In short
- The CBD is meter Zone 1. At the time of writing (October 2026), a meter of 3 hours or less costs $6.85 an hour on weekdays from 7am to 7pm, and longer-stay meters are $4.50 an hour, capped at $18.25.[1]
- Unless a sign says otherwise, on-street parking in the CBD is limited to 2 hours on weekdays and Saturday mornings under the Brisbane Central Traffic Area rule.[2]
- Council's two car parks, King George Square and Wickham Terrace, give the first 15 minutes free and charge up to $49 for a weekday; both have a 1.93-metre height limit.[3]
- A hire car can't use a commercial vehicle loading zone, and taxi, bus, mail and work zones are off limits too.[4][5]
- In a Rentzy car, overhead damage from driving into an obstacle, such as a low car park entrance, sits outside the A$2,500 excess cap (clause 9.3 of the rental terms), so read the height sign.
How does parking in Brisbane's CBD work?
You have three choices in the city centre: a metered street bay, one of Brisbane City Council's two car parks, or a private car park. Council sets and enforces the first two. Inside a private car park the operator's conditions apply, because Council doesn't enforce parking on private property.[2]
Street bays in the CBD fall under the Brisbane Central Traffic Area. Its standing rule is a 2-hour limit for all on-street spaces from 7am until 6 in the evening Monday to Friday and from 7am to midday on Saturdays, unless a sign on the street sets something different.[2] How to read the signs themselves is in fuel, parking and fines in Brisbane.
What do CBD street meters cost, and when?
Council calls Zone 1 "the Brisbane CBD". Its car fees in October 2026, per hour:[1]
| Meter | Mon–Fri 7am–7pm | Mon–Fri 7pm–midnight | Sat–Sun 7am–7pm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short stay (3 hours or less) | $6.85 | $3.70 | $3.70 |
| Long stay (4 hours or more) | $4.50, capped at $18.25 | Free | $2.55, capped at $14.25 |
- Evenings: weekend parking is free after 7pm. On weeknights in Zone 1, it's free after 7pm only at meters allowing 4 hours or more.[1]
- The free 15 minutes: Council offers it at more than 7,500 metered spaces outside the CBD and in its two CBD car parks, so don't count on it at a city-centre street meter. Where it applies, you still register the car.[2]
- Paying early: at a 2P meter running 7am to 7pm you could arrive before 7am and pay ahead to 9am. Meters accept advance payment from 4am.[1]
- A broken meter: pay by app instead, or report it to Council by text on 0428 410 111 with the meter number, your rego and the fault. A fine can be disputed if you reported the fault after trying to pay.[1]
King George Square car park: hours and rates
Council's main city car park sits under King George Square. You drive in at 100 Adelaide Street (entry only) or at 87 Roma Street (entry and exit). It opens at 5.30am and runs to midnight Monday to Thursday, and from 5.30am Friday straight through to 11pm Sunday. It's closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday.[3]
| Stay | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to 15 minutes | Free |
| 15–30 minutes | $8 to 20 minutes, $15 to 30 minutes |
| Up to 1 hour | $24 |
| 1–1.5 hours | $30 |
| 1.5–2 hours | $34 |
| 3.5 hours or more, weekday | $49, the most you pay if you leave by 6 in the evening |
| Weekday, staying overnight (out before 5.30am) | $64 |
| Early bird: in 5.30am–7am, out 1pm onwards | $28 |
| Weekday evening: in from 4pm | $10 up to 4 hours, $15 for longer |
| Weekend | $10 up to 3 hours, $15 up to 8 hours, $20 for longer |
| Public holiday, 7.30am–11pm | $10 |
Two things catch people out. The car park locks after closing time, and getting out then costs a $50 after-hours release fee on top of parking. And the height limit is 1.93 metres. Pay with cash at the Level A pay station, by card at Levels A and B or the Roma Street exit, or register with Council's eCom portal so the number plate is read on the way in and out.[3]
Wickham Terrace car park
Council's second car park, at 136 Wickham Terrace in Spring Hill, never closes. On weekdays it has a $26 early bird (in 5.30am–9am, out 1pm–7pm) and caps a day at $49, or $55 if the car stays until 5.30am. Weeknight entry after 4pm is a $6 flat fee, and weekends are $6 a day, at the time of writing. The height limit is also 1.93 metres.[3]
Which CBD bays can't a hire car use?
The city has plenty of special-purpose kerb space, and most of it isn't for a private car:
- Commercial vehicle loading zones: up to 20 minutes for a commercial vehicle loading or unloading goods, or a passenger vehicle modified for commercial use (back seats and belts removed). Anyone else needs a commercial vehicle parking permit.[4]
- Taxi zones: for taxis only.[5]
- Bus zones: don't stop or park within 20 metres before a bus stop sign or 10 metres after it.[5]
- Mail zones and work zones: for authorised postal vehicles, and for loading equipment at a construction site.[5]
- Motorcycle bays: cheaper meter rates for motorcycles and scooters (in Zone 1, $2.95 an hour for 3 hours or less). A motorcycle in a car bay pays the car fee.[1][4]
Ordinary loading zones and passenger loading zones do allow a private car to stop briefly; the time limits are in the fines guide. Holders of an Australian Disability Parking Scheme permit can park free in Council's metered and regulated areas, with conditions.[2]
Parking a rental car in the city
If you're coming into town from Rentzy's yard, the drive and the alternatives are in Brisbane CBD to Hendra. For the Valley's nights and weekends, see parking in Fortitude Valley.
Sources
- Brisbane City Council: Parking meters and fees (read 23 October 2026)
- Brisbane City Council: Parking in Brisbane (read 23 October 2026)
- Brisbane City Council: Council car parks (read 23 October 2026)
- Brisbane City Council: Commercial vehicles and motorcycle parking (read 23 October 2026)
- Brisbane City Council: Street parking rules and signs (read 23 October 2026)
Written by the Rentzy team at Rentzy Car Rentals. Rentzy prices, fees and rules in this guide come from our published terms and update with them; rules set by others (roads, tolls, licences, transport) are from the official pages above, as read on the dates shown. Something out of date? Tell us.
