they are able to fund such an arrangement. Byron Council cannot afford to fund such a scheme.
Instead, Byron Shire’s pay parking scheme will be paperless with the pay parking permit accessible online. Residents will be able to simply park and walk away.
15. Is all day parking available within close walking distance?
Yes it is. To provide incentive to park outside the town centre, Clarkes Beach Car Park, Jonson Street (south of Kingsley Street) and on-street, east of Middleton, has no time limit. Plus we have an all-day car park at the Butler Street Reserve, available 6am to 6pm.
16. Where will staff park who don’t live in Byron Shire?
For those employed in the pay parking area, but are not a resident/ratepayer of Byron Shire, you will be able to purchase a $110 per year Worker E-permit exemption which will allow parking up to the signed time limits in any pay parking location be it within a Council-managed car park or on-street.
17. Where will the primary schools park?
All day parking is available in Tennyson Street at no cost, plus workers will be able to access either a $55 or $110 pay parking permit and park on-street or within Council-managed car parks. During pickup and drop off times, there are free 30-minute periods to cover the school drop off/pick up needs from 8am to 10am and 2pm to 4pm.
18. I live in a residential area that is adjacent to the pay parking area. How will parking in these areas be managed?
We are very aware that there could be some spill over of parked cars into residential areas adjacent to the Byron Bay pay parking area. There are now time limits in these areas (2 or 4 hours) and new annual resident parking permits issued for residents in these areas.
The new time limit will stop all day parking in these areas therefore ensuring amenity for local residents. It will only apply from 9am to 6pm.
The new resident parking permits allows residents in the perimeter area to park all day in their street – it will not be restricted by the time limit. Residents will need to display the permit on the dash of their car. It can also be used for guest cars.