A Brief Discussion on the Approval Process for the Construction of Multi‑Storey Parking Facilities

Vertical parking systems, as a solution to urban… One effective approach to addressing the “difficulty of finding parking” has, since its inception, drawn attention from all stakeholders. However, for various reasons, the approval process for constructing multi‑level parking facilities has consistently been far from smooth. Policy-related factors may be a key impediment to their development. Prior to August 2015, when seven government departments jointly issued the “Guiding Opinions on Strengthening Urban Parking Infrastructure,” local authorities exhibited significant shortcomings in streamlining the approval procedures for parking projects: it was often difficult to locate clear information on these processes or corresponding service guides on official websites, and even when calls for simplification were made, most municipal parking policies merely stated the need for streamlining without specifying concrete measures or methods. As a result, the approval process frequently became the primary obstacle to advancing parking infrastructure, drawing widespread criticism.

The National Development and Reform Commission, together with six other departments, has jointly issued the “Guiding Opinions on Strengthening Urban Parking Infrastructure Construction,” which clearly stipulates: Moderately meet the basic parking needs of residential areas while strictly controlling on‑street parking for trips, orienting development toward the industrialization of parking, fully mobilizing private capital, and effectively alleviating the parking supply shortage. No Foot, strengthen operational management to ensure parking is standardized and orderly.

The guidelines clearly stipulate that priority should be given to special areas such as residential neighborhoods, major integrated transportation hubs, peripheral parking‑and‑ride (P+R) stations of urban rail transit, hospitals, schools, and tourist attractions. Within these areas, parking facilities are to be developed through internal potential‑exploitation and renovation, while in adjacent zones where conditions permit, additional public parking facilities are to be constructed. Encourage the development of intensive parking facilities, such as parking garages, underground parking lots, and mechanical multi‑storey parking structures. ， Moreover, electric vehicle charging facilities shall be provided in accordance with prescribed ratios and constructed concurrently with the main project.

With regard to market access, the opinions propose that, Both enterprises and individuals may apply to invest in and construct public parking facilities. In principle, no minimum threshold is set for the number of parking spaces. The investment, construction, and operational management models for parking facilities will be reformed to remove existing barriers to public participation.

With regard to parking fee policies, the opinions state that, Gradually narrow the scope of government price-setting and fully liberalize pricing for parking facilities newly constructed with wholly private capital. For parking facilities subject to government pricing, such as on-street parking, refine the rules governing government pricing and implement differentiated parking rates based on location, facility conditions, and other relevant factors.

In the realm of intelligent parking, the guidelines clearly support the development and promotion of mobile‑terminal–based internet‑enabled parking applications, encouraging users to check parking availability and reserve spaces prior to their trips, while enabling automated billing and payment, thereby enhancing the efficiency of parking resource utilization.

With regard to comprehensive parking management, the guidelines stipulate that, following the completion and commissioning of newly built or renovated public parking facilities, on-street parking spaces in the surrounding areas shall be reduced and gradually phased out. Strengthen enforcement against illegal parking; Ensure the openness and transparency of the entrusted operation of government‑owned parking resources, such as on‑street parking, and allocate a designated proportion of the revenues specifically to parking‑lot development. Strictly regulate parking services and fee‑charging practices, and vigorously crack down on illegal operations such as unlicensed business activities and unauthorized land‑enclosure for charging.

The opinion also makes it clear that, Streamline approval procedures, and wherever possible, reduce or exempt administrative and public‑service fees associated with the construction and operation of parking facilities; innovate financing and investment models, and encourage the adoption of the PPP approach; and strengthen financial support by exploring the establishment of a special industry investment fund to guide the development of parking infrastructure.

The issuance of the “Guiding Opinions” is, in essence, the most direct manifestation of the state’s supportive stance toward the entire parking industry. As the document makes clear, the government seeks to foster the sector’s orderly, sustainable, and healthy development—encouraging circular‑economy‑oriented, ecosystem‑based growth while rigorously curbing disorderly practices that disrupt industry cycles. The “Guiding Opinions” stipulate that, “Relevant departments in all cities are required to deepen reforms of the administrative approval system, streamline administration and delegate power, transform their functions, and proactively provide services; simplify procedures for investment, construction, and operations; enhance work efficiency; and, in accordance with prescribed time limits and procedures, complete the approval (or ratification) of parking facility projects submitted by project owners or investors. For small-scale parking facilities or those built on privately owned land, a filing‑based management approach is encouraged. Local authorities should, to the greatest extent possible, reduce or exempt administrative and public‑service fees associated with the construction and operation of parking facilities.” This marked the first clear articulation of the national policy direction to streamline the approval processes for parking facility construction and operation, and since then, regulations governing parking‑lot development approvals in cities have also been adjusted accordingly.

