Draft Belfast Off-Street Parking (Public Car Parks) Order 2026

Draft Belfast Off-Street Parking (Public Car Parks) Order 2026

ARRANGEMENT OF ORDER

PART 1

PRELIMINARY

1.       Citation and commencement

2.       Interpretation

PART 2

USE OF PARKING PLACES

3.       Specified parking places

4.       Vehicles of a specified class

5.       Position in which a vehicle may wait

6.       Parking bays for disabled persons’ vehicles

7.       Parking bays for electric vehicles

8.       Maximum period for which a vehicle may wait

9.       Use of parking place other than for parking

10.     Issue of licences

11.     Surrender and revocation of licences

PART 3

TARIFFS AND TICKETS

12.     Requirement to pay appropriate tariff                                                                                                

13.     Payment of charges

14.     Pre-paid tickets

15.     Use of telephone parking system

16.     Display of printed tickets 

17.     Particulars of tickets 

18.     Season tickets

PART 4

RESTRICTION ON USE OF VEHICLES AND PARKING PLACES

19.     Requirement to stop the engine of a vehicle

20.     Trading in a parking place

21.     Sounding of horn

22.     Driving in a parking place

23.     Ball games

24.     Miscellaneous activities

25.     Means of passage 

26.     Consumption of intoxicating liquor

27.     Use of entrances and exits, and direction of travel

28.     Erection of structures and lighting of fires

29.     Supermarket trolleys

30.     Reserving a parking bay

31.    Use of car park or sections of for the purposes of temporary meeting place

 SCHEDULE 1  —  PARKING PLACES

 SCHEDULE 2  —  TARIFFS

Belfast City Council ([1]) makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 10, 11, 13, 14 and 26(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997([2]) and Off-street Parking (Functions of District Councils) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015. 

The Council has consulted such persons as the Council considered appropriate in compliance with paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 4 to that Order.

PART 1

PRELIMINARY

Citation and commencement

1. This Order may be cited as The Belfast Off-Street (Public Car Parks) Order 2026 and shall come into operation on  ^XX day of XXXX

Interpretation

2. In this Order—

“charging hours” means the period during which the driver is required to pay a charge for the use of a parking place specified in column 1 of Schedule 1 in accordance with the scale of charges set out in column 6 of Schedule 1;

“driver” means the person who whether as owner or otherwise has the charge or control of a vehicle or being present is entitled to give orders to the person having charge or control thereof;

“electric vehicle” means any vehicle which uses one or more electric motors for propulsion;

“electric vehicle charging post” means apparatus which supplies electricity for the charging of electric vehicles;

“hand-held device” means apparatus used by a traffic attendant which is programmed to interface with the telephone parking system;

“intoxicating liquor” means spirits, wine, beer, cider and any fermented, distilled or spirituous liquor with an alcohol content exceeding 1.2 per cent by volume;

“light goods vehicle” means a motor vehicle, constructed or adapted for use for the carriage of goods, the permissible maximum weight of which does not exceed 3.5 tonnes and for the purposes of this Order includes an electric vehicle of this type;

“motor car” means a mechanically propelled vehicle constructed solely for the carriage of passengers and their effects, seating not more than 6 persons in addition to the driver and for the purposes of this Order includes an electric vehicle of this type;

“motor cycle” means a mechanically propelled vehicle not being an invalid carriage or motor car having fewer than 4 wheels and the weight of which unladen does not exceed 410 kgs;

“parking bay” means a space which is marked out in a parking place for the leaving of a vehicle;

“parking charge” means any charge set by the Council for leaving a vehicle in a parking place authorised by this Order.

“parking ticket” means a ticket issued by a ticket machine relating to any parking place for which a charge is made identified in Schedule 1;

“pay and display parking place” means an off-street parking place authorised by this Order where permitted vehicles may park with a parking ticket issued by a ticket machine and displayed in the manner specified in Article 16 or whose driver is a registered driver who has paid the relevant fee via the telephone parking system;

“public service vehicle” means a mechanically propelled vehicle constructed or adapted to carry more than 8 seated passengers in addition to the driver, and used in standing or plying for hire, or used to carry passengers for hire;

“registered driver” means the driver of a vehicle who has, prior to leaving their vehicle in a pay and display parking place, had registered so many of their personal details with a service provider as that service provider may require to enable the telephone parking system to be activated in favour of said driver;

“service provider” means a person or company providing services to or on behalf of the Council;

“telephone parking system” means a system to facilitate and monitor any parking charge paid using any telephone or internet enabled device via communication with the service provider in accordance with instructions indicated on signs located at each pay and display parking place where the system is operational;

“ticket machine” means an apparatus designed to issue a ticket indicating payment of a charge and the day and time at which it was issued and the number of hours for which it is valid or the date and time at which the ticket expires;

“disabled persons vehicle” means a vehicle lawfully displaying a blue badge; and

“blue badge” means a badge of a form prescribed under section 14(1) of the [1978 c. 53.] Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1978.

