A Detailed Comparison With the Previous Clause 52.06
Victoria’s approach to car parking has undergone its most significant reform in over a decade. With the introduction of Amendment VC277 (18 December 2025), Clause 52.06 now adopts a completely new structure, new categories, new parking rates, and a new method for aligning parking supply with public transport access. This replaces the long-standing VC148 (2018) version of Clause 52.06, which relied heavily on fixed minimums and the former PPTN reduced-rate areas.
Below is a detailed breakdown of what has changed — and what it means for developers, planners, councils, and traffic engineers.
- From PPTN to CPR Maps: A New Framework for Parking Rates
Previous Clause 52.06 (VC148 – until 17 Dec 2025)
- Parking rates were fixed minimums.
- Some uses had Column A / Column B (standard vs reduced) rates.
- Column B applied only where sites were within the Principal Public Transport Network (PPTN) 400 m buffers.
- No maximum parking rates (except via precinct Parking Overlays).
- Reduced rates did not account for frequency or quality of public transport service.
New Clause 52.06 (VC277 – from 18 Dec 2025)
The new version establishes:
- Four land categories (1–4) based on a new Car Parking Requirement (CPR) Map, tied to:
- walking time to public transport
- frequency of service
- reliability and accessibility
- Categories 1 and 2 → minimum parking applies
- Category 3 → minimum + maximum
- Category 4 → maximum only (no minimum)
This represents a fundamental shift: parking is no longer a uniform minimum requirement; it is location-dependent.
- The New Table 1: How Rates Have Changed for Key Land Uses
The new Clause 52.06 includes an entirely rewritten Table 1, with minimums, maximums, or both depending on the land category. Below is a comparison of old vs new for the land uses most relevant to your traffic engineering practice.
Child Care Centre
Previous Clause 52.06 (VC148)
- 0.22 spaces per child (no variation for transport accessibility).
New Clause 52.06 (VC277)
Parking requirement is now per employee, and varies significantly by category:
| Category | New Requirement (per employee) |
| 1 | 1.0 |
| 2 | 0.5 |
| 3 | 0.25 (minimum only) |
| 4 | No maximum |
Key shift:The metric has changed from children to employees, supporting real-world demand modelling and acknowledging drop-off behaviour rather than staff numbers.
Shop (Other Than Specified)
Previous Clause 52.06
- 4 spaces per 100 m² LFA,
- Or 3/100 m² in PPTN reduced-rate areas.
New Clause 52.06
| Category | Requirement (per 100 m² LFA) |
| 1 | 4 |
| 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Min 0, Max 2 |
| 4 | Max 1 |
Key shift: The new system introduces maximum rates in the most accessible areas — a major policy tool for managing congestion and supporting active/sustainable transport.
Office
Previous Clause 52.06
- 3 spaces per 100 m² NFA (Column A)
- 2/100 m² (Column B in PPTN)
New Clause 52.06
| Category | Requirement (per 100 m² NFA) |
| 1 | 3.5 |
| 2 | 0.45 |
| 3 | Min 0, Max 0.9 |
| 4 | Max 0.45 |
Key shift: Category 2 imposes an 87% reduction compared to Category 1, making office development in accessible locations significantly cheaper and less car-dependent.
Warehouse
Previous Clause 52.06
- 1.5 spaces per 100 m² or 1/100 m² in PPTN.
New Clause 52.06
Requirement now based on net floor area:
| Category | Requirement (per 100 m² NFA) |
| 1 | 2 |
| 2 | 0.25 |
| 3 | Min 0, Max 0.5 |
| 4 | Max 0.5 |
Key shift: Significant reductions in high-access areas still remain, but Category 1 has increased (from 1.5 to 2/100 m²).
Rooming House
Previous Clause 52.06
- 1 space per bedroom, or lower in PPTN.
New Clause 52.06
| Category | Requirement (per bedroom) |
| 1 | 0.25 |
| 2 | 0.25 |
| 3 | Min 0, Max 0.15 |
| 4 | Max 0.1 |
Source: Table 1, p.6.
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Key shift: Massive reduction compared to the old standard, improving feasibility for affordable and social housing projects.
- Introduction of Maximum Parking Requirements
The previous Clause 52.06 rarely imposed maximums unless applied through a Parking Overlay.
The new version introduces maximums directly in the State provision for:
- Category 3 (min + max)
- Category 4 (max only)
This aligns Victoria with global best practice in:
- reducing induced traffic
- managing congestion
- achieving emissions targets
- supporting compact urban form
- New Permit Triggers and Automatic Exemptions
Previous Clause (VC148)
- Any reduction below minimum required a permit.
- No automatic exemptions except minor cases (e.g., up to 10 spaces via VicSmart).
New Clause (VC277) introduces helpful exemptions:
- Reducing parking does not require a permit where a new use has the same or lower requirement than the existing use and parking is not reduced (p.2).
- Automatic exemption for changes of use in C1Z/C2Z/C3Z/ACZ/Precinct Zones:
- No floor area increase
- Reduction ≤10 spaces
- Not in a Parking Overlay with cash-in-lieu (p.2)
- Reduced rates already apply via CPR maps.
This simplifies many small tenancy changes in activity centres.
- Revised Design Standards
While broadly similar, the VC277 version retains key standards such as:
- Accessway widths
- Car space dimensions
- Gradient requirements
- Mechanical parking rules
- Safety and landscaping requirements
These appear Under Clause 52.06-9 and remain largely unchanged but include updated measurement notes.
- Transitional Provisions – A Significant Inclusion
VC277 includes detailed transitional rules on p.14–15.
Key points:
- Applications lodged within 180 days of VC277 can still rely on the former clause if it provides a lower requirement.
- Maximums do not apply to pre-VC277 applications.
- Parking overlays referencing “Clause 52.06-5” will continue to use the former clause unless the overlay opts out.
This protects developments already in the pipeline.
- Summary Table – Old vs New Rates (Selected Uses)
| Land Use | Old Rate (VC148) | New Rate (Category 1) | New Rate (Category 4) |
| Child Care | 0.22/child | 1/employee | No max |
| Shop | 4/100 m² | 4/100 m² | Max 1/100 m² |
| Office | 3/100 m² | 3.5/100 m² | Max 0.45/100 m² |
| Warehouse | 1.5/100 m² | 2/100 m² | Max 0.5/100 m² |
| Rooming House | 1/bedroom | 0.25/bedroom | Max 0.1/bedroom |
The contrast shows a deliberate move toward:
- higher minimums in low-access suburban areas
- significant reductions and caps in high-access transit-rich areas
- What This Means for Developers, Planners and Traffic Engineers
These reforms will have substantial impacts:
- Better alignment with transport accessibility
Developments in accessible areas will now have lower costs, improved feasibility and reduced parking footprints.
- Stronger role of traffic engineering
Car Parking Demand Assessments (p.7) remain mandatory for reductions or increases above maximums. Engineers must consider:
- multi-purpose trip potential
- empirical assessments
- short- and long-stay demand
- public transport availability
- pedestrian and cyclist access
- New policy levers for councils
Parking Overlays remain but are now complemented by the CPR map framework.
- More reasonable rates for social and affordable housing
Uses such as rooming houses, aged care and small dwellings are now far more viable.
- More transport-integrated planning outcomes
Encourages reduced car ownership, sustainable transport, and efficient land use.
Conclusion
The updated Clause 52.06 (VC277) represents a major shift in parking policy — away from blanket minimums and towards a location-sensitive, transport-responsive framework with a combination of minimums and maximums. For practitioners, understanding these differences is crucial to preparing compliant and robust Traffic Impact Assessments and Car Parking Demand Assessments.
