Parking Signs

Parking signs let you know where and how you can park on a section of the road.

Throughout Townsville many types of parking areas and zones are used, which this page will help you to understand so that you can avoid parking fines.

About Parking Signs

Some kinds of parking signs you can expect to see are:

• Bus Zones
• Disability Parking Areas
• Electric Car Recharging Station
• Event Parking Zones
• General Parking Zones
• Loading Zones
• No Stopping Zones
• School Parking and Speed Limit Zones
• Taxi Zones.

For more parking signs visit the Queensland Government's website.

Bus Zones

These zones are places for buses to stop, and so only buses are allowed to stop or park there.

For more information about bus services visit either:

• our Public Transport page
• the relevant service website.

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Disability Parking Areas

We recognise the use of Disability Parking Permits issued by any state or national authority.

Your permit entitles free unlimited parking in any disabled parking space and in any timed parking space where the time permitted is half an hour or greater.

You may park in any loading zones, no-stopping spaces, bus spaces or any 5-minute or 15-minute parking spaces for only as long as the time specified on the applicable parking sign.

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Event Parking Zones

These zones are indicated as having special hours during events.

These signs are usually elaborated on by a larger parking area sign nearby.

For more information about parking during events:

• visit the Event Parking page.

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General Parking Zones

The maximum time you can park and pay for corresponds to the parking space you are using.

These signs indicate:

• how long you can park (the P on its own means there is no time limit, or a number before the P indicates you can park for that set amount of hours)
• where you can park (the arrows show which areas the sign applies to)
• hours and days the rule applies
• the direction you need to park in (such as angle front in, parallel, or angle rear in)
• whether you are required to pay for the space.

Within Townsville city, the first 15 minutes are free if you are parking in a 2P area. You will have the option of selecting just a 15 minute free session at the meter. This option is at the meter only.

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Loading Zones

A driver must not stop in a loading zone if signage applicable to the area indicates it is for commercial vehicles only, unless the driver is driving:

• A bus that is dropping off or picking up passengers.
• A truck that is dropping off or picking up, passengers or goods.
• A motor vehicle displaying a commercial vehicle identification label issued by the local government.

Under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995, commercial vehicles are determined by body type – namely utilities, vans, or small trucks – not passenger vehicles or registration type through Queensland Transport. If signage applicable to the parking area only states 'loading zone' you may stop there if you are driving a motor vehicle that is dropping off, or picking up, goods; or dropping off, or picking up, passengers.

A driver who is permitted to stop in a loading zone under section (1) (a), (b) or (c) must not stay continuously in the loading zone for longer than:

• 30 minutes if not otherwise marked.
• If the information on or with the loading zone signs applying to the loading zone indicates another time – the indicated time.

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No Stopping Zones

You must not stop your vehicle at a no stopping sign.

The times on the sign mean that you cannot stop between the times shown and on the days shown. Unless another sign applies, stopping and parking is allowed outside the times and days shown. Of there are no times or days shown, then stopping is never allowed in that area.

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School Parking and Speed Limit Zones

Standard school parking zone hours across the city are between the hours of 8am to 9am and 2:30pm to 3:30pm except for the below.

8am to 4pm, 40 kilometre per hour speed limit signs for the following school zone locations:

• Ryan Catholic College (Morindo Drive, Kirwan)
• Townsville Grammar School (Burke Street, North Ward).

The following schools have varied school parking zone hours:

• Bohlevale State School (Bohlevale School Road, Bohlevale): 7:30am to 9am and 2pm to 3:30pm
• Northern Beaches High School (Merati Street, Deeragun): 2:30pm to 4pm
• The Cathedral School (Thompson Street, Mundingburra): 8am to 9am and 2:30pm to 4pm
• Townsville Grammar Senior School (Paxton Street, North Ward): 2:30pm to 4pm.

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Taxi Zones

Taxi zones are areas for taxis to stop, wait, pick up or drop off passengers.

Only taxis are allowed to stop in taxi zones.

For more information about taxi services visit either:

• our Public Transport page
• the relevant service website.

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Tow-Away Parking Zone

Flinders Street between Denham Street and Stanley Street is closed 3am to 3pm every Sunday for the Cotters Markets.

This area is a tow-away zone from 3am on Sunday mornings.

Parking restrictions are clearly marked and car recovery is at owner's expense.

To recover a towed car please contact ABC Towing on 07 4775 5561.

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