PART 2

USE OF PARKING PLACES

Specified parking places

3. - (1) Each area of land specified by name in column 1 of Schedule 1 may be used subject to the provisions of this Order as a parking place for such classes of vehicles during such hours on such days as are specified in relation to that area in Schedule 1.

(2) The Council shall have the power to close any specified parking place, or part thereof, or suspend on a temporary basis the use of the parking place where such suspension is considered reasonably necessary.

Vehicles of a specified class 

 4. Where in Schedule 1 a parking place is described as available for vehicles of a specified class, the driver of a vehicle shall not permit it to wait in that parking place unless it is of the specified class.

Position in which a vehicle may wait

5. The driver of a vehicle shall not permit it to wait in a parking place other than in a position wholly within a parking bay where such has been marked out. 

Parking bays for disabled persons’ vehicles

6. –(1) The driver of a vehicle, other than a disabled person’s vehicle, shall not permit it to wait in a parking bay indicated by a sign or surface marking as being reserved for a disabled person’s vehicle.

(2) A vehicle displaying a valid Blue Badge shall be entitled to one extra hour of free parking in addition to the time allowed following payment of the appropriate charge in accordance with the scale of charges specified in Schedule 2.

Parking bays for electric vehicles

 7.—(1) The driver of a vehicle, other than an electric vehicle, shall not permit it to wait in a parking bay indicated by a sign or surface marking as being reserved for an electric vehicle.

(2) An electric vehicle waiting in a parking bay indicated by a sign or surface marking as being reserved for an electric vehicle shall do so only if it is connected to an electric vehicle charging post.  

Maximum period for which a vehicle may wait

8. The driver of a vehicle shall not permit it to wait in a parking place for longer than the maximum period permitted for waiting specified in column 5 of Schedule 1 in relation to that parking place.

Use of parking place other than for parking

9.—(1) The use of part of the parking places specified in Schedule 1 for advertising is authorised in accordance with a licence issued by the Council.

(2) The use of part of the parking places specified in Schedule 1 for displaying information to the public is authorised in accordance with a licence issued by the Council.

(3) The use of part of the parking places specified in Schedule 1 for the collection of recyclable materials is authorised in accordance with a licence issued by the Council.

Issue of licences

10.—(1) A registered charity may apply to the Council for the issue of a licence authorising the use of part of a parking place specified in Schedule 1 for the collection of recyclable materials.

(2) A person may apply to the Council for the issue of a licence authorising the use of part of a parking place specified in Schedule 1 for advertising.

(3) A person may apply to the Council for the issue of a licence authorising the use of part of a parking place specified in Schedule 1 for displaying information to the public.

 (4) A person may apply to the Council for the issue of a licence authorising the use of part of a parking place specified in Schedule 1 for any reasonable use or purpose or in such circumstances as the Council considers reasonable. 

(5) The Council may require an applicant in any particular case to submit such additional information or documents as the Council determines are necessary to determine the application.

(6) On receipt of an application made under paragraph (1), (2), (3) or (4) the Council, upon being satisfied that the use of part of the parking place referred to in that application for the purpose referred to in that application will not materially affect or materially interfere with the provision of parking spaces in that parking place, may issue a licence in accordance with Article 13(15) of the Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 authorising the use by the applicant of part of that parking place for that purpose.

In this Article – 

“registered charity” means a charity registered in the register of charities required to be kept by the Charity Commission by virtue of section 16(1) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008([3])

Surrender and revocation of licences

11.—(1) A person to whom a licence is issued (“a licensee”) may surrender a licence to the Council at any time.

(2) The Council may serve on the licensee a notice revoking a licence, stating the reasons for the revocation if it appears to 

the Council that one of the events set out in paragraph (4) has occurred, and the revocation shall take effect on the expiration of the period of one month from the service of that notice.

(3) A notice under paragraph (2) shall be served by delivering it to the person to whom it is addressed at their proper address, or by sending it to such address by telefacsimile or other electronic means, or by post.

(4) The events referred to in paragraph (2) are—

(a) if the licensee fails to comply with any condition of the licence; 

(b) if the Council considers the withdrawal of the licence is necessary for the purpose of the exercise of its statutory functions.

