Ottawa raising on-street parking rates for first time in 5 years

The City of Ottawa announced it will be raising hourly rates across the majority of on-street parking spots in the city.

The report, that went to the Transportation Committee, said the city’s Rate Setting Guidelines, hourly rate adjustments “should be responsive to inflationary increases.”

As a result, parking zones currently set at $3.50 per hour will rise 50 cents to $4.00 per hour. Current parking zones with rates lower than $3.50 will remain the same or decrease.

There are currently three different on-street parking rates across Ottawa; $1.50, $2.00 and $3.50 per hour.

About 85 per cent of on-street parking spots (approximately 3,200 spots) in Ottawa are in a $3.50 parking zone. While most on-street parking zones are seeing a rise, some will actually see a decrease of 50 cents. These changes will come into effect in August.

The last time these parking spots received a rate hike was in 2019, increasing from $3.00 to $3.50 per hour.

The city said marketing efforts will be made to spread awareness of these changes.

City of Ottawa on-street hourly parking rates:

According to the 2024 budget for the city, the maximum hourly rate that can be charged is $4.50, so this rise does not reach the highest rate possible. The rates are reviewed annually and adjusted if required during the budget process. Hourly rates can also only rise by 50 cents at a time.

Hourly rates can decrease by 50-cents within a zone if parking spots recorded less than 50 per cent occupancy during peak times over two consecutive data collection periods.

City Council will need to ratify the changes at the next council meeting for it to come into effect.