How many car parking spaces do I need, and do they have to be covered?
The number of parking spaces you need depends on the type of housing. A regular house needs 2 spaces, while a single-bedroom home on a compact block needs 1 space. A secondary residence needs 1 extra space, multi-unit developments follow specific parking rates, and co-housing needs a shared parking area that is hidden from public view. Larger developments with 40 or more homes also need a short-stay parking space for delivery vehicles.
Parking spaces do not have to be covered. They must be placed in the right location, stay within the property boundary, and tandem parking is only allowed when the spaces serve the same dwelling.
Reference: Planning (Residential Zones) Technical Specifications 2026 (NI2026-303)- Assessment Outome 27.1 & 27.3 – Planning (Residential Zones) Technical Specifications 2026 | PDF
Short Answer
The number of parking spaces depends on the type of home. Most houses need 2 spaces, while a single-bedroom compact home needs 1 space. Secondary homes need an extra space, apartments follow specific parking rules, and co-housing needs shared parking. Parking spaces do not have to be covered, but they must be correctly located and fit within the property boundaries.
Detailed Explanation
Under the Planning (Residential Zones) Technical Specifications 2026 (NI2026-303), parking requirements depend on the type of residential development. A single dwelling requires at least 2 car parking spaces on site, unless it is a single-bedroom dwelling on a compact block, which requires at least 1 space. A secondary residence requires at least 1 additional parking space in addition to the primary residence requirement. Multi-unit housing must provide parking in accordance with the applicable parking rates and location requirements in Tables 12 and 13. Co-housing must provide car parking in a single combined parking area screened from public view. Developments with 40 or more dwellings must provide at least one short-stay parking space and access for delivery vehicles.
Car parking spaces do not need to be covered. Parking areas must comply with location requirements, including restrictions on placement in the front zone, tandem parking only for the same dwelling, no encroachment over property boundaries, and applicable separation and access requirements for multi-unit housing.
No minimum block size does not remove the need for planning assessment.
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