City of Newcastle - Road Occupancy Licence

Road Occupancy Licence

Apply to temporarily occupy part of a road, footway or nature strip.

Last updated on: 31 January 2026

In this article

Road Occupancy Licence
Application information
What you need to provide
Application fees
Related articles
Submit application
Next steps
Time frames

Road Occupancy Licence

A Road Occupancy Licence is required when you need to temporarily use public road space managed by the City of Newcastle.

Road space includes part or full use of a public road, a footpath, verge or nature strip.

Common reasons to apply include:

closing footpaths or roads for construction or maintenance
using parking spaces or road areas for hoarding installation or removal
short-term works like awning or facade repairs using temporary fencing or cones
major deliveries or concrete pours requiring safety management
crane operations for lifting goods or building maintenance
driveway construction that affects pedestrian access
traffic control setups for planned utility works (gas, water, sewer, electrical)
rail line maintenance
placing a shipping container on a public road.

Application information

Plan ahead for processing times

To ensure your application is processed in time, submit it with all required documents by the following deadlines:

At least 10 full working days before your start date

For works involving:

full road closures
complex closures (e.g. affecting two or more streets)
use of heavy equipment such as cranes, boom lifts, elevated work platforms, or concrete pumps.

At least 5 full working days before your start date

For works involving:

footpath closures
partial road closures
shipping container approval.

Important:

The day you submit your application and the actual start date of works do not count toward the required notice period.
Submitting your application without sufficient time will incur a late fee and does not guarantee the application will be processed by the requested date.
Applications may be rejected or request to delay the start date to ensure a sufficient notification period can be provided.
If you need to modify the dates of your application prior to approval, or if the date needs to be changed due to weather conditions please contact us with the new dates and revised notification letter.

Using a shipping container

Shipping containers are typically used to store building and renovation materials during construction projects and can be placed on the public road.

Sometimes, they are used for other purposes.

Using a shipping container when moving house

If you're moving house and need to temporarily place a shipping container on the road to store your belongings while waiting for it to be picked up by a third party, special consideration may be granted by us.

This is different from containers used for construction storage and is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Important conditions

The container must be used only for short-term storage directly related to your move.
It must not be used as a general storage facility or in a way that competes with commercial self-storage businesses.
Approval is subject to special consideration and is not guaranteed.

Using a shipping container for other purposes

In most cases, a shipping container installed temporarily for storage following a natural disaster does not require development consent, provided it meets the conditions outlined in the Exempt Development Code.

However, it's strongly recommended that you confirm this with us or a qualified Certifier before proceeding.

For all other uses, including installing a shipping container as a shed, studio, office, or long-term structure, development consent is required.

This applies if the container:

is used for business, commercial, or residential purpose
remains in place for more than 28 days
is visible from a public road or located in a front yard
is near a heritage-listed building or within a conservation area
is connected to utilities such as electricity, water, or drainage.

Licence validity

Request an extension

If your works will continue beyond the initial one-month period, you can request an extension.

Submit your extension request at least 2 business days before your current licence expires by submitting this form.
Extensions can be granted for up to one additional month at a time.
Additional fees apply.

You'll need to submit a new application if:

Your current licence has expired, or
The scope of works has changed significantly.

Transport for NSW Road Occupancy Licence

If your works may impact a state-controlled road or Transport for NSW (TfNSW) asset such as road maintenance, lane closures, or construction, you may also need a TfNSW Road Occupancy Licence.

A TfNSW Road Occupancy Licence is required in addition to a City of Newcastle Road Occupancy Licence if your works are:

within 100 metres of traffic signals, or
near state road infrastructure managed by TfNSW.

Applications for a TfNSW Road Occupancy Licence must be submitted through the OPLINC online system.

What you need to provide

This section will help you prepare a complete application; however additional information may be requested after our initial review.

Notification letter and distribution map

To help keep the community informed, applicants must notify nearby residents, businesses, or other affected groups at least 3 business days before the licence start date.

You need to provide City of Newcastle with:

A copy of the notification leaflet that will be used to inform nearby residents / businesses.
Distribution map showing the area/addresses to which it will be distributed as required (not required for shipping container applications).

What to include in your notification

This should clearly outline:

what works are taking place
who is carrying out the works
when the works will occur
how the works may impact nearby residents or businesses
a contact name and phone number for enquiries.

What is a distribution map?

A distribution map shows the area where your notification will be delivered. You can use free online mapping tools to create a map that outlines the intended letter-drop zone.

Public liability insurance

Traffic Control Plan

A Traffic Control Plan (or Traffic Guidance Scheme or Traffic Management Plan) must be prepared by a qualified professional and must comply with the Transport for NSW (TfNSW) Traffic Control at Work Sites Technical Manual.

A Traffic Control Plan is not required for a shipping container application.

Who can prepare your plan?

You can engage:

a licensed traffic management company, or
an individual with the appropriate licence or certification to prepare work zone traffic management plans.

It must include:

Licence holder's details
Coverage of all SafeWork NSW requirements.

Lift study and/or plant specifications

A full lift study / plant specifications is required for works involving a crane, mobile concrete pump, elevated work platform, or similar equipment that uses deployable outriggers, solid wheels, or has an axle load in excess of 6.0T.

It must include:

Applied outrigger loading forces and outrigger pad size/s (or alternatively outrigger pad pressure/s or axle loads).
The location of the lift, including imagery of the crane or similar equipment overlaid on an aerial map showing proposed location of outriggers / outrigger pads.
The plant location included on your traffic control plan.

Application fees

Application fees vary based on several factors. To get a quote, simply click the 'Apply Now' button below. You'll be guided through a few quick questions, and we'll provide a tailored fee estimate before you proceed.

Additional fees may apply following a full review of your application.

Hoarding Application - to enclose a section of public space to erect protective fencing.

Submit application

Create or sign into your account

As part of the application process, you'll be prompted to register or sign in to your account.
Your account makes it easy to submit applications and requests, track their progress, view outcomes, and make payments all in one place.
You can find more information and step-by-step guidance on creating a registered user account, as well as access to support services, on our Registration Enquiry article.

Apply Now

Next steps

Shortly after submitting your application, you will receive an email confirming we've received it, along with a receipt for your application fees.
We will assess your application to ensure it complies with safety and access requirements and that all the required documentation has been provided.
If approved, we will email you your Road Occupancy Licence.

Time frames

Complex or full road closures, or applications involving heavy equipment require at least 10 full working days to process.
Partial closures or footpath closures or shipping container approvales require at least 5 full working days to be processed.

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Road Occupancy Licence

Road Occupancy Licence

Road Occupancy Licence

Common reasons to apply include:

Application information

Plan ahead for processing times

Using a shipping container

Licence validity

Request an extension

Transport for NSW Road Occupancy Licence

What you need to provide

Notification letter and distribution map

Public liability insurance

Traffic Control Plan

Lift study and/or plant specifications

Application fees

Related articles

Submit application

Create or sign into your account

Next steps

Time frames