Parking Spaces and Storage Units in Israeli Apartments
Parking Spaces and Storage Units in Israeli Apartments
American buyers are used to driveways, garages and generous basements. In Israel, most people live in apartment buildings where parking and storage are limited, shared or sometimes absent altogether. Where they exist, they may be registered to a specific apartment, assigned informally by neighbors or held as common property of the building. These differences affect daily convenience, renting, resale and even future urban renewal negotiations. This guide explains how parking spaces and storage units, known in Hebrew as chaniya and machsan, are typically arranged in Israeli buildings, what to verify in the land registry and how to think about their long-term value for an American family.
Three Common Arrangements
In many buildings, parking and storage are attached to an apartment in the registry as a sub-parcel, a tat-chelka, or as an attached part of the unit. This is the strongest form of ownership, because the space passes with the apartment when it is sold.
In other buildings the bylaws assign specific spaces to specific apartments without separate registration. In older buildings, parking may be entirely common property, available on a first-come basis or allocated by agreement among neighbors.
Checking the Registry and the Bylaws
Ask your Israeli lawyer to review the registry extract, the building's registered plan and the bylaws. They should confirm which space belongs to your apartment, where exactly it is and whether any neighbor has rights over it. A seller may describe a space as belonging to the apartment when in fact it is only used by custom.
If the building is not yet registered as a shared house, which happens with newer construction, the developer's sale documents and the plans attached to them become the reference until registration is complete.
Street Parking and Resident Permits
In central Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa, many residents rely on street parking with a municipal resident sticker that allows parking in their zone. The rules differ by municipality and sometimes by neighborhood. If you will not have a private space, check how the local zone system works, how difficult it is to find a spot in the evening and whether a paid parking lot nearby offers monthly arrangements.
Storage Units and Their Uses
A machsan is typically a small lockable room in the basement or on the ground floor. Families use it for bicycles, suitcases, holiday decorations and the sukkah frame that comes out once a year. For an overseas owner who rents out the apartment, a storage unit can be reserved for personal belongings so the apartment itself can be let furnished but uncluttered.
Check for damp, ventilation and access hours. Basements in coastal cities can be humid, so avoid storing documents or fabrics without protection.
What It Means for Renting and Resale
Tenants in city centers often ask first whether a parking space is included
A registered space usually carries more weight with buyers than an informal one
Separately registered spaces can sometimes be sold or rented independently
Missing parking can narrow the pool of tenants with cars
Parking in Urban Renewal Projects
When a building enters a TAMA 38 or pinui-binui process, underground parking is often part of the new plan. Existing owners typically negotiate what they will receive, including parking and storage in the new building. If you own an apartment in a building heading toward renewal, make sure your lawyer understands your current rights precisely, because they form the starting point of any negotiation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a parking space separately from an apartment
Sometimes, if the space is registered as its own sub-parcel or the bylaws allow transfer. Many buildings restrict sales of parking to residents of the same building. Your lawyer can check what is possible.
What if a neighbor uses my parking space
Start with a friendly conversation and the house committee. If the space is registered to you, the registry and bylaws support your position, and a lawyer can advise if the issue persists.
Does every new building include parking
Planning rules usually require parking in new construction, but the requirements vary by city and location. In areas well served by public transport, some plans reduce the number of spaces required.
Is an electric vehicle charger allowed in a shared garage
Israeli rules have made it easier for owners to install chargers in shared parking, subject to technical conditions and building procedures. Check with the house committee and a licensed electrician first.
Elkayam Group
Elkayam Group, registered as Kobi Elkayam Real Estate Ltd and located at Rival Street 37 in Tel Aviv, is a three-generation family business that traces its beginnings in industry to the forties. We handle development, urban renewal, pinui-binui and TAMA 38 projects, where parking and storage rights are central to every agreement, and we speak Hebrew, English and French.
Talk to us about parking and storage rights in a building facing renewal.
+972-53-658-4252 · support@kobielkayamrealestateltd.com · Rival St 37, Tel Aviv