Beijing has issued the “Guiding Opinions on Promoting Paid, Time-Shifting Parking Facility Sharing in the Municipality.”

On November 25, 2019, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport published the “Guiding Opinions on Promoting Paid Time-Sharing and Shared Use of Parking Facilities in the Municipality.” It specifies that, within the administrative area of Beijing, parking facilities in public buildings shall be opened to the public—subject to appropriate safety and management requirements—and operated on a paid, time‑shared basis, with priority given to residential parking. Parking facilities in residential communities may be opened to the public, provided they adequately meet the parking needs of the community’s residents. Meanwhile, the housing and urban–rural development authorities shall commend property service agencies that have demonstrated outstanding performance in providing shared parking facilities; furthermore, entities that offer such facilities should receive additional points in their service quality assessments.

The full text is as follows:

Guiding Opinions on Promoting Paid, Time-Shifting Parking Facility Sharing in This Municipality

To promote the efficient utilization of parking facilities, advance the paid, time‑shifted sharing of on‑street parking spaces within designated areas (hereinafter referred to as “shared parking”), and alleviate the imbalance between parking supply and demand, the following guiding opinions are hereby issued in accordance with the Beijing Municipal Regulations on Motor Vehicle Parking, taking into account the city’s specific circumstances.

I. General Requirements

Guided by the principles of innovation, coordination, green development, openness, and shared benefits, this initiative will strengthen motor vehicle parking management in the city by focusing on refined governance, collaborative governance, and rule-of-law-based approaches, thereby fostering a high-quality parking environment and promoting the coordinated, sustainable development of the urban comprehensive transportation system. In accordance with the principles of encouragement, standardization, and development, we will properly balance the roles of government, market, and enterprises. By leveraging government guidance, market‑driven operations, corporate management, and public participation, we will promote shared parking, unlock the potential of existing parking resources, enhance the efficiency of parking facilities and their management, and alleviate the imbalance between parking supply and demand in target areas.

Within the administrative area of this municipality, parking facilities in public buildings shall be open to the public, provided they meet safety and management requirements, and shall operate on a paid, time‑shared basis, with priority given to residential parking. Parking facilities in residential communities may be opened to the public, provided they adequately meet the parking needs of the community’s residents.

II. Basic Principles

Adhere to the principle of government guidance and market-based operation. Governments at all levels may introduce incentive policies and reward mechanisms to motivate parking facility owners, operators (including property management entities), and property right holders—hereinafter collectively referred to as “parking facility providers”—to promote shared parking, foster a thriving shared‑parking market, and gradually achieve self-sustaining development.

Adhere to the principles of equality, voluntariness, consultation, and shared benefits. On the basis of fully considering factors such as parking demand, management capacity, and available time slots, the providers and users of parking facilities shall, in accordance with the principles of equality and voluntariness, determine the specific arrangements for shared parking through mutual consultation.

Adhere to the principles of self-management and co-governance by society. Both the supply and demand sides of parking facilities shall exercise self‑regulation and jointly abide by the terms of the shared parking agreement. It is essential to fully leverage the roles of community residents’ committees, industry associations, parking‑information service providers, and specialized parking operators, among other stakeholders, to jointly engage in and share responsibility for parking management.

III. Organization and Implementation

(1) Coordinated Work Planning

The district people’s government is responsible for overall coordination and the organization and implementation of shared parking within its administrative area, formulating detailed implementation rules and work‑progress plans, and clearly defining task assignments, division of responsibilities, and timelines. Pilot shared‑parking demonstration projects may be launched in selected areas, where experience can be systematically documented and best practices distilled; once proven effective, these models can be scaled up and widely implemented.

(II) Matching Supply and Demand Sides

Subdistrict offices (township governments) shall comprehensively assess parking demand within their jurisdictions. For areas where conflicts are particularly acute, they should conduct a thorough review of the availability of parking resources at nearby public facilities, such as office buildings and shopping malls. To facilitate this work, they may engage third-party organizations through public procurement of services. Establish a shared parking consultation mechanism to connect supply and demand, and organize, coordinate, and guide both parties in negotiating arrangements for shared parking.

