Under the Public Unleased Land Act 2013 a permit is required to use public land when your activity may impact the amenity or other people's enjoyment of the area. A permit may last up to a maximum of 3 years.
You must apply for a permit to place an object on public land, including but not limited to the following activities:
- temporary storage of construction/building material/vehicle access
- waste bins
- commercial waste bins/skips
- overflow car parking
- market activities
- community activities
- other activities (eg garden beds etc)
Movable signs do not require a permit but must be placed in accordance with the Code of Practice for Movable Signs. The placement of movable signs such as business, real estate, community and electoral advertising signage is restricted and penalties apply. For more information see the movable signs page.
Activities that are NOT going to be approved – regardless of application and submission fees
- shipping containers on roads/verges for residential use (eg storage of household furniture, moving house etc)
- storage of shipping containers (construction activities accepted if related to development)
- storage of individual vehicles (such as trailers, food vans, caravan, horse float etc)
- permanent storage of personal/business materials (such as milk/bread crates, pallets, beer kegs etc)
- electronic road signs (this includes signage appearing on variable message boards (VMB))
- parking with advertising material displayed
- placing of permanent residential fencing.
Apply for a public land permit
You must apply for a public land permit to place an object on public land
This form should be completed for the following:
✔ Temporary storage of construction/building material for commercial development purposes
✔ Parking associated with commercial developments including but not limited to parking areas defined by determination under the Road Transport (General) Act 1999.
✔ Longer term overflow car parking
✔ Ongoing commercial market activities if you are part of a non-for-profit organisation or charity please complete an event application
✔ Commercial waste bins including skips
✔ Road and path closures
✔ Gate access
Your application will be assessed within 28 days of receiving all relevant documentation (unless additional consultation or approval is required). Once your application has been approved you will receive an approved permit with terms and conditions via email.
Apply nowSupporting documentation
The following supporting documentation may be required to assess your application:
- endorsed landscape management and protection plan and/or tree management plan
- approved temporary traffic management plan
- current public liability insurance
- risk management plan
- parking management plan (this can be incorporated into the approved temporary traffic management plan)
- dilapidation report and detailed site plan.
If your application is missing the required information you will receive an email within 2 business days requesting the additional information.
Tree management plans may be submitted prior to your public land permit application, via the tree activity application process. See the tree management plans page for more details.
Apply to amend an approved permit
Apply to amend an approved permit when you wish to seek approval to change an already approved permit. For example, this form should be used if a permit holder is wishing to extend duration or change land usage footprint on an existing permit.
Please note, an application fee may be applicable at time of submission.
You may need to provide supporting documentation, such as a updated approved Temporary Traffic Management (TTM) Plans, detailed site map, risk management plan and endorsed land management protection plan (LMPP), depending on the nature of your activity.
Please allow sufficient time for your amendment application to be considered. We aim to assess your application within 28 days upon receipt of all supporting documentation, unless additional consultation or approvals are required.
Fees and charges
The ACT is divided into 3-tiered commercial payment zones for public land use. Check the fee tables below and see the interactive map for which tier maybe applicable to your activity.
Your land use fees will vary depending on which tier your activity is held and what government infrastructure is impacted. These fees are based on the potential impact to public amenity and territory assets.
If you need an estimate of land use fees, please supply a detailed site plan via email to TCCS.Publiclanduse@act.gov.au. See the fees and charges page for more details.
Commercial payment zones
Commercial payment zones
| Type of activity | Fees from 1 July 2025 |
|---|
|
Use of public unleased land where the activity is for any other commercial purpose within a Tier 1 Zone**
|
$0.60 per m2 of land used, per day or part thereof
|
|
Use of public unleased land where the activity is for any other commercial purpose within a Tier 2 Zone**
|
$0.40 per m2 of land used, per day or part thereof
|
|
Use of public unleased land where the activity is for any other commercial purpose within a Tier 3 Zone**
|
$0.20 per m2 of land used, per day or part thereof |
Administrative fees
Administrative fees
| Administrative task | Fees from 1 July 2025 |
|---|
|
Application for a new permit where the activity for the permit is any other commercial purpose
|
$152
|
| Application for a new permit where the activity for the permit is for a non-commercial purpose | $0.00 |
|
Application to amend a permit where the activity for the permit is for any other commercial purpose
|
$93
|
|
Application to amend a permit for the use of public unleased land, non-commercial
|
$0.00 |
Use of car parking spaces
Car parking spaces
Car parking spaces
| Type of activity | Fees from 1 July 2025 |
|---|
|
Use of public unleased land where the activity is for a paid car parking space on public unleased land
|
Hourly rate as outlined in Schedule 1 of the Road Transport (General) (Pay Parking Area Fees) Determination 2025
|
|
Use of public unleased land where the activity for an unpaid / unmetered car parking space within a parking area
|
$0.53 per parking space per hour.
Outside of paid parking hourly under Schedule 1 of the Road Transport (General) (Pay Parking Area Fees) Determination 2025 |
Permit zones map
The map below outlines the permit zones for event bookings across the ACT.
View full screen permit zone map
