Parking Policy | Futian District, Shenzhen, Has Issued Policies to Encourage Private Capital to Build Parking Facilities

In Futian District, which boasts 325,600 marked parking spaces, on weekdays the central urban area’s parking facilities remain severely overburdened. How can this challenge be addressed? Recently, Futian District introduced a subsidy policy for socially invested parking facilities, aiming to encourage private capital to actively participate in parking infrastructure development. To date, 16 multi‑storey parking projects funded by private investors have been completed, adding nearly 2,000 parking spaces.

 

According to a responsible official from the Futian District Development and Reform Bureau, Futian District boasts a parking‑space density of 5,700 spaces per square kilometer. Nevertheless, on weekdays, nearly 40 percent of the district’s parking facilities remain severely overcapacity, resulting in an acute shortage of parking spaces.

 

In addition to building a number of public parking facilities through government investment, Futian District has introduced subsidy policies to stimulate private-sector participation in the development of parking infrastructure. According to the recently issued “Detailed Rules for the Implementation of Investment Subsidies for Parking Facilities Developed by Social Capital in Futian District (Trial)” (hereinafter referred to as the “Detailed Rules”), Under the program, mechanical automated parking facilities will receive support of up to RMB 30,000 per parking space, while multi‑storey parking structures will receive up to RMB 50,000 per space, with a maximum subsidy of RMB 10 million per project.

 

What types of public parking facilities are eligible for subsidies? According to the Implementation Rules, Public parking facilities that are fully funded by the community, have complete construction and operational permits, have a service life of at least three years, and are integrated with the government’s smart parking platform are eligible for subsidies. Public parking facilities that meet the relevant standards shall be granted subsidies in accordance with their respective types and criteria.

 

Specifically, parking facilities eligible for subsidies fall into two main categories: multi‑storey parking structures and mechanical automated parking systems. Multi‑storey parking structures are further divided into above‑ground and underground types, with subsidies of RMB 20,000 per parking space for the former and RMB 50,000 per parking space for the latter.

 

Subsidy rates for mechanical automated parking systems are determined based on technological sophistication and construction costs: AGV‑based intelligent robots qualify for a subsidy of RMB 30,000 per parking space; fully automated systems such as flat‑move, aisle‑stacking, vertical‑lift, and vertical‑circulation types receive a subsidy of RMB 20,000 per space; while semi‑automated systems—including non‑yielding, simple lift, and lift‑and‑translate types—are eligible for a subsidy of RMB 8,000 per space.

 

Subsidy funds will be disbursed over a three-year period. For projects that do not operate for the full three years, the government may reclaim the subsidies, thereby encouraging the long-term operation of parking facilities and ensuring that they effectively provide parking services to the public.

 

In addition, Futian District has leveraged the leading role of government investment and strengthened the provision of public amenities. In park development and the renovation of older residential communities, 22 public‑facility projects have already incorporated public parking‑lot construction, while taking into account a range of indicators—including population density, vehicle ownership levels, and the convenience of public transportation—to promptly plan and advance project implementation.

 

 

 

Policy Interpretation of the “Detailed Rules for Implementing Investment Subsidies for Parking Facility Development by Social Capital in Futian District (Trial)”

 

I. What is the background for formulating the “Detailed Rules for Implementing Investment Subsidies for Parking Facility Development by Social Capital in Futian District (Trial)” ?

 

Answer: In recent years, relevant national ministries and commissions have successively issued documents including the “Guiding Opinions on Strengthening Urban Parking Facility Construction” (NDRC Basic [2015] No. 1788), the “Notice of the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development on Strengthening the Management of Urban Parking Facilities” (Jiancheng [2015] No. 141), the “Notice of the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development and the Ministry of Land and Resources on Further Improving Urban Parking Lot Planning, Construction, and Land‑Use Policies” (Jiancheng [2016] No. 193), and the “Key Tasks and Division of Responsibilities for Accelerating Urban Parking Lot Construction in the Near Term” (NDRC Basic [2016] No. 159). These documents call for expediting the development of urban parking infrastructure, encouraging participation by social capital, promoting the industrialization of the parking sector, and gradually alleviating the challenge of parking shortages. Since 2017, Shenzhen has issued a series of guiding documents, such as the “Implementation Opinions of Shenzhen on Strengthening Parking Facility Construction” (Shenfaigai [2017] No. 1170), the “Key Points for Drafting the Detailed Rules on Investment Subsidies for Parking Facilities Invested by Social Capital,” and the “Provisional Measures for the Administration of Mechanical Multi‑Storey Parking Facilities in Shenzhen” (Shenfaigai Gui [2018] No. 5). In accordance with relevant national, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations, and taking into account the actual conditions of Futian District, the Futian District Development and Reform Bureau has formulated the “Detailed Rules on Investment Subsidies for Parking Facilities Constructed by Social Capital in Futian District (Trial)” (hereinafter referred to as the “Rules”) to encourage active participation by social capital in the construction of parking facilities.