(3) Entering into a Sharing Agreement

The parties to the shared parking arrangement shall, by entering into a shared parking agreement, clearly define their respective rights and obligations as well as liability for breach of contract. A shared parking agreement may include basic information such as the location, type, owner or manager of the parking facility, the users authorized to share the space, and the vehicles permitted to be parked. It should specify the fee structure, payment methods, and management requirements; delineate the permitted parking hours and designated areas; and set forth the liability for breach of contract in cases where a parker fails to park in accordance with the agreed terms or where the parking facility provider fails to make the shared parking spaces available as stipulated.

(4) Promote Management Innovation

Parking facility providers may manage shared parking facilities either through self‑management or by entrusting management to a third party. Government agencies and public institutions may, in accordance with the Government Procurement Law of the People’s Republic of China and relevant laws and regulations, entrust specialized parking management entities to operate shared parking facilities. Parking facility providers shall strengthen parking order and safety management, and parkers shall park their vehicles in accordance with the relevant regulations. Encourage industry associations in the parking sector to establish an information-sharing mechanism for serious breaches of contract by both parking facility providers and parkers, thereby regulating the conduct of all parties involved in shared parking.

The pricing for shared parking facilities shall be determined through voluntary negotiation between the parties involved, based on supply and demand. For non‑commercial parking facilities that offer shared parking spaces, parking fees may be charged in accordance with the terms of the agreement, with such fees used to cover the management costs associated with the shared spaces. Revenue generated from shared parking services by government agencies and public institutions constitutes income derived from the paid use of state-owned assets and shall be remitted in full to the treasury in accordance with the “dual-track” system for revenue and expenditure. Government agencies and public institutions that implement shared parking may apply for related administrative expenses within their annual budgets, and the fiscal authorities at the same level shall provide appropriate support.

(5) Strengthen Data Utilization

The district parking management authority shall organize subdistrict offices (township governments) and parking information service providers to enter into the city’s integrated parking management service system relevant data, including the locations of parking facilities, the number of shared parking spaces, information on supply and demand, sharing time periods, and fee schedules, and shall strengthen oversight and supervision of shared‑parking initiatives within its jurisdiction.

Encourage parking facility providers and parking information service operators to establish cooperative mechanisms, leveraging digital platforms to promptly disclose available parking spaces, thereby enabling local residents to access real-time information on regional parking availability and fostering the market‑driven, large‑scale development of shared parking.

IV. Safeguard Measures

(1) Organizational Support

All municipal departments, district governments, and subdistrict offices (township governments) shall strengthen the organizational management of shared parking initiatives, designate responsible leaders and lead agencies, and advance these efforts in accordance with the established plan. The municipal transportation administrative authority may select exemplary projects with demonstrably positive outcomes and promote them throughout the city.

Parking industry associations should actively participate in the implementation of shared parking initiatives, conduct policy outreach and guidance among their member organizations, and provide standardized guidance to help members offer shared parking services.

(II) Policy Support

The municipal departments of transportation, housing and urban–rural development, market regulation, and civil defense shall provide policy support in areas such as parking management, property management, price oversight, and the opening of civil defense facilities. Meanwhile, the municipal departments of development and reform, public security, and fire protection shall, within their respective jurisdictions, guide the city’s shared‑parking initiatives.

For Parking facilities established within air-raid shelters, when utilized for shared parking to meet residential parking needs, may be eligible for reductions or exemptions from the relevant fees for the use of civil defense facilities in accordance with the Measures for the Administration of Air-Raid Shelters Used for Residential Parking. Encourage parking facilities that serve as park-and-ride hubs during the day to open their spaces to nearby residents at night. The housing and urban–rural development authorities shall commend property service agencies that have demonstrated outstanding performance in providing shared parking facilities. Units that provide shared parking facilities should receive additional points in the service quality assessment.

(III) Financial Assurance

The municipal finance and transportation authorities shall, taking into account factors such as the types of shared parking facilities and their level of accessibility, formulate fiscal support policies to promote the development of shared parking in the city. The district people’s government shall, in light of the specific conditions of the district, formulate concrete incentive measures and establish a funding‑guarantee mechanism, thereby encouraging providers of parking facilities to actively participate in shared parking through operational subsidies and other means.