Removal of minimum car parking rate requirements

About the removal of minimum car parking rate requirements

The National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD) came into force on 20 August 2020. The NPS-UD requires councils to plan well for growth and ensure a well-functioning urban environment for all people, communities and future generations.


Different policies of the NPS-UD apply to different councils, depending on the 'tier' of the council. Under the NPS-UD, Hutt City Council is a ‘Tier 1’ local authority.

Policy 11 of the NPS-UD gives directions to Tier 1, 2 and 3 territorial authorities to not set minimum car parking rate requirements in their district plans. The Policy gives the following direction:

  • Tier 1, 2 and 3 territorial authorities are not to set minimum car parking rate requirements in their district plans, other than for accessible car parks, and
  • Tier 1, 2 and 3 territorial authorities are strongly encouraged to manage effects associated with the supply and demand of car parking through comprehensive parking management plans.

Clause 3.38 of the NPS-UD provides further direction on implementing Policy 11.

Under Clause 3.38 ofthe NPS-UD, if the district plan of a Tier 1, 2, or 3 territorial authority contains objectives, policies, rules, or assessment criteria that have the effect of requiring a minimum number of car parks to be provided for a particular development, land use, or activity, the territorial authority must change its district plan to remove that effect, other than in respect of accessible car parks.

Prior to the NPS-UD coming into force, the operative City of Lower Hutt District Plan set minimum car parking rate requirements through Chapter 14A Transport.

However, at its 29 September 2020 meeting, Council made the decision to amend the District Plan to remove these requirements.

Read the National Policy Statement on Urban Development (Ministry for the Environment website)

Read the paper to Council's Regulatory Committee regarding the removal of minimum car parking rate requirements

Operative date

The minimum car parking rate requirements were removed from the District Plan on 29 September 2020.


Contact Us

Please contact us if you have any questions about this change.