 

II. What is the overall guiding principle of the “Detailed Rules for the Implementation of Investment Subsidies for Parking Facilities Constructed with Social Capital in Futian District (Trial)” ?

Answer: Within the framework of higher-level policies, we will actively guide and encourage social entities to invest in and build parking facilities, thereby effectively alleviating the shortage of parking supply in the central district, addressing key shortcomings in urban development, and promoting high-quality growth in the central urban area.

 

III. What are the main provisions of the “Detailed Rules for the Implementation of Investment Subsidies for Parking Facilities Constructed with Social Capital in Futian District (Trial)” ?

(1) Scope of Subsidies. The beneficiaries of the investment subsidy for parking facility construction funded by social capital in Futian District are primarily parking facilities within the district that are open to the public, meet the basic parking needs of the general public, and are not financed by government funds (excluding PPP projects). The subsidy program covers two types of projects: mechanical multi‑storey parking structures and stand‑alone aboveground or underground parking buildings.

(2) Conditions for applying for subsidies. The construction and operation of the parking facility are fully compliant with all applicable procedures, and the relevant approvals were obtained after the promulgation and implementation of the “Shenzhen Measures for Strengthening Parking Facility Construction.” As a non‑temporary parking facility (including special‑purpose equipment), it must be equipped with electric‑vehicle charging spaces as required and install an intelligent parking management system to connect to the city‑wide smart parking cloud platform. In addition, a supervisory agreement must be signed, and the operator must commit to a minimum operational period of no less than three years.

(3) Subsidy standards for parking facilities. The Detailed Rules specify the following concrete subsidy standards:

1. Specific subsidy standards for mechanical automated parking facilities: For non‑yielding, simple lift‑type, and lift‑and‑translate types, the subsidy is RMB 8,000 per parking space; for flat‑move, lane‑stacking, vertical lift, and vertical circulation types, the subsidy is RMB 20,000 per parking space; and for AVG transport‑type systems, the subsidy is RMB 30,000 per parking space.

2. Subsidy standards for parking facilities: RMB 20,000 per parking space for surface parking lots and RMB 50,000 per parking space for underground parking lots.

Other models not listed may be assessed on a case-by-case basis, with individual project subsidies capped at RMB 10 million.

 

IV. How to Apply for Investment Subsidies for Parking Facilities in Futian District?

Eligible applicant entities shall submit a subsidy application to the Futian Administration of the Municipal Transportation Bureau after the project has commenced formal operations. Following a preliminary review of the completeness of the submitted materials, the Futian Administration will forward the application to the subdistrict office where the project is located. The subdistrict office will conduct an on-site verification of the project type, the number of parking spaces, and other relevant details, and issue a verification report. Based on the subdistrict office’s findings, the Futian Administration will submit the case to the Futian District Parking Facilities Management Coordination Meeting for approval. Upon successful approval, the information will be publicly posted on the Futian Government Online portal. If no objections are raised during the public notice period, the Futian Administration will apply to the District Development and Reform Bureau for the disbursement of the subsidy funds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Implementation Rules for Investment Subsidies on the Construction of Parking Facilities by Social Capital in Futian District (Trial)

 

Chapter I General Provisions

 

Article 1 To encourage active participation by social capital in the investment and construction of parking facilities and to effectively alleviate the shortage of parking supply within the jurisdiction, these Implementing Rules are hereby formulated in accordance with the “Implementation Opinions on Strengthening Parking Facility Construction in Shenzhen” (Shen Fa Gai [2017] No. 1170) and the relevant regulations on the management of government-invested projects issued by the Futian District Government.

Article 2 The investment subsidy for parking facility construction under the social capital initiative is designed to meet the basic parking needs of Futian District and to enhance the industrialization of the regional parking sector, while adhering to the principles of fairness, impartiality, openness, efficiency, integrity, and transparency.