PART 3

TARIFFS AND TICKETS 

Requirement to pay appropriate tariff 

12. The driver of a vehicle using a parking place during charging hours shall pay the appropriate tariff set out in Schedule 2 in accordance with the scale of charges specified in column 6 of Schedule 1 in relation to that parking place.

Payment of charges

13.—(1) Save as provided for in Article 18 the driver of a vehicle leaving it in a parking place specified in column 1 of Schedule 1 during the days and hours specified in columns 3 and 4 in relation thereto shall pay the appropriate charge in accordance with the scale of charges specified in column 6 in relation thereto and set out in Schedule 2.

(2) Charges may be paid by—

       (a) inserting into a ticket machine a coin or combination of coins of appropriate denominations;

       (b) inserting into a ticket machine a credit or debit card of a type indicated, and following the instructions displayed, on the machine;

          (c) the purchase of a pre-paid charge card for use in a ticket machine; or

       (d) the use of pre-paid tickets; or

       (e) a registered driver using the telephone parking system; or

       (f) use of Direct Debit where available.

(3) Telephone and credit/debit card charges incurred in the course of making any parking payment transaction shall be the responsibility of the registered driver.

Pre-paid tickets

14. In the case of pre-paid tickets the instructions given on the tickets in respect of making distinct perforations in the tickets or taking other appropriate action to clearly indicate the date and time of arrival shall be carried out by the driver as soon as he takes up position in the parking place.

Use of telephone parking system

15. If at any time a vehicle is left in a parking place during the specified hours and a check is carried out by, or on behalf of, the Council and no indication that a parking charge has been paid using the telephone parking system in respect of that vehicle for that controlled parking zone appears on a traffic attendant’s hand-held device it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved that either—

(a) a parking charge had not been paid in respect of that vehicle; or

(b) the parking period for which payment was made had already expired.

Display of printed tickets

16.—(1) The driver shall attach the ticket issued by a ticket machine or a pre-paid ticket duly perforated on the inside surface of the windscreen or a side window facing the kerb or place the ticket on the dashboard area immediately below the windscreen so that the particulars recorded on the front of the ticket are clearly visible to a person standing at the front or side of the vehicle.

(2) In the case of a motor cycle the ticket shall be displayed in a conspicuous position in a ticket holder or in front of the driver’s seat.

Particulars of tickets

17.—(1) Where a vehicle is left parked in a parking place where charges may be collected by means of a ticket machine and the particulars on the ticket indicate that the period in respect of which payment was made has expired, for the purposes of any appeal under Articles 13, 16 or 28 of the Traffic Management (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that said particulars are evidence of the expiry of such period.

(2) Where a vehicle is left parked in a parking place where charges may be collected by means of a ticket machine, and a ticket is not displayed in accordance with the provisions of Articles 16 or 18(6) for the purposes of any appeal under Articles 13, 16 or 28 of the Traffic Management (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that the absence of a ticket is evidence of the fact that a ticket has not been purchased.

Season tickets

18.—(1) The Council or their service provider may on application from the driver or owner of a vehicle sell to that person a season ticket on payment of the appropriate tariff referred to in Article 12.

(2) A season ticket shall be valid only in respect of such parking places as are specified thereon for the period for which it is issued and for the vehicle in respect of which it is issued.

(3) The Council or their service provider may by notice in writing served on the season ticket holder by recorded delivery post to the address stated on the season ticket holder’s application, require the surrender of a season ticket where:

(a) the season ticket holder has not complied with the relevant Off-Street Parking Order; or

(b) a season ticket has been issued upon receipt of a cheque and the cheque is subsequently dishonoured; or

(c) the season ticket holder has ceased to have an interest in the vehicle in respect of which the season ticket was issued;

and the season ticket holder shall surrender the season ticket to the Council or their service provider within forty-eight hours of the receipt of the said notice.

(4) The issue of a season ticket shall not guarantee that any parking place will be available for the use of the season ticket holder.

(5) A season ticket shall include the following particulars:

(a) the registration mark of the vehicle in respect of which the season ticket has been issued;

(b) the period during which the season ticket shall remain valid; and

(c) the names of the parking places for which the season ticket is valid.

(6) Where a vehicle in respect of which a season ticket has been issued is left parked in a parking place the driver shall display the ticket in a conspicuous position behind the windscreen of that vehicle so as to be clearly visible to the parking attendant.

PART 4

RESTRICTION ON USE OF VEHICLES AND PARKING PLACES

Requirement to stop the engine of a vehicle

 19. The driver of a vehicle using a parking place shall stop the engine as soon as the vehicle is in position in the parking place and shall not start the engine except when about to change the position of the vehicle in or to depart from the parking place.

