Is it illegal to park on the nature strip?

Is it illegal to park on the nature strip in Australia?

Yes, it is illegal to park on the nature strip in Australia. A driver is only legally permitted to park on a nature strip if they stop “at a place on a length of road, or in an area, to which a parking control sign applies and the driver is permitted to stop at that place under the Australian Road Rules; or the driver is permitted to stop under another law of this jurisdiction”, as stated by the Australian Road Rules.

And that law applies no matter whether you’re in Qld, NSW, Vic or any other state or territory.

Nature strip parking is generally frowned upon, no matter where you reside.

What are nature strips?

A nature strip, also sometimes referred to as a road verge, is the public area of land between a property boundary and the road, and this area is usually covered in grass.

Who owns nature strips? Who is responsible for them?

In Australia, the local council of the area in which you reside owns the nature strips, but the owner or resident of each property adjoining each nature strip is ultimately responsible for the nature strip and that includes the maintenance of it, such as weeding, nature strip mowing and keeping edges neat where the grass meets the kerb and driveway.

Are you allowed to park on nature strips in Australia? Why?

No. According to Australian Road Rules (Reg 197):

“Stopping on a path, dividing strip, nature strip, painted island or traffic island

(1) A driver must not stop on a bicycle path, footpath, shared path or dividing strip, or a nature strip adjacent to a length of road in a built-up area, unless—

(a) the driver stops at a place on a length of road, or in an area, to which a parking control sign applies and the driver is permitted to stop at that place under the Australian Road Rules ; or

(b) the driver is permitted to stop under another law of this jurisdiction.”

What are the laws regarding parking on nature strips in Australia?

As above: you may not park on a nature strip unless there is clear signage permitting you to do so for the period you are parked there, or “the driver is permitted to stop under another law of this jurisdiction” – check with your local council to make sure you have up-to-date information applicable to your specific situation.

Do/how do they differ from state to state?

No, Australian Road Rules (Reg 197) apply throughout the country and if you do park on a nature strip, you may be fined by police or a council ranger. You may be lucky enough to be a rare example of an individual case of leniency, but it’s not worth the risk.

Are there penalties?

Yes, there are penalties for illegally parking on a nature strip in Australia. The severity of those may differ between states, territories and local council areas but, as we all know, it’s not fun to cop a fine.

Penrith City Council states that “the penalty for parking on the footpath or nature strip in a built-up area exceeds $257”, and that “the penalty for parking on a footpath or nature strip in a built-up area within a school zone exceeds $330 and 2 demerit points”.

The fine for parking on a nature strip in Victoria varies from councils to council, but expect to pay between $110 and $580 for the offence.

If you are fined for parking on a nature strip in Noosa Shire Council area, you may cop 20 penalty units. A penalty unit value in Queensland, as of 1 July 2024, is $161.30. That works out to be a total fine of $3226. Ouch.

Are there exceptions?

No. Parking on a nature strip is illegal. Having said that, some councils are known to take a more, shall we say, relaxed approach in that they’ll permit you to park on a nature strip without penalty as long as you have written permission from the adjoining property’s landowner to park there. But don’t tell them I said that…

How to stop neighbours parking on nature strip

This is a tricky subject because you don’t want to cause friction with your neighbours but you also don’t want them parking on your nature strip. Contact your local council and let them know your concerns as soon as you’re aware of the issue. Then hopefully there’ll be a peaceful resolution to the problem.

Where can you get help and/or more information regarding the legality of parking on nature strips in Australia?

Contact your local council for up-to-date details on this and any other parking-related issues and you’ll, hopefully, stay on the correct side of the law.

However, if you’re still asking at this point, “Are you allowed to park on the nature strip?”, or “Is it legal to park on the nature strip?”, then return to the top of this article and re-read it all.