Article 3 These Implementing Rules apply to parking facility construction or renovation projects within the Futian District that are fully funded by private capital, and encompass the following two types:

(1) Public mechanical parking garages refer to mechanical, multi‑level parking facilities installed on vacant land or within existing parking lots (garages) outside the road right-of-way, and include both semi‑automatic and fully automatic systems.

(2) Public multi‑storey parking structures refer to stand‑alone underground or aboveground multi‑storey parking facilities that are open to the public (excluding aboveground surface parking lots). An above-ground parking structure refers to any building constructed on the ground that is entirely dedicated to parking, including multi‑storey steel‑frame parking garages. An underground parking structure refers to a standalone underground parking facility that is not attached to a building, such as an underground garage located beneath green spaces or public plazas.

Parking facilities constructed as part of development projects, as well as projects where the land‑use right transfer contract explicitly stipulates that, upon completion, such parking facilities shall be handed over to the relevant government departments or entities for management, are not eligible for subsidies.

Article 4   The subsidy funds under these Implementing Rules constitute a special-purpose investment grant from the district government, which is incorporated into the government investment project plan. The funding is sourced from the district’s fiscal budget (hereinafter referred to as “the subsidy funds”).

Article 5 The responsibilities of each department are as follows:

The District Development and Reform Bureau (hereinafter referred to as the “District DRB”) is responsible for leading the formulation of subsidy policies for parking facility construction financed by social capital, implementing filing-based management of socially invested projects, preparing the annual plan for special-purpose subsidy funds, and approving and disbursing subsidy funds in accordance with the provisions of these Implementing Rules.

The Futian Administration of the Shenzhen Municipal Transportation Bureau (hereinafter referred to as the “Futian Transportation Bureau”) is responsible for formulating the annual investment plan for subsidy funds, establishing relevant systems and standards, accepting project applications, conducting verification, evaluation, and public disclosure of submitted projects, disbursing funds to applicant entities in accordance with these Implementing Rules, and organizing performance assessments and other related tasks.

The District Finance Bureau is responsible for issuing expenditure plans and overseeing the management and supervision of subsidy funds.

Each subdistrict office is responsible for assisting the Futian Transportation Bureau in conducting on-site verification of the project type, the number of parking spaces, service operations, and other relevant matters, and for entering into a supervisory agreement with the applying entity.

　　 Chapter 2: Eligibility Criteria and Standards for Subsidies

 

Article 6 Applying entities shall be registered in Shenzhen and possess independent legal person status, and shall be either the entity specified on the operating license for the parking facilities of the project being applied for, or the entity that submitted the project’s construction approval application.

Article 7 Parking facilities applying for investment subsidies shall simultaneously meet the following conditions:

 

(1) Fully funded by the public sector, with complete construction and operational approval procedures, already in operation, and having obtained planning approval after the issuance and implementation of the “Implementation Opinions on Strengthening Parking Facility Construction in Shenzhen” (Shen Fa Gai [2017] No. 1170), effective from October 1, 2017.

 

(2) Provide parking services to the general public, with parking facilities having a usable lifespan of at least three years.

 

(3) Configure rechargeable parking spaces as required. In principle, 100 percent of parking spaces in newly built residential developments must be equipped with charging facilities or have provisions for future installation, while public parking facilities must provide charging infrastructure or预留 installation conditions at a rate of no less than 10 percent. In cases where on-site construction is not feasible due to special circumstances, relevant certification from the competent authority must be provided.

 

(4) Implement an intelligent parking management system and integrate it with the citywide smart parking cloud platform.

 

(5) The applicant shall operate in good faith and have no record of serious violations of laws or regulations.

 

Article 8 Parking facilities that have been certified as eligible for subsidies shall receive subsidies based on their type and the number of parking spaces. The subsidy rates are set out in the table below. The total subsidy for a single project shall not exceed RMB 10 million (inclusive) and shall not exceed 40% of the equipment procurement cost (inclusive).

 

Subsidy Standards for Social Investment in the Construction of Parking Facilities

Note: Models of mechanical automated parking systems not listed in the table may be recognized on a case-by-case basis.

