Parking meters and fees

Learn about Brisbane’s metered parking zones, their fees and how to use a parking meter.

How much is parking in Brisbane?

What you pay for parking across Brisbane can vary depending on the:

location – there are 3 parking zones and each has its own rate
time of day – off-peak and free periods apply in some zones
day of the week – weekday and weekend rates can vary
duration of parking – capped fees are available at some meters.

Always check street parking signs to confirm if you’re in a metered zone and its hours of operation. Nearby meters will display the hourly charge for parking, as well as the times parking fees apply.

You can pay for on-street parking:

at a parking meter
by using the CellOPark app.

Free 15-minute parking

Fifteen-minute free parking is available in more than 7,500 on-street spaces and in Council car parks.

You still need to enter your vehicle registration at a meter or register your parking session in the CellOPark app.

If you don’t register your parking session, you could receive a fine.

A row of parked cars lines a quiet suburban street on a sunny day.

Parking zones and fees

Whether you’re parking on-street or in a Council car park, always check meters and signs for fees and conditions.

Parking fees are based on Brisbane’s 3 parking zones.

Fees for cars

Parking duration	Time	Charge per hour
Up to and including 3-hour meter	Weekdays 7am-7pm, Monday to Friday	$6.35
Up to and including 3-hour meter	Weeknights 7pm-12am, Monday to Friday	$3.45
Up to and including 3-hour meter	Weekends 7am-7pm, Saturday and Sunday	$3.45
4 hours and greater with maximum charge capped at $17.50	Weekdays 7am-7pm, Monday to Friday	$4.25
4 hours and greater with maximum charge capped at $13.50	Weekends 7am-7pm, Saturday and Sunday	$2.30

Fees for motorcycles

Parking duration	Time	Charge per hour
Up to and including 3-hour meter (motorcycle bays only)	Weekdays 7am-7pm, Monday to Friday	$2.70
4-hour meter and greater (motorcycle bays only) with maximum charge capped at $11.50	Weekdays 7am-7pm, Monday to Friday	$2.20

Fees for cars

Parking duration	Time	Charge per hour
Up to and including 3-hour meter	Weekdays 7am-7pm, Monday to Friday	$4.70
Up to and including 3-hour meter	Weeknight 7pm-12am, Monday to Friday	$3.20
Up to and including 3-hour meter	Weekends 7am-7pm, Saturday and Sunday	$3.20
4 hours and greater with maximum charge capped at $16	Weekdays 7am-7pm, Monday to Friday	$3.20
4 hours and greater with maximum charge capped at $10	Weekends 7am-7pm, Saturday and Sunday	$2.70

Parking duration	Time	Charge per hour
Up to and including 3-hour meter	Weekdays 7am-10pm, Monday to Friday	$3.20
4 hours and greater with maximum charge capped at $12.50	Weekdays 7am-7pm, Monday to Friday	$2.20

Note

If you park your motorcycle in a standard car park (rather than a designated motorcycle bay), you’ll have to pay the meter or car park fee for a car.

Learn more about motorcycle and scooter parking.

Paying at parking meters

Check the parking zone for restrictions

Once you’ve found a spot, check the nearest parking signs to confirm your parking is permitted.

Find a meter

Look for a blue ‘Pay here’ sign. Check the zone number on the meter matches the zone number on the parking signs.

Read the screen for fees and limits

Check the meter screen for hours you can park, time limits and capped fees.

Enter your registration plate number

Use the keypad to enter in your registration plate number.

Select parking duration

Follow the prompts. Remember, you’ll need to select if you’re parking for less than 15 minutes.

Pay for parking

Parking meters in Brisbane accept cashless payments only.

Tap and go

Tap your card or device against the external card reader to pay using Visa PayWave and Mastercard PayPass.

For more information, read the Parking meters terms and conditions.

Parking Meters Terms and Conditions

PDF • 411 KB • Last modified 16 March 2023

Paying with CellOPark app

CellOPark Australia is Council’s contracted mobile payment service provider and is a convenient way to pay for parking using your mobile device. CellOPark Australia offers a range of payment methods for paid parking zones and parking at Brisbane City Council car parks. CellOPark Australia provides this service on behalf of Council.

Register

To pay for a parking session from your mobile device, you will need to register as a CellOPark Australia user.

CellOPark app

Download the CellOPark app for free and pay using your device.

Check the parking zone for restrictions

Once you’ve found a spot, check the nearest parking signs to confirm your parking is permitted.

Open CellOPark Australia app

Select Brisbane as your location in the app.

Follow app prompts

Complete the required steps in the app to start your parking session.

Enter the correct zone number (look for the number on the parking sign).
Select start or scan the QR code located on the side of the parking meter or sign post to start your session automatically.

Pay for parking

End your session when you leave to pay for the time you’ve parked.

Select stop in the app or website, or
phone CellOPark’s automated phone payment service on 07 5646 5222. You must use the mobile number linked to the account. Your account is charged only for the time you use.

Note

Parking sessions end automatically when the maximum time for your zone is up or paid parking hours are over (e.g. in a 4P zone, sessions won’t last more than four hours).

Learn more about parking session time limits.

Helpful links

Frequently asked questions

You can be fined for not paying for parking in a metered zone during the time restrictions apply. However, you can dispute the fine and Council will consider withdrawing it if you provide evidence that you reported the broken meter to Council after attempting to pay for parking.

To report a parking meter fault:

text Council on 0428 410 111 with the parking meter number, vehicle registration and parking meter issue
phone Council on 07 3403 8888 to report the fault.

If a parking meter is broken, you have the option to pay for parking through the CelloPark app. This digital payment method ensures convenience and compliance even when the meter is out of order.

There’s free parking after 7pm in Brisbane on:

Saturday and Sunday in all parking zones
Monday to Friday in Zone 1 (the Brisbane CBD) and Zone 2 (the city fringe) in metered areas where the parking limit is 4 hours and greater
Monday to Friday in all metered areas in Zone 3 (the rest of Brisbane).

Check parking signs to know when payment for parking is required.

Yes, it’s illegal to extend your parking time if you’ve already parked for the maximum amount of time indicated on a parking sign or meter. You need to move your vehicle to another space after the time limit has been reached or you may be fined.

If you need to park for longer than the time permitted, you should find a metered space that offers longer periods of parking.

You can pay in advance for time you need in a metered on-street parking space.

For example, at a 2P meter operating from 7am-7pm, you could park before 7am and pay in advance up to 9am.

Advance payment can be made via:

parking meters from 4am onwards
using the CellOPark app as soon as the previous day's restrictions end.

You don’t need to download the parking app to use CellOPark to pay for parking. As long as you have registered with CellOPark, you can activate a parking session by calling 07 5646 5222 or via your online account.

Yes, you can get a parking receipt when you pay at the meter. Follow the instructions on the meter to download or receive an emailed copy of your receipt. Paper receipts aren’t available from parking meters.

Parking meters and fees