NSW and ACT school zones 2026
School zones operate from 8-9.30am and from 2.30-4pm Monday to Friday during school terms. For term 1 2026, school zones return in NSW from 27 January and in ACT from 29 January.
Check our calendar below to find out when NSW and ACT school zones apply across the year.
What are school zones?
School zones are in place outside every school in NSW and the ACT to keep children safe during school travel times. They are marked by school zone road signs, flashing lights and dragon’s teeth road markings. There is a 40km/h speed limit within each school zone and heavy penalties for motorists who drive over the speed limit or break other school zone laws.
School zones also include designated drop-off and pick-up areas to allow parents and carers a safe environment to take children to and from school by car. Many school zones also have school crossing supervisors in place to help students use crossings on roads adjacent to or nearby schools.
Many school zones also have school crossing supervisors in place to help students use crossings on roads adjacent to or nearby schools.
When do school zones apply in NSW and the ACT?
Most school zones operate from 8:00am to 9.30am and from 2.30pm to 4pm on notified school days in NSW and from 8am to 4pm in the ACT. School zone periods across NSW and ACT include school development days (also known as pupil or student-free days).
School zone dates NSW 2026 - Eastern Division
| Notified school days | School development days 2026 | First to last days for students 2026 |
| Term 1 | Tuesday 27 January to Friday 30 January | Monday 2 February to Thursday 2 April (inclusive) |
| Term 2 | Monday 20 April and Tuesday 21 April | Wednesday 22 April to Friday 3 July (inclusive) |
| Term 3 | Monday 20 July | Tuesday 21 July to Friday 25 September (inclusive) |
| Term 4 | Monday 12 October | Tuesday 13 October to Thursday 17 December (inclusive) |
School zone dates NSW 2026 - Western Division
| Notified school days | School development days 2026 | First to last days for students 2026 |
| Term 1 | Tuesday 3 February to Friday 6 February | Monday 9 February to Thursday 2 April (inclusive) |
| Term 2 | Monday 20 April and Tuesday 21 April | Wednesday 22 April to Friday 3 July (inclusive) |
| Term 3 | Monday 20 July | Tuesday 21 July to Friday 25 September (inclusive) |
| Term 4 | Monday 12 October |
Tuesday 13 October to Thursday 17 December (inclusive) |
School zone dates ACT 2026
| Notified school days | School development days 2026 | First to last days for students 2026 |
| Term 1 | Thursday 29 January 2026 | Friday 30 January to Thursday 2 April |
| Term 2 | Monday 20 April 2026 | Tuesday 21 April to Friday 3 July |
| Term 3 | Monday 20 July 2026 | Tuesday 21 July to Friday 25 September |
| Term 4 | Monday, 12 October 2026 | Tuesday 13 October to Friday 18 December |
Why are school zones important?
Children are small, harder to see, behave unpredictably and are extremely vulnerable. They need you to take extra care when driving and parking around school zones and increased fines and demerit points apply for certain school zone offences.
Why do school zones operate on pupil free days?
School zones operate and are enforced on pupil free days (or school development days) because (i) school campuses are active on pupil-free days and (ii) these days can vary from school to school. Consistent operation of school zones aims to reduce driver confusion, which improves the safety of school children.
Why is there a distinction between Eastern and Western NSW?
In New South Wales, the distinction between Eastern Division and Western Division schools is a geographic and historical designation used by the Department of Education to manage school term dates. While most of the state falls under the Eastern Division, schools located in the far west (roughly on or to the west of a line stretching from Mungindi on the Queensland border down to the Murray River near Swan Hill) are classified as Western Division.
These schools return to class one week later than their eastern counterparts at the beginning of Term 1. This staggered start is a long-standing practice designed to spare students and staff from the extreme mid-summer heat typical of the state’s arid western regions. You can check a school's region here.
Why do some NSW school zones operate at different times?
While the vast majority of school zones follow the standard 8:00-9:30am and 2:30-4:00pm windows, there are a small number of non-standard school zones that operate on slightly different schedules.
These exceptions are typically made for schools with unusual start or finish times, such as certain independent schools. You can identify these by the red or orange school zone signs which have the school zone times on them.
Are all school zones 40km/h?
No. In specific areas, the NSW Government is installing High Pedestrian Activity Area (HPAA) speed zones of 30km/h to improve safety.
The Manly HPAA has several school zones within the 30km/h zones. These school zones also operate at 30km/h. Orange school zone signs and road markings alert drivers to 30km/h zones.
What penalties apply if I break the road rules in a school zone?
Did you know that parking-based offences attract harsher punishments when committed in a school zone? Here’s a run down of the main infringements and their penalties.
1. Observe No Parking signs: You have 2 minutes to drop-off or pick-up. You must stay within 3 metres of your vehicle. Failure to observe these rules can result in a $215 fine and 2 demerit points.
2. Stopping in an intersection - if a driver commits this offence in a school zone they will receive a penalty of $544 and 2 demerit points.
3. Stop within 20m of intersection (traffic lights) - if a driver commits this offence in a school zone they will receive a penalty of $544 and 2 demerit points.
4. Stop within 10m of intersection (no traffic lights) if a driver commits this offence in a school zone they will receive a penalty of $544 and 2 demerit points.
5. Stop near bicycle crossing lights - if a driver commits this offence in a school zone they will receive a penalty of $544 and 2 demerit points.
6. Obstruct access to ramp/path/passageway - if a driver commits this offence in a school zone they will receive a penalty of $410 and 2 demerit points.
7. Not parallel park in the direction of travel - if a driver commits this offence in a school zone they will receive a $410 fine and 2 demerit points.
8. Parallel park close to dividing line - if a driver commits this offence in a school zone they will receive a $410 fine and 2 demerit points.
9. Double Parking: Double parking is very dangerous in a school zone and will get you a fine of $410 and 2 demerit points.
10. U turns: Illegal U turns in a school zone are dangerous and will get you a fine of $410 and 3 demerit points.
11. Double Demerits: Speeding and mobile phone school zone offences attract double demerits within legislated periods.
When are NSW school holidays in 2026?
| Season | School holiday dates |
| Autumn | Tuesday 7 April to Friday 17 April (note: Monday 6 April is a public holiday for Easter Monday) |
| Winter | Monday 6 July to Friday 17 July |
| Spring | Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October |
| Summer 26/27 | Friday 18 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027 |
