Winter weather parking ban can be called at any time. Here’s what to know

Between Nov. 15 and April 1, the City of Ottawa can declare a winter weather parking ban to ensure crews can safely clear roads.

The ban can be called before storms hit the nation’s capital but only includes freezing rain or when Environment Canada forecasts more than 7 cm of snow. The ban can stay in effect until the city declares it over.

If drivers do not follow the rules the city says the vehicle can be ticketed and towed. Only those with a residential parking permit are exempt but the city asks for residents to remove their vehicle to make street clearing easier.

Where to park during a ban?

Park and ride locations:

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

Municipal lots:

• Richelieu Vanier Community Centre
• Louis Kemp Arena
• W. Erskine Johnson Arena
• Cardelrec Recreation Complex Goulbourn
• Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre
• Pinecrest Recreation Complex
• Nepean Sportsplex 
• Greenboro Library
• Earl Armstrong Arena
• Dr John Hopps Park
• Sunnyside Library
• Jim Durrell Recreation Complex
• Osgoode Community Centre and Stuart Holmes Arena
• Manotick Library
• Fred Barrett Arena
• Hazeldean Library
• Hunt Club-Riverside Park Community Centre
• Sandy Hill Arena
• Ruth E. Dickinson Library
• Tony Graham Rec Complex
• Minto Recreation Complex
• Ray Friel Recreation Complex
• Tom Brown Arena
• Strathcona Park
• Jules Morin Park
• Centrepointe Park

Overnight parking:

• Byward Market Garage: 70 Clarence St.
• Dalhousie Garage: 141 Clarence St.
• City Hall Garage: 110 Laurier Ave. W.
• (Vehicles must exit between 4 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. in the above lots)
• Gloucester Garage: 210 Gloucester St. (Available from 9 p.m. to 8:30 a.m.)
• Glebe Garage: 170 Second Ave. (Available from 12 a.m. to 8 a.m.)
• Cyr Parking Lot: 283 Cyr Ave. (Available from 6 p.m. to 8:30 a.m.)
• North River Road Parking Lot: 400 North River Rd. (Available from 6 p.m. to 8:30 a.m.)

If people see a no-parking sign stuck in a snow bank that is because crews are clearing that street.

“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,” the city’s website reads.

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

• Call a overnight parking ban by 9 a.m. – overnight parking bans will be from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
• Call a daytime parking ban by 3:30 p.m. – daytime parking bans will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m..