Overnight Parking

Overnight Parking on City Streets

Overnight parking on city streets is allowed from March 15 to December 1 on the streets listed in Schedule (III) of Parking and Traffic By-law 45-89.

Overnight parking on City Streets is prohibited during the winter months, from December 1 through to March 15, between the hours of 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. NOTE: Parking and Traffic By-law 45-89 to be updated to reflect the new date of December (previously November 15).

The City of St. Thomas has Overnight Parking Permits available to residents whose property meets the eligibility criteria as set out in the Parking and Traffic By-law 45-89.

On October 15, 2024, Council approved the Lower Driveway Boulevard Parking Program for a period of two years. For more information on this pilot program, please see below.

Overnight Street Parking Permits

APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER OCTOBER 15, 2025.

TO APPLY FOR AN OVERNIGHT STREET PARKING PERMIT:
If you have a new permit request you can do so here:
New Property Overnight Permit Application.

TO OBTAIN YOUR ANNUAL STREET PARKING PERMIT:
If you have previously qualified for a permit you can obtain your permit for the season here:
Pre-Approved Overnight Street Parking Permit.

NOTE: To access the how-to video for registering for a pre-approved parking permit click here.

The cost of the permit is $84.75 for the season. They are available for purchase AFTER October 15 each year.

Lower Driveway Boulevard Parking Pilot Program

With an increase of multi-generational homes, smaller housing units, and greater residential density, some residents are having trouble finding sufficient parking during the winter parking restriction period. The portion of a driveway located in the boulevard is an area that can be made available for the parking vehicles during the winter parking prohibition, subject to eligibility requirements and conditions of the proposed Lower Driveway Boulevard Parking Pilot Program.

This two (2) year pilot program is limited to a maximum of ten (10) streets per year and will be implemented on a street-by-street application basis requiring the support from over half of the property owners along the street.

Request organizers need to review the Lower Driveway Boulevard Parking Pilot Program Information Sheet to check that their street satisfies the geometric requirements before seeking application support.

If the street satisfies the requirements, an application can be submitted for review and consideration.

Once a completed application is received, staff will distribute a questionnaire to the property owners to confirm their support and understanding of the pilot program conditions as well as providing an opportunity to identify any of their concerns. If there is sufficient support identified through the questionnaire and the boulevard meets the geometrical requirements, the pilot program would be implemented for that street. A notice would be distributed to the street property owners confirming the start date of the pilot.

- Information Sheet
- Application Form

If you are interested in applying for the program, we have drafted this letter that can be shared with neighbors to inform them about this pilot program.

If you need further information about this pilot program, do not hesitate to reach out to us Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm at 519-631-1680 x 4161 or 519-631-3262.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding Overnight Street Parking

Every City restricts parking on streets in the winter for winter control reasons, snow removal which ensures access for emergency vehicles, school buses, transit and local traffic. Many Cities prohibit on-street parking all year long.

No. Every property owner or tenant should determine what legal parking options they have before purchasing/signing lease.

If the property has two or more parking spaces (including a garage), a permit will not be issued, and, if the property has the potential for two parking spaces, a permit may be issued for one (1) year only on the condition that the property owner will develop the second parking space while also complying with the City Zoning By-law and Policies.

Permits will not be issued to tenants living in a multi-unit dwelling where their parking requirements exceed 2 parking spaces. The eligibility criteria is based on property and not on the number of apartments or tenants living on the property. Therefore, alternate parking arrangements will be the responsibility of the landlord and tenant. If multi-dwelling units have less than 2 parking spaces, the request for Overnight Parking Permits must be made by the property owner/landlord who will determine how the permits will be distributed to their tenants.

In addition to the seasonal overnight parking permits, guest parking passes during the period of December 1 - March 15 are available to purchase here: 1 Night Temporary Overnight Permit at a cost of $4 per night. There is a limit of 5 per season.

Please visit: Right of Way Permits - City of St. Thomas (stthomas.ca)

The property owner is responsible to clean out their garage and use that spot for parking and would therefore not qualify for overnight parking permits.

An owner or renter should first determine how many legal spots they have on their own property before acquiring or storing new vehicles.

No. Parking on your lawn is a violation of the Zoning By-law 50-88 Section 4.2.6 (b). Parking in these restricted areas may result in a ticket.

No. Shared right of ways between properties are a joint civil matter between the owners. The shared right of way provides access to the back yards of properties for parking. It is between the property owners to settle their access problems on their private property.

All decisions for new requests are determined after a site visit to the property. They are based on measurements, available parking spots and in accordance with the Traffic and Parking By-Law 45-89. As such all decisions are final.