Councils in Northern Ireland are unable to change their parking charges because of Stormont's collapse.
While public transport fares are being increased from next month, councils currently have no power to review fees for their off-street car parks.
The legal provisions for council car parks cannot be updated in the absence of a functioning Assembly, the Department for Infrastructure said.
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The department retains responsibility for paid on-street car parking, for which it plans to increase tariffs from April.
Off-street car parks were transferred to Northern Ireland's 11 councils in 2015 as part of local government reforms.
Belfast City Council said it has not changed its off-street parking tariffs since then. It said amendments are needed to legislation to enable it to change the pricing in future.
A council spokeswoman said: "Council is currently engaged in discussions with the Department for Infrastructure on taking forward a draft off-street parking order for the city, which would include a review of off-street car parking tariffs."
The Department for Infrastructure said it is "working with all councils in relation to this matter".
In a statement a spokeswoman said: "Local councils are responsible for setting their car park tariffs.
"As part of local government reform, the Department for Regional Development transferred responsibility for the ownership, management and operation of off-street parking places to councils on April 1, 2015 using the Off-street Parking (Functions of District Councils) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015.
"Since the time of the transfer of car parks, councils have relied on the Off-Street Parking Order (Northern Ireland) 2000, however, legislation to revoke the provisions of this order which relate to council car parks is now required.
"The updated legislation cannot be made without a resolution of the Assembly, and this is not possible at this time.
"The department is working with all councils in relation to this matter."
Earlier this month, the department announced Translink public transport fares would be increasing by around 7% on average from March 6.
The move, which was criticised by Stormont politicians, came after Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris had warned that measures were needed to improve Translink's sustainability.
The Secretary of State has stepped in to oversee Stormont's budget and civil servants are running departments in the continued absence of a devolved government.
Power-sharing has been blocked by the DUP for the past year as part of its protest against Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol.
Walking and cycling charity Sustrans said policies and investment must "incentivise" people to use sustainable modes of transport.
Sustrans director Caroline Bloomfield said: "Public transport goes hand-in-hand with walking and cycling.
"We need to see policies and investment in active and sustainable modes of transport which incentivise people to make choices which help us all reduce carbon emissions for our health, economy and environment.
"Our Walking and Cycling Index shows that every year walking or cycling in Belfast saves 12,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions so the more that all council areas across Northern Ireland can do to promote active travel, the better for everyone."
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