Accessible parking in strata: can residents use the visitors’ space?

QLD

Parking & Storage

Can a resident with a disability use the visitors’ accessible parking space if this is the only accessible spot in the strata scheme?

I live in a community titles scheme in Queensland and use a wheelchair. Our complex has a small visitors’ car park with one accessible parking space. I have a valid disability permit, but the body corporate manager told me I can’t park there because it’s for visitors only. The sign doesn’t clearly say it’s for visitors, and there are no accessible parking spaces allocated for residents in our building. Should the body corporate provide an accessible parking space for residents, or at least allow me to use the visitors’ space when it’s vacant?

Check to see what the development approval for the building says.

I think the starting point would be to see what the development approval for the building said with respect to providing disabled parking. That may provide some guidance. From there, it comes back to a mix of statutory provisions regarding disabled access, who is considered a visitor, and what other parking options may be available. This is definitely one for legal advice because there is no black and white answer.

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Published: 16 Oct 2025

Last Updated: 7 Jul 2026

This post appears in The QLD Strata Magazine November 2025

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Answer by

Frank Higginson

Redchip Strata Law

With more than 30 years’ experience in property, management rights and body corporate law, Frank is a beacon of knowledge and a renowned strata-industry expert. Known for his straight-shooting style and commercially driven advice, Frank cuts through the most challenging legal problems to deliver real-world solutions.

An active member of the strata community, Frank generously shares his time and experience to help educate the broader industry on all things strata law. He embraces his role as an industry leader and is committed to continued industry innovation and ensuring everyone in the strata sector has access to practical resources and solutions as they navigate through the strata maze.

He regularly presents to all industry segments and also speaks at Queensland Law Society events on strata law issues to other lawyers. Frank is a regular contributor to LookUpStrata.