Trading in a parking place

20.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) and save as provided in Article 24 of the Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997, a person shall not use a parking place in connection with the selling of any article or thing or supplying a service for gain or reward whether or not in or from a stationary position to persons in or near the parking place unless the person holds a valid trading licence for the location issued by the Council under the Street Trading Act (Northern Ireland) 2001.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply in respect of any fee payable for the use of an electric vehicle charging post.

Sounding of horn

 21. The driver of a vehicle using a parking place shall not sound any horn or other similar instrument except when about to change the position of the vehicle in or to depart from the parking place.

Driving in a parking place

 22. A person shall not, except with the permission of any person duly authorised by the Council, drive any vehicle in a parking place other than for the purpose of leaving that vehicle in the parking place in accordance with the provisions of this Order or for the purpose of departing from the parking place.

Ball games

 23. A person shall not play any ball game in a parking place. 

Miscellaneous activities 

24. A person shall not use any part of a parking place or any vehicle left in a parking place—

(a)  for sleeping or camping purposes; 

(b)  for eating or cooking purposes; or

(c)  for the purposes of servicing or washing any vehicle or   part thereof other than is reasonably necessary to enable   that vehicle to depart from the parking place.

Means of passage

 25. A person shall not use a parking place as a means of passage from one road to another road or to any premises unless a right of way has been granted in writing by the Council.

Consumption of intoxicating liquor

 26. A person shall not use any of the parking places specified in Schedule 1, or any vehicle in any of those parking places, for the purpose of consuming intoxicating liquor.

Use of entrances and exits, and direction of travel

 27. Where in a parking place signs are erected or surface markings are laid for the purpose of—

   (a) indicating the entrance to or exit from the parking place; or

   (b) indicating that a vehicle using the parking place shall proceed in a specified direction within the parking place,

a person shall not drive or cause or permit to be driven any vehicle—

(i) so that it enters the parking place otherwise than by an entrance, or leaves the parking place otherwise than by an exit, so indicated; or

(ii) in a direction other than that specified, as the case may be.

Erection of structures and lighting of fires

28. In a parking place a person shall not—

(a) erect or cause or permit to be erected any tent, booth, stand, building or other structure without the written consent of the Council; or

(b) light or cause to be lit any fire.

Supermarket trolleys

29.—(1) A person shall not cause or permit a supermarket trolley to enter a parking place in or under a building, and any supermarket trolley left there may be removed by a person authorised by the Council.

  (2) A person shall not cause or permit a supermarket trolley to be left in any other parking place, other than in an area set aside for that purpose, and any supermarket trolley so left may be removed by a person authorised by the Council.

Reserving a parking bay

 30. A person shall not reserve a parking bay in a parking place.

Use of car park or sections of for the purposes of temporary meeting place

31. No persons shall use a parking place as a meeting place or point unless authorised by the Council in writing in advance.

Articles 2, 3, 4, 8, 12 

Articles 12 and 13(1)

Tariff TL3: Motor Cars, Invalid Carriages and Light Goods Vehicles

Tariff TL4: Motor Cars, Invalid Carriages and Light Goods Vehicles

 Tariff TL5: Motor Cars, Invalid Carriages and Light Goods Vehicles

Tariff TL6: Motor Cars, Invalid Carriages and Light Goods Vehicles

Tariff TL7: Motor Cars, Invalid Carriages and Light Goods Vehicles

Tariff TM6: Motor Cars, Invalid Carriages and Light Goods Vehicles

Tariff TM7: Motor Cars, Invalid Carriages and Light Goods Vehicles

Tariff TM8: Motor Cars, Invalid Carriages and Light Goods Vehicles

Tariff TM10: Motor Cars, Invalid Carriages and Light Goods Vehicles

Tariff TM12: Motor Cars, Invalid Carriages and Light Goods Vehicles

Tariff TP: Motor Cars, Invalid Carriages and Light Goods Vehicles

Tariff TS3: Motor Cars, Invalid Carriages and Light Goods Vehicles

Tariff TS4: Motor Cars, Invalid Carriages and Light Goods Vehicles

(This note is not part of the Order) 

This Order: 

1. Reproduces and amends provisions of The Off-Street Parking Order (Northern Ireland) 2000, as amended by The Off-Street Parking (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015, to facilitate Belfast City Council in the operation of the car parks it took responsibility for from 1^st April 2015.
2. Harmonises the tariff structure and varies parking charges (Schedule 1)
3. Includes 3 additional existing public car parks and removes 2 existing car parks
4. Introduces concession for Blue Badge parking (Article 19)

This Order does not revoke the provisions and amendments of previous Orders, this Order is intended to supersede those Orders. The Department for Infrastructure retains responsibility for the revocation of previous and amended Orders.