Following the issuance of the “Guiding Opinions,” All 15 cities (and provinces) have proposed specific measures to streamline approval procedures, while Chongqing’s Wanzhou District and Xiamen have further specified detailed operational guidelines for these processes.

　　Based on these newly introduced approval procedures for parking facility construction, we can broadly identify the following key directions for streamlining the approval process:

　　 1. Joint approval. Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Kunming, Fujian, Xiamen, Xi’an, Nanchang, Taiyuan, Lanzhou, Jinan All nine cities (and provinces) mentioned joint approval. The development of parking facilities involves numerous departments, including the National Development and Reform Commission, housing and urban–rural development authorities, planning agencies, land and resources departments, public security fire services, traffic management authorities, environmental protection agencies, quality supervision bodies, civil defense offices, landscaping authorities, and urban management agencies. If each department must be approached individually for approval, the process could easily take six months or even longer, with many projects ultimately being abandoned during this protracted review period. The above… Among the nine cities (and provinces), Fujian and Lanzhou stipulate that, following joint review and approval, a meeting minutes shall be issued as part of the approval procedure; Taiyuan, after joint review and determination, exempts applicants from obtaining separate permits for construction project planning, land use, environmental impact assessment, and construction. Joint approval indeed represents the most effective means of streamlining the approval process and aligns with the “Guiding Opinions’” call for relevant departments to “transform their functions and proactively provide services.” However, according to industry experts, given the large number of agencies involved in joint approval, practical implementation inevitably encounters various challenges. Consequently, it is virtually impossible for such applications to be approved on the first submission, leading many parking‑lot projects—particularly mechanical‑garage developments—to be treated instead as temporary projects.

　　 2. Mechanical parking equipment shall be operated in accordance with the procedures for special equipment. 。 Fujian, Xiamen, Shanghai, Shenyang, Lanzhou Five cities (and provinces) have stated that mechanical parking‑facility projects meeting certain criteria will be processed under the special‑equipment regulatory framework, thereby exempting them from procedures such as project approval and planning. According to industry experts, whether a project is classified as a building, a structure, or equipment represents three entirely distinct categories. If designated as a building, it triggers a rigorous approval process that typically takes about six months to complete—though this timeframe is not particularly lengthy. Since structures are required to be inaccessible to people, projects classified as such face less stringent regulatory requirements. Meanwhile, if the project is deemed equipment, it is akin to installing an air conditioner at home: minimal approvals are needed, the procedural steps are significantly streamlined, and the overall pace of parking‑facility construction can be greatly accelerated.

　　 3. Administrative approval matters for which post‑approval is not a prerequisite to project approval. Fujian has proposed “For administrative approval matters that are not explicitly stipulated by laws and regulations as prerequisites for project approval, all such procedures shall be completed after the approval process and before the commencement of construction.” Meanwhile, Shanghai has proposed deferring environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval for government-invested projects until after the preliminary design phase.

　　 4. A filing system shall be implemented for specific projects. The “Guiding Opinions” stipulate that parking facilities constructed on small plots of land or on privately owned land shall be subject to a filing system, and local policies aimed at streamlining approval procedures have likewise introduced provisions for adopting such a filing regime. Wuhan, Fujian, Shanghai, Kaifeng, Taiyuan Five cities (provinces) have stipulated that government-invested projects shall be subject to an approval system, while socially invested projects shall be subject to a filing system. Xi’an has proposed that projects obtaining public parking‑lot project designation and included in the annual public parking‑lot construction plan shall be subject to a filing system; Shenyang has likewise adopted a filing system for mechanical parking equipment; and Taizhou City has aligned its approach with the “Guiding Opinions.”

　　In addition, Xiamen City has taken a unique approach in its approval procedures, stipulating that the planning and management of parking facility construction projects shall be carried out through… The “Multi‑Plan Integration” business coordination platform has been implemented, with project approval processes now uniformly incorporated into the Xiamen Municipal Administrative Approval Information Management Platform for oversight and management.

From this, we can observe that different regions have adopted varying approaches to streamline the approval processes for automated parking systems, although a nationwide, standardized procedure has yet to be established. Overall, however, government authorities have clearly signaled their intention to simplify these approvals. As the automated parking industry continues to grow robustly and healthily, and as national construction‑approval policies are further refined, the sector is poised to reach new heights of development.