Residents have ‘winter blues’ from overnight parking bylaw

By Liam McPherson

Winter has arrived in earnest, and Centretown residents are feeling the chill.

Not only from the frigid temperatures, though.

Every November, the city’s winter overnight parking bylaw takes effect during nights with heavy snowfall, so that snowplows have room to clear the road.

Those without access to a driveway or other private parking options are frequently left confused about what to do when it comes to storing their vehicles at night. While some leave their cars in the parking lots of businesses several minutes away, others tempt fate by parking on the street — risking a fine, or having their car towed away.

Resident Christine Roscoe is frustrated that her downtown apartment complex offers only a limited number of parking spaces. “We have around 20 spots in total, but the complex has over 100 apartments,” she said. “So basically, if you would like a spot, there is a waitlist, and when someone moves out, a spot goes to the next person in line.”

As a result, Roscoe parks her car on the street when the ban is in effect. “I parked from early November to Dec. 16 on the street, which I had no issues with until I got a ticket on the 17th for the bylaw,” she said. “I see others park in spots where I have in the past, and they have no tickets. It’s pretty frustrating.”

Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney said she gets numerous inquiries about the winter overnight parking ban every year. “A few years ago, the City of Ottawa changed how they manage the bylaw to tighten up its enforcement, so that could be the reason why more people are getting tickets lately,” she said.

McKenney added that during the overhaul of the bylaw, the city introduced parking garages where residents can store their cars overnight until the ban is lifted. “Anybody can park in (the parking garages) free of charge overnight, which has reduced some calls to my office.”

McKenney dismisses the idea that the City of Ottawa is using the bylaw as a guise to make more people use public transit. “We want people to live downtown” she said, “but part of the reality of living there means sometimes parking options are limited.”

Despite access to free overnight parking garages and the availability of a permit, Roscoe and other disgruntled Centretown residents say they are unclear about the specifics of the ban, and are simply unaware of what their options are when the ban is in effect. Additionally, the City of Ottawa’s communications strategy on the issue also seems to leave something to be desired.

The City of Ottawa said residents may apply for an on-street parking permit at one of several client service centres. The on-street parking permit exempts residents from the winter overnight parking ban if they are parked in a residential parking permit zone, though permit holders are nonetheless encouraged to respect the ban.

A winter permit costs $140/month, and is available from December to March each year.

A spokesperson for the city said that without a permit, residents are out of luck.

“Residents without a permit parked on the street during the ban will be ticketed and towed,” the spokesperson said. “They can park in any of the city-operated parking garages free of charge until the ban has been lifted.”

Residents can visit the City of Ottawa website and sign up for email alerts that let them know when not to park on the street.