Park Free Permits
If you are a resident or ratepayer in Port Stephens or work at a business in the Nelson Bay or Shoal Bay town centre, you can apply for a Park Free Permit.
Your Park Free Permit covers you for all Smart Parking locations in Port Stephens – you don’t need an individual permit for each location.
Once you have registered your vehicle on our portal, you don’t need to do anything else other than follow the time restrictions at the location where you have parked. There is no hard-copy permit, your number plate is your permit to park.
Types of permits and eligibility
This permit is for owner occupiers and residential tenants.
If you are an owner and resident of Port Stephens, click the following links for more information:
If you are a tenant, click here for more information:
To be eligible for a Residential Parking Permit, the applicant must own a property or permanently reside within the Port Stephens Local Government Area (LGA). Each vehicle nominated must also be registered at a street address within the LGA. A limit of 5 Residential Parking Permits is allowed per property. Click here to apply
This permit is for property owners not living in Port Stephens and landlords.
If you are an owner but don't reside in Port Stephens, make sure you check this information:
To be eligible for a Non-Resident Ratepayer Smart Parking Permit the applicant must be a property owner of a rateable property within the Port Stephens LGA and reside outside the LGA. A limit of 2 Smart Parking Permits per property applies. Click here to apply
To be eligible for a Business Parking Permit the applicant’s Business must be permanently located within the scheme area. The business entities are the applicants for this stream, not the individual. Businesses may be asked to validate the number of employees with a cap of 50, depending on the size of the business. Click here to apply
- Vehicle registration plates must be current and clearly visible at all times
- A valid Parking Permit exempts a vehicle from parking fees
- Time based parking restrictions still apply where signposted
- Permits do not provide any right to park a vehicle contrary to the Australia Road Rules (e.g. parking in a Disabled parking space without a Disability Parking Permit; parking in Loading Zones, Bus Zones and No Stopping areas)
- In the event of relocation to another residence, disposal of the vehicle or any change to the licence plates, Council must be notified within 7 days by the permit holder
- Vehicle parking must conform to the Scheme’s Purpose of fair and equitable parking
- It is the responsibility of the permit holder to renew their Permit
- A Smart Parking Scheme Permit may be revoked by Council should there be any breach of these conditions
- Council may withdraw/cancel Permits at its sole discretion
For more information, visit our terms and conditions page.
Where Smart Parking Permits are not available
Smart Parking Permits are not available for:
- Trailer or caravan
- Vehicle or vehicle combination that exceeds 5.5 meters in length
- Unregistered vehicle
- Vehicle Registered outside of NSW
Limited exemptions may apply to the eligibility criteria above for unusual circumstances and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.