Parking controls can take a number of forms, including duration, cost, time of day, supply, location of spaces, permits and parking bans. Parking charges will be considered separately from the other controls considered here. The application of controls to existing private spaces can be very difficult for local authorities, as they generally do not have any jurisdiction over parking that is not for public use. Private non-residential parking is most easily controlled through the planning process and is considered in more detail under Parking Standards for New Developments. Additionally, legislation may be required to apply other controls, such as restricting on street areas to residents only parking.

Parking controls are introduced to reduce the negative impacts of excess demand for parking, and to allocate scarse space according to priority needs. Further to this, they also contribute to demand management, although this can be difficult where there are large volumes of through traffic.

Demand responses are incremental over time, with a mixture of positive and negative contributions to achieving key policy objectives. There are supply impacts in terms of volume and location of parking spaces, as well as type of spaces and what vehicles they are provided for.