Winter parking

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.

When a winter weather parking ban is called, the City issues a special advisory to the local media and posts it on ottawa.ca. 

With the exception of significant weather events, our Roads and Parking Services team will be aiming to:

• Make the Winter Weather Parking Ban call by 9 am for an overnight parking ban – overnight parking bans will be from 7 pm to 7 am.
• Make the Winter Weather Parking Ban call by 3:30 pm for a daytime parking ban – daytime parking bans will be from 10 am to 7 pm.

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

Impact on residential parking permit holders

If you have a residential parking permit, your vehicle is exempt from winter weather parking bans. Removing your vehicle from the street helps City crews clear the street faster.

Sign up for notifications

• Receive Winter Parking Alerts by email
• Follow the City of Ottawa on Twitter
• Download the City of Ottawa App for your Android or iPhone

Support for your local businesses

To help residents shop local, some commercial main streets are exempt from winter parking bans. When a parking ban is called during winter weather events, residents can park in the identified areas (view maps below) as long as they observe all posted signage and pay and display requirements

Including the Westboro Village Business Improvement Area (BIA), Wellington West BIA, Preston Street BIA, Somerset Chinatown BIA.

Including the Bank Street Business Improvement Area (BIA), Glebe BIA, Sparks Street BIA, Somerset Chinatown BIA, Somerset Village BIA, Elgin Street, Main Street. 

Including the Sparks Street Business Improvement Area (BIA), Byward Market BIA, Vanier BIA, Downtown Rideau BIA.

Select Park and Ride locations

In partnership with our OC Transpo colleagues and our Roads and Parking team, we have opened up six park-and-ride locations with designated parking available during a Winter Weather Parking Ban. The locations are:

• Riverview (at Earl Armstrong)
• Innovation (at Innovation Drive)
• Chapel Hill
• Nepean Woods (at Strandherd Drive)
• Greenboro
• Leitrim
• Eagleson (West lot)

The locations have designated parking areas, clearly marked with directional signs and parking signs, indicating that Winter Weather Parking is available during a ban. These spaces will be opened to residents during the parking ban.

Park and Ride signs for Winter Weather Parking Bans

Other temporary parking locations during a Winter Weather Parking Ban

Vehicles may remain parked at the following sites for the duration of the ban, and must be removed after the City announces that the ban has been lifted. 

Kanata Recreation Centre – 100 Charlie Rogers Place

Minto Recreation Centre – 3500 Cambrian Road

Ray Friel Recreation Centre – 1585 Tenth Line Road

Tom Brown Arena - 141 Bayview Station Road

Strathcona Park - 25 Range Road

Jules Morin Park - 400 Clarence Street East

Centrepointe Park - 260 Centrepointe Drive

Where to park overnight 

There are five City parking garages that are available for overnight parking during a winter weather parking ban:

Gate-controlled garages

At the following parking garages, when there is an overnight ban the exit gates will be lifted to allow for free exit during a designated period. Parkers are responsible to retrieve their vehicle before the parking period ends. Vehicles left past this period will be subject to the parking lot’s applicable rate for the entire duration of their stay.

Lot 1: 70 Clarence Street

• Vehicles must exit between 4 am and 7:30 am. 

Lot 2: 141 Clarence Street

• Vehicles must exit between 4 am and 7:30 am. 

Lot 3: 110 Laurier Avenue West

• Vehicles must exit between 4 am and 7:30 am. 

Garages with Pay and Display machines

Free parking is also available at the following garages, during each of the specified times:

Lot 4: 210 Gloucester

• Available from 9 pm to 8:30 am

Lot 5: 170 Second Avenue

• Available from 12 am to 8 am

Outside of these hours, posted rates apply.

Private parking lots

33 Mann Avenue (University of Ottawa Garage)

• Available from 10 pm to 7:30 am (outside of these hours, posted rates apply).

Parking structures and underground garages offer public parking but are not operated by the City of Ottawa. Days and hours of operation vary by garage. Availability of spaces is subject to change. There may be a requirement to pay for overnight or daily parking during winter parking bans. Review the posted signage in the facility before parking. Not a complete listing of all public parking.

During planned snow removal, temporary "No Parking" signs are posted along streets to be cleared. This parking ban applies to all vehicles, including vehicles with residential parking permits. Any vehicle parked on the street during snowbank removal operations will be ticketed and towed.

Towed vehicles are usually moved to a nearby street where snow removal has already taken place. If you cannot find your vehicle, call 3-1-1.