Parking Regulations | Guangzhou Encourages the Construction of Mechanical Multi‑Storey Parking Facilities to Alleviate Parking Shortages

How can the “difficulty of finding parking” be addressed? Guangzhou has introduced policies to encourage the construction of mechanical, multi‑level parking facilities. Recently, the Guangzhou Municipal Transportation Bureau announced that the Measures for the Administration of the Installation of Mechanical, Multi‑Level Parking Facilities in Guangzhou (hereinafter referred to as the “Measures”) will take effect on October 1, with a validity period of five years. By streamlining application procedures and other measures, the Measures aim to incentivize organizations and individuals to install and develop such parking facilities on their own land—whether it be built‑up land, idle plots, under‑construction sites, or scattered open spaces—through leasing, joint ventures, or other cooperative arrangements, thereby helping to alleviate parking shortages in targeted areas.

Simplify the application procedure for installing mechanical automated parking systems.

According to the Administrative Measures, the simplified procedures for applying to install mechanical automated parking systems are as follows: For mechanical automated parking facilities that, in accordance with Article 24 of the Guangzhou Parking Lot Regulations, are exempt from obtaining a construction project planning permit, no separate approval procedures—such as project filing or construction permits—are required. However, the operator must, as prescribed, submit notifications to the market supervision and administration authorities prior to construction and complete registration for use. Additionally, if the total number of parking spaces at the parking lot where the mechanical automated parking system is installed does not exceed 500 and the installation does not involve environmentally sensitive areas or civil engineering works, an environmental impact assessment is not required.

Non-open‑air parking facilities must keep fire access lanes unobstructed.

What requirements must be met when installing mechanical automated parking facilities? According to the Management Measures, such installations shall comply with the relevant provisions of the Code for Fire Protection Design of Garages, Repair Shops, and Parking Lots (GB 50067–2014). Open-air, fully exposed mechanical automated parking facilities shall be designed in accordance with parking‑lot fire‑protection standards, while indoor or open‑air but non‑exposed facilities shall follow garage‑fire‑protection design. In addition, fire‑access routes must remain unobstructed, and elevated‑operation areas for fire trucks must be kept in proper working condition.

In addition, when installing mechanical automated parking facilities, the site should be selected appropriately, and effective measures for sound insulation and vibration reduction must be implemented to prevent adverse impacts on the ventilation, natural lighting, and solar exposure of adjacent buildings. Furthermore, such installations shall be harmonized with the surrounding architecture and comply with urban landscape requirements.

District governments are responsible for formulating and implementing action plans.

How should the various departments delineate their responsibilities to ensure the successful installation and construction of mechanical automated parking facilities? The Management Measures stipulate that the development and reform authorities are responsible for project approval for mechanical automated parking facility construction projects and for including such projects under public‑private partnership arrangements in the government‑social capital project database. Meanwhile, the planning and natural resources authorities are tasked with reviewing and approving land‑use plans for parking lots and garages, except in cases where permits are legally exempted.

In addition, the housing and urban–rural development authorities are responsible for issuing construction permits and filing completion acceptance records for mechanical automated parking facilities associated with new or renovated building projects, as well as for reviewing fire safety designs and conducting fire safety inspections for such projects. The transportation authorities handle the issuance of construction permits and the filing of completion acceptance records for mechanical automated parking facilities constructed as ancillary facilities along newly built or reconstructed roads and within urban rail transit systems. Meanwhile, the market supervision and administration departments are tasked with processing pre‑construction notifications and registration for the use of mechanical automated parking facilities.

Meanwhile, the people’s governments of each district are responsible for formulating implementation plans for mechanical automated parking facilities within their jurisdictions and organizing their execution; subdistrict offices and town people’s governments shall strengthen guidance and coordination for the installation of such facilities in residential communities under their jurisdiction.