In short
- 1P = one hour, 2P = two hours, 4P, and a plain P = unlimited. The clock starts when you arrive.
- Paid zones: $6.85 an hour in the CBD (Zone 1), up to 3-hour meters, Mon–Fri 7am–7pm, in the CellOPark app or at the meter.
- Free 15-minute parking is available in more than 7,500 on-street spaces and council car parks, but you must still register at the meter or in the app.
- Outside the hours on the sign, parking is free and unrestricted. Council's meter pages do not state a public holiday rule. Read the meter or sign before you leave the car.
- The limit counts from when you arrive, not from when you buy a session. Meters also have a maximum stay, so topping up does not extend you past the time on the sign.
The P number
| Sign | Means |
|---|---|
| ¼P | 15 minutes |
| ½P | 30 minutes |
| 1P | 1 hour |
| 2P | 2 hours |
| 4P | 4 hours |
| P | No time limit |
The limit counts from when you arrive, not from when you buy a session. Meters also have a maximum stay, so topping up does not extend you past the time on the sign.
Paid zones
A sign that says Ticket, Meter or Ticket/Phone means you pay during the hours shown. Brisbane City Council takes payment in the CellOPark app.
Council's contracted app is CellOPark (free to download); PayStay is also accepted. You must still enter your vehicle registration at a meter or start a session in an app, or you can be fined.
| Area | Rate |
|---|---|
| CBD (Zone 1), up to 3-hour meters, Mon–Fri 7am–7pm | $6.85 an hour |
| CBD (Zone 1), up to 3-hour meters, Mon–Fri 7pm–midnight and Sat–Sun 7am–7pm | $3.70 an hour |
| CBD (Zone 1), 4-hour and longer meters, Mon–Fri 7am–7pm | $4.50 an hour, capped at $18.25 |
| CBD (Zone 1), 4-hour and longer meters, Sat–Sun 7am–7pm | $2.55 an hour, capped at $14.25 |
From council's car meter fee page, checked October 2026. The page shows no effective date, and an older page showed $6.35, so confirm on the meter or in the app.
When it is free
Free 15-minute parking is available in more than 7,500 on-street spaces and council car parks, but you must still register at the meter or in the app.
Other free parking in Brisbane
- Zone 1 4-hour and longer meters are free after 7pm Monday to Friday
- All zones are free after 7pm on Saturday and Sunday
- Zone 3 (rest of Brisbane) up-to-3-hour meters are listed to 10pm on weekdays, though council's FAQ says free after 7pm, so check the meter
- Motorcycle bays in Zone 1 cost less: $2.95 an hour (up to 3-hour) and $2.45 an hour (4-hour and over)
Hours and public holidays
Paid parking in the CBD (Zone 1) runs 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 7pm on weekends, with extra evening charging on some up-to-3-hour meters. Signs and meters vary by street, so always read the sign.
Council's meter pages do not state a public holiday rule. Read the meter or sign before you leave the car.
Other signs you'll see
| Sign | Means | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| No Parking | You may stop briefly to pick up or drop off passengers or goods, but not park. | $172 |
| No Stopping | You cannot stop at all, even for a moment, during the signed times. | $345 |
| Loading Zone | Time-limited stops for goods or passengers; some zones need a commercial permit. | $172 |
| Bus Zone | Buses only. Stopping here blocks the bus stop. | $345 |
| Clearway | No stopping during the signed times (often peak hours) so traffic can flow. | $518 |
| Disability parking | Only for vehicles displaying a current disability parking permit. | $690 |
Queensland rules apply where there is no sign. Do not stop within 20 m of an intersection with traffic lights or 10 m of one without (T-intersection exceptions apply). No parking within 20 m before and 10 m after a pedestrian crossing or bus stop, 1 m of a fire hydrant, 3 m of a post box (for stopping), or on or across a driveway. Amounts and deadlines: Brisbane parking fines, decoded.
Broken meters
If a meter is broken, pay through a parking app instead. If you are fined, dispute it with evidence you reported the fault after trying to pay and council will consider withdrawing the fine.
Report a fault: Text 0428 410 111 with the meter number, your registration and the fault, or phone 07 3403 8888.
Good to know.
What does 2P mean on a parking sign?
Up to two hours during the times on the sign. 1P is one hour, 4P four, and a plain P is unlimited. The limit counts from when you arrive, not from when you buy a session. Meters also have a maximum stay, so topping up does not extend you past the time on the sign.
How much is street parking in Brisbane?
CBD (Zone 1), up to 3-hour meters, Mon–Fri 7am–7pm: $6.85 an hour. CBD (Zone 1), up to 3-hour meters, Mon–Fri 7pm–midnight and Sat–Sun 7am–7pm: $3.70 an hour. CBD (Zone 1), 4-hour and longer meters, Mon–Fri 7am–7pm: $4.50 an hour, capped at $18.25. CBD (Zone 1), 4-hour and longer meters, Sat–Sun 7am–7pm: $2.55 an hour, capped at $14.25. From council's car meter fee page, checked October 2026. The page shows no effective date, and an older page showed $6.35, so confirm on the meter or in the app. Outside the hours on the sign parking is free.
Is there free parking in Brisbane?
Free 15-minute parking is available in more than 7,500 on-street spaces and council car parks, but you must still register at the meter or in the app. Zone 1 4-hour and longer meters are free after 7pm Monday to Friday All zones are free after 7pm on Saturday and Sunday Zone 3 (rest of Brisbane) up-to-3-hour meters are listed to 10pm on weekdays, though council's FAQ says free after 7pm, so check the meter Motorcycle bays in Zone 1 cost less: $2.95 an hour (up to 3-hour) and $2.45 an hour (4-hour and over)
Do I need a ticket on a public holiday in Brisbane?
Council's meter pages do not state a public holiday rule. Read the meter or sign before you leave the car.
Officer near your car? You’ll know.
Tap I parked here on Rangr Dangr, set a 2P timer, and get a buzz if a neighbour reports an officer nearby.