VC277: What the New Car Parking Rules Mean for Planning Applications in Victoria

A recent statewide planning scheme amendment — VC277 — has changed how car parking requirements are calculated across Victoria.

The amendment updates Clause 52.06 (Car parking) of every planning scheme and introduces a new, map-based approach to determining how much car parking is required for new uses and developments.

If you’re preparing (or about to prepare) a planning application, these changes can materially affect your design, feasibility and approval pathway.

This article explains what changed, when it applies, and what you need to check before lodging an application.

What is Planning Scheme Amendment VC277?

VC277 is a statewide amendment prepared by the Minister for Planning that modernises Victoria’s car parking provisions.

It came into operation on 18 December 2025 and applies to all Victorian planning schemes.

The intent of the amendment is to:

• better align car parking requirements with public transport accessibility

• reduce unnecessary oversupply of parking in well-serviced locations

• support more efficient land use and urban consolidation

The key change: car parking is now map-based

Under VC277, car parking rates in Clause 52.06 now depend on where a site sits within the Car Parking Requirement Maps prepared by the Department of Transport and Planning.

These maps divide Victoria into four categories, based on access to public transport:

• Category 1 – Limited public transport access

• Category 2 – Moderate public transport access

• Category 3 – Good public transport access

• Category 4 – Very good public transport access

Each category applies different minimum and/or maximum car parking rates.

The more accessible the location, the fewer car spaces may be required — and in some cases, a maximum cap now applies.

How the new categories work under Clause 52.06

Clause 52.06 Table 1 has been restructured so that car parking requirements now operate as follows:

• Category 1

  • Minimum car parking rates apply

• Category 2

  • Minimum car parking rates apply

• Category 3

  • Both a minimum and a maximum car parking rate apply

• Category 4

  • A maximum car parking rate applies (often with no minimum)

This is a significant shift from the previous approach, which focused almost entirely on minimum parking rates.

A new permit trigger: too much car parking

One of the most important (and often overlooked) changes under VC277 is that:

A planning permit may now be required if you propose more car parking than the maximum allowed.

This is in addition to the long-standing permit trigger for:

• providing fewer spaces than the minimum, or

• locating required spaces elsewhere.

In practical terms:

• Over-parking in well-served locations can now trigger a permit

• councils must consider whether excess parking is justified

• design efficiency and transport context matter more than ever

How to check which category applies to your site

The applicable category is determined using the Car Parking Requirement Maps layer in VicPlan.

A few important rules apply:

• If land falls into more than one category, the least restrictive (higher) category applies to the entire site.

• The maps are intended to be reviewed annually, so categories may change over time.

• Existing Parking Overlay schedules continue to apply until updated.

Checking the map category should now be one of the first steps in any planning feasibility or design process.

Transitional provisions: what if your project was already underway?

VC277 includes transitional arrangements that are particularly relevant for projects lodged around late 2025 and early 2026.

In simple terms:

• For minimum parking requirements:

  • the lower of the old or new requirement applies if an application or car parking plan was submitted before, or within six months after, VC277 commenced.

• For maximum parking requirements:

  • the new maximum does not apply to applications lodged before VC277 commenced

  • the new maximum does apply to proposals lodged after commencement

These distinctions can materially affect approvals already in train.

What hasn’t changed

VC277 does not alter:

• car park design dimensions or layout standards

• disabled parking obligations

• local on-street parking controls

• existing VicSmart pathways for minor reductions (where applicable)

The amendment is about how many spaces are required — not how they are designed.

Why this matters for planning applications

VC277 fundamentally changes how car parking is assessed:

• Some sites will now require fewer spaces, improving feasibility

• Other proposals may unexpectedly trigger a permit for oversupplying parking

• Early design decisions matter more, particularly in activity centres and transport-rich locations

Car parking should no longer be treated as a standard checklist item — it’s now a strategic planning consideration.

Need site-specific advice?

Car parking requirements are now highly location-specific and can interact with zoning, overlays, use definitions and permit triggers.

If you’re unsure how VC277 applies to your site or proposal, it’s worth getting advice early — before designs are locked in or applications are lodged.