Between November 15 and April 1, the City may declare a Winter Weather Parking Ban for inclement weather including freezing rain or when Environment Canada forecasts 7 cm or more of snow in the Ottawa area. This includes any forecast for a range of snow more than 7 cm, such as 5 to 10 cm. The Winter Weather Parking Ban will be called to support clearing operations and will continue until the City issues notice that it has been lifted.

Vehicles without a residential parking permit that are parked on the street during a parking ban will be ticketed and towed.

When a winter weather parking ban is made, the City issues a special advisory to the local media and posts it on ottawa.ca. The parking ban ends when snow clearing is completed and the City issues an advisory indicating that it has been lifted.

Stay informed

Sign up for Winter Parking e-Alerts to receive e-mail notification of overnight parking bans.

Follow the City of Ottawa Winter Parking Alerts on Twitter (@ottawacity)

Is a winter parking ban currently in effect?

Four other ways you can find out if a winter overnight parking restriction is currently in effect:

Going to the City’s homepage for Seasonal Alerts Going to the City's online newsroom for special advisories about on-street parking restrictions Calling 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) Tuning in to local media for announcements about overnight parking restrictions

Free off-street parking in city-owned parking garages

Residents can park overnight for free at City-owned parking garages when there is a winter weather parking ban in effect. This option is available to ensure that residents have an easily accessible and practical place to park while a ban is in effect. Refer to the map and table below for locations that apply.

Also note that free overnight parking in city garages does not apply to planned snow removal operations.

Gate controlled garages

Vehicles entering garage must take a ticket

Between 4 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. the exit gates will be raised and free exit will be granted

All vehicles that do not exit between 4 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. will be required to pay regular parking rates for the total time of their stay.

Payment must be made at kiosk or at exit from the garage



Map Index Municipal Parking Garage Free exit (Only when the Winter Overnight Parking Ban is in effect) Paid parking F 70 Clarence (South side of Clarence, between Dalhousie and Sussex) Mon-Sun Exit gates will be lifted 4 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. Mon – Sun 24/7 G 141 Clarence (North side of Clarence, between Cumberland and Dalhousie) Mon-Sun Exit gates will be lifted 4 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. Mon – Sun 24/7 B 110 Laurier – City Hall (South side of Laurier, between Queen Elizabeth and Elgin) Mon-Sun Exit gates will be lifted 4 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. Mon – Sun 24/7

Pay and display parking garages:

Parking is free overnight

No change to existing rates and times. Please review all posted signage to determine when rates are in effect.

Each garage has a different time when the free period starts.

Map Index Municipal Parking Garage Free parking (Only when the Winter Overnight Parking Ban is in effect) Paid parking A 210 Gloucester (South Side of Gloucester, between Bank and Kent) Mon – Fri 9 p.m until 8:30 a.m Weekend parking is free Friday 9 p.m. until Monday 8:30 a.m. Mon - Fri 8:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. E 170 Second Avenue (South side of Second, between Bank and Lyon) Mon – Sun 12 a.m. until 8 a.m. Mon – Sun 8 a.m. until 12 a.m. D 762 Somerset St W (South side of Somerset, between Bronson and Booth) Mon - Sun 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 a.m. Mon – Sun

8:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m.

Parking Structures with Public Overnight Parking - Core Area (3 MB)

Other Parking Options

In the core of the city, there are also private parking options available to residents who are looking to park off-street during a winter storm; note that regular parking fees apply.

The map above and table below identify private parking garages available in the core of the city. This list is provided as a courtesy only and is not exhaustive. The City does not guarantee the quality or performance of the parking lot operations undertaken or offered at these premises. The City does not guarantee that spaces are available at these lots. Any individual parking at these lots is subject to the particular rules, regulations, and parking fees, if any, that are applicable to the lot in question. Questions about fees or other matters related to parking at a lot should be directed to the lot operator.

Privately-Owned Parking Structures That Offer Overnight Public Parking

Index Address 1 320 Queen St. 2 350 Albert St. 3 427 Laurier Ave. W. 4 328 Laurier Ave. W 5 45 O'Connor St. 6 63 Albert St. 7 150 Elgin St. 8 400 Cooper St. 9 343 Somerset St. W. 10 140 Somerset St. W. 11 354 Gladstone Ave. 12 240 McLeod St. 13 180 Argyle Ave. 14 150 Isabella St. 15 1 Rideau St. 16 700 Sussex Dr. 17 24 York St. 18 41 George St. 19 80 Nicholas St. 20 55 Laurier E. St. 21 5 Daly Ave. 22 363 Rideau St. 23 290 Rideau Street 24 265 Laurier Ave. W. 25 100 Thomas Moore Private 26 801 King Edward Ave. 27 591 Byron Ave. 28 1015 Bank St.

Winter overnight parking regulations

Winter overnight parking regulations are in effect throughout the city from November 15 to April 1. There is no parking on city streets between 1 and 7 a.m. when 7 cm or more is forecast by Environment Canada in the Ottawa area. This includes any forecast for a range of snow of more than 7 cm (for example, 5 to 10 cm). Vehicles that remain parked on the street during an overnight parking restriction will be ticketed, towed and fined. On-street residential monthly parking permit holders are exempt from this restriction. Please note that overnight parking is not permitted at any time in City of Ottawa facility parking lots (for example hockey arenas, swimming pools, community centers, recreation complexes, etc. As previously noted city-owned parking garages however will be made available during an overnight parking ban.

