Traffic areas
Traffic Areas are geographical areas with time-limited parking. Parking time limits apply on every street within the Traffic Area. Signs show where Traffic Areas start and end and describe the time limits that apply.
Not all streets within a Traffic Area are signed. You are responsible for checking whether you are parking within a Traffic Area and complying with its parking time limits. If you park for longer than the time allowed, you are committing an offence and liable to be fined.
You cannot move your car to a different spot within a Traffic Area and continue to park there.
If you do not move your car entirely out of the timed parking area after the designated time limit has expired, you may be subject to a parking fine.
For more information see the Parking rules section of our Safe & legal parking page.
Parking permits are available for people who regularly park within the Traffic Areas. For more information please visit Parking permits.
The City of Gold Coast has nine Traffic Areas. These areas form part of our Traffic Area and Parking Permit Scheme. The days and hours of operation for these Traffic Areas vary depending on their function and the area's parking demands.
Our beaches attract thousands of local residents, domestic and international visitors each year. Find out about parking in Traffic Areas in the following popular beach suburbs:
Note: Burleigh Heads, another popular tourist destination, also has time-limited parking. These limits have been implemented as part of a ParkInCentre Scheme trial. For more information visit Burleigh Heads parking.
The busy commercial precincts of Southport, Bundall, Chevron Island and Varsity Lakes are high traffic areas. City of Gold Coast has parking time limits in place to improve traffic flow. Find out more about parking in these areas.
Parking management measures are in place around stadiums and other areas that experience high traffic flow and parking difficulties for local residents during an event. Time-limited parking only exists on event days. Eligible local residents can apply for parking permits for use on such days*.
*Main Beach residents do not need to apply – event organisers are responsible for organising permits for this Traffic Area.