 

Chapter 3 Application and Acceptance

 

Article 9 To apply for an investment subsidy for parking facility construction funded by social capital in Futian District, the following documents must be submitted:

(1) Business license of the applying entity;

(2) Application Form for Investment Subsidies for Parking Facility Development by Social Capital in Futian District (see Appendix 1);

(3) Notification of Filing for Social Investment;

(4) Parking facility operating license and the project’s operational parking space layout plan;

(5) Specialized acceptance certificates from traffic police, fire departments, and other relevant authorities; for special equipment, the Certificate of Registration for Use of Special Equipment must be submitted.

(6) Enterprise Credit Information Report (printed independently from the Shenzhen Credit Website);

(7) Supporting documentation demonstrating the information system’s integration with the Municipal Smart Parking Cloud Platform (may be waived prior to the official launch of the Smart Parking Cloud Platform);

(8) Other materials that the accepting department deems necessary to be provided.

 

Article 10 Applications for investment subsidies for parking facility construction by social capital in Futian District shall be reviewed and approved in accordance with the following procedures:

(1) The applying entity shall submit the application materials to the Futian Transportation Bureau in accordance with Article 9.

(2) Following a preliminary review of the application materials, the Futian Transportation Bureau shall forward the case to the street office where the project is located for on-site verification.

(3) The subdistrict office shall conduct an on-site verification of the parking project, including its type, number of parking spaces, external service provisions, and operational status, and submit a written on-site verification report to the Futian District Transportation Bureau.

(4) The Futian Transportation Bureau shall submit the proposal to the Joint Meeting on Parking Facility Management of Futian District for approval;

(5) Projects approved for funding at the meeting shall be publicly posted on the “Futian Government Online” website for a period of five working days, subject to public oversight. The public notice shall, in principle, include the beneficiary, the project name, the main content of the project, the amount of funding, circumstances under which funding is prohibited, the name of the competent administrative department, the duration of the public notice, as well as procedures for submitting and resolving any objections.

(6) If any objections are raised during the public notice period, the Futian Transportation Bureau shall promptly notify the applying entity to submit a written response within five working days, provide relevant supporting documentation, and conduct another round of public notice.

If the applying entity fails to submit its response and supporting documentation within the prescribed time limit, it shall be deemed to have waived its eligibility for the subsidy. In cases of genuine special circumstances requiring an extension, the applying entity may submit an extension request to the Futian Transportation Bureau within the prescribed time limit. Upon approval, the extension shall be for a period of five working days.

(7) Following public notice and the absence of any objections, the Futian Transportation Bureau shall submit a request to the District Development and Reform Bureau for approval of the subsidy funding plan. Subsidy funds for each project will be disbursed over three years, allocated at 40% in the first year, 30% in the second year, and 30% in the third year.

 

Article 11 The District Development and Reform Bureau reviews and issues the funding plan for parking facility subsidies, which is then disbursed by the District Finance Bureau to the Futian Transportation Bureau. After the applying entity signs a supervision agreement with the street office in the project’s location, the Futian Transportation Bureau shall disburse funds to the applying entity in accordance with the fund‑disbursement procedures.

 

Chapter Four: Management and Supervision

 

Article 12 If the applying entity or the actual operator falls under any of the following circumstances, both the applying entity and the actual operator shall be recorded as having a negative entry in the citywide parking facility industry integrity system, and the Futian Transportation Bureau shall recover the subsidy funds and revoke their eligibility to apply for subsidies:

(1) The submitted application materials contain false or fraudulent information;

(2) The actual service life has not reached three years;

(3) Adjusting the function or quantity of parking facilities, or ceasing to provide parking services to the public, without prior approval; or otherwise failing to fulfill obligations in accordance with regulatory commitments.

(4) Having been investigated and penalized by law enforcement authorities for serious violations of laws and regulations in business operations.

 
Article 13 All functional departments of the district and all subdistrict offices are required to conduct thorough reviews and maintain strict oversight. Any instances of inadequate performance of duties or violations of laws and regulations, once verified, will be dealt with rigorously in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

 

Article 14 The District Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision, together with the District Audit Department, perform their duties of disciplinary inspection, supervision, and auditing in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

 

Chapter V Supplementary Provisions

 

Article 15: These Implementing Rules shall be interpreted by the District Development and Reform Bureau and the Futian Transportation Bureau.

Article 16: These Implementing Rules shall come into force on July 15, 2019, and shall be valid for a period of three years.

 

Attachment 1: Application Form for Investment Subsidy Funds for Parking Facility Development by Social Capital in Futian District