The City has the authority to implement the parking ban in circumstances other than a forecasted snow accumulation of 7 centimetres or more when it is deemed necessary to facilitate snow and ice removal, highway maintenance or to ensure the proper movement of traffic. The City also has the flexibility to not implement an overnight parking ban where it is deemed to be unnecessary.

To inform residents and motorists, a special advisory is issued to the local media announcing that an overnight parking restriction is in effect. All special advisories are posted online in the City's newsroom. Enforcement of winter overnight parking restrictions will continue each evening until snow clearing is completed and the City issues a special advisory indicating that the overnight parking restriction has been lifted.

On-street parking permit holders and winter

If you have an on-street parking permit, your vehicle is exempt from winter overnight parking restrictions. Although on-street parking permit holders are exempt from the winter overnight parking restrictions, your co-operation with removing vehicles from city streets during a winter overnight parking ban will help city crews clear the streets quickly and efficiently. This benefits all of us.



During winter overnight parking bans, residents will have free access to covered City - owned parking garages. More details on free parking are provided above. The fee for annual on-street residential parking permits - remains unchanged, however, the monthly fees will vary by season. This means that permits will cost less in the summer months but more in the winter months to reflect the true cost of winter maintenance during the respective seasons.



The new fee structure will take effect on April1, 2019. Residents may visit any Client Service Centre to purchase an on-street parking permit.

The summer monthly permit will be available from April to November for $31.50 + HST per month

The winter monthly permit will be available from December to March for $146 + HST per month

The annual permit for on-street parking remains unchanged at $673 +HST.

Beginning April 1, 2016, residents will now have the option to pay for an annual permit with equalized pre-authorized monthly payments (Note. The pre-authorized monthly payment option for annual permits is only available at the City Hall Client Service Centre located at 110 Laurier Avenue West.) Please note clients cannot cancel a permit purchased with pre-authorized monthly payments for any reason.

During planned overnight snow removal, temporary "No Parking" snow removal signs will be posted along streets to be cleared. This parking restriction applies to all vehicles, including vehicles with on-street parking permits. If you park your vehicle overnight on a street with temporary "No Parking" snow removal signs, your vehicle will be ticketed and towed. Please note that overnight parking is not permitted at any time in City of Ottawa facility parking lots, except when the Winter Overnight Parking Ban is in effect.

Planned snow removal parking restrictions

Throughout the winter, snow removal may be planned during the day or night even when no snowfall is forecast. When crews plan to remove snow, they will post temporary "no parking" snow removal signs ahead of time alerting motorists that snow removal is planned. Do not park where you see temporary "no parking" snow removal signs posted or your vehicle will be ticketed with a fine and towed to a nearby street. This restriction applies to all vehicles, including those with on-street parking permits. Please note that overnight parking is not permitted at any time in City of Ottawa facility parking lots. Also note that free overnight parking in city garages does not apply to planned snow removal operations.

“No Parking” Snow Removal Signs:



Daytime



Nighttime

How to find your car if you’ve been ticketed and towed

Towed vehicles are usually moved a few blocks to a nearby street where snow removal has already taken place.

If you are unable to find your vehicle on your own, call the Ottawa Police Service at 613-236-1222 (TTY: 613-232-1123).

All towed vehicles are logged and Ottawa Police Services will be able to tell you the location of your vehicle.

Street Parking Tip

Keep in mind parking is prohibited in excess of three hours between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., seven days a week unless otherwise posted.

The City of Ottawa's Traffic and Parking By-Law No. 2017-301 has information about On-Street Parking restrictions, and other regulations to be in the know to avoid the ticket and tow.

If you’ve already been ticketed and towed, see Parking Ticket Payment Options

How you can help

Report potholes and any other road or sidewalk deficiencies by calling 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401).

Clear snow on your property. The Use and Care of Roads By-Law No. 2003-498 and Parks and Facilities By-Law No. 2004-276 prohibit the disposal of snow or ice on roadways or in any park. When clearing snow from your driveway or walkway (even if a contractor is doing it for you), snow and ice may not be pushed, thrown or otherwise deposited on the street, sidewalk or park. Anyone charged with an offence may be subject to a fine.

Do not place metal markers on your property line. The Use and Care of Roads By- Law No. 2003-498 prohibits the placement of markers on highways, boulevards (not along curbs and sidewalks) and residents’ property lines. Snow removal equipment may be damaged by the metal markers and landscape stones. Also, posting these markers at the edge of the road may cause more snow to be placed in the roadway itself. This can create a safety issue. In place of metal markers, you can use wooden markers, which should be no larger than a hockey stick.

Take extra care around snow clearing and removal equipment.

Garbage containers or bags and recycling boxes: To prevent them from becoming damaged place all items at curbside – not on a snow bank or roadway. Do not block the sidewalk.

Avoid winter overnight parking tickets: Between November 15 and April 1 vehicles are prohibited from parking on city streets between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. when Environment Canada forecasts a snowfall of 7 cm or more. This includes any forecast between 5 and 10 cm. (This does not apply to on street parking permit holders). be in the know about snow.

To help with flood control, open catch basins or drains in front of your property when the weather becomes mild. It's normal for water to pool around a catch basin in wet weather. Roads are designed to drain based on the sewer capacity. Report any service issues by calling 3-1-1.

Safety first: Please ensure children play it safe and stay off snow banks and not dig snow tunnels or trenches that could collapse or be filled in by passing snow clearing or removal equipment

For more information about winter overnight parking restrictions and planned snow removal, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401).