Parking enforcement

Ways to avoid receiving a parking ticket:

• Look for signs and do not assume parking is permitted.
• Read the parking meters and machines, ensuring you receive the appropriate time for the amount you deposit, and if there is a problem, immediately contact traffic and parking operations.
• Do not park in spaces reserved exclusively for vehicles displaying valid accessible parking permits, and do not park in accessible spaces; doing so comes with a provincial legislation fine of $300.
• Park at a distance from corners and bus stops.
• Use off-street parking for longer-term parking at a lower cost. Most parking lots are within a short distance from any downtown core business.
• Park safely within school zones and be aware of your surroundings.
• Respect residential parking restrictions.
• Always err on the side of caution.
• Do not park in fire routes.

On-street parking is not a right but rather a privilege subject to a given roadway's functional, safety, geometrics, and adjacent access characteristics. Parking is permitted on any street unless posted signs indicate otherwise.

On-street parking deals with several competing uses for a limited amount of curb space. The primary function of a street network is to move vehicles and pedestrians safely and efficiently. Commercial districts require available curb space for unloading and customer parking, and area residents can become frustrated at the high demand for long-term parking spaces in their neighbourhood.

Parking restriction signs are installed to address the need for additional travel lanes, safety concerns, and emergency services access to a roadway. In addition, permissive parking signs are installed to limit the time that vehicles may park. These signs are primarily located in business and commercial areas to generate parking turnover for the benefit of businesses and their clientele.

Many residents are unaware of the parking by-laws enforceable under By-law 89-2000 and the Highway Traffic Act. The following list indicates the most common offences in which signage is not required:

• No person will stop any vehicle or permit any vehicle to remain stopped on any highway:
  • On, partly on, or over a sidewalk.
  • Adjacent to or across the roadway from any obstruction, limiting the free flow of traffic.
  • On any outer boulevard.
• No person will park a vehicle or permit a vehicle to remain parked on any highway:
  • Within 10 metres of an intersection.
  • Within three metres of a fire hydrant.
  • On an inner boulevard.
  • On a driveway within 30 centimetres of a sidewalk, between the sidewalk and the roadway, or where there is no sidewalk within three metres of the roadway edge or one metre of shoulder.
  • In front of or within one and a half metres of a laneway, driveway, curb cut, or depressed curb.
  • On either side of a roadway that obstructs a vehicle in the use of any laneway.
  • In such a position that prevents convenient removal of any other vehicle previously stopped, standing, or parked.
  • For a longer period than 12 hours at any one time.
  • On a highway interfering with the clearing of snow.

A commercial vehicle may not park on a residential property when it exceeds a gross vehicle's empty weight of 4,500 kilograms.

A tow truck, tilt and load, dump truck, tractor-trailer, semitrailer, or any component thereof are not permitted on a residential property. Commercial vehicles must be parked in an appropriate non-residential zone.

No trailer, boat, or motorhome can be parking on a property except when in compliance with the City's Zoning by-law.

If you have questions about driveways or recreational vehicles, boats, and trailers, you can call the planning division at:

• 905-735-1700 x2251 or x2257
• devserv@welland.ca

Fire routes are designated areas on private property where signs are installed to strictly prohibit parking. Public safety is the basis for establishing fire routes.

Fire routes ensure emergency service vehicles have unimpeded access to a building or its property, minimizing the chance of injury, loss of life, and property damage.

Under By-law 89-2000 and the Highway Traffic Act, no person can park their vehicle in a designated fire route.

Along with designated fire routes, designated accessible parking is strictly enforced with no exceptions. However, due to motorists' misuse of these spots, provincial legislation has increased the set fine to $300.

No person shall park a vehicle or permit a vehicle to remain parked on any highway as to interfere with the clearing of snow from the highway.

• Snow Clearing and Winter Parking