Parking in Toronto: An Introduction to Toronto Parking Permits, Shared Driveway Laws and even Parking Pads

A lot of you have asked me about parking in Toronto, so I thought I’d put this guide together for you. The basic situation is that you can’t park anywhere for more than three hours without a permit.

What was once just a formality - getting a permit - is getting tougher and tougher in a lot of areas in Toronto. Places where there’s a moratorium on the issuance of parking permits include large parts of Riverdale and Cabbagetown, as well as Ward 14 (Parkdale/High Park). This means the City is not accepting applications for front pad parking or driveway widening under any circumstances! If you are thinking of buying a home in the following Wards, there must be legal front pad parking already in existence on the property which can then be transferred into your name:

Wards no longer accepting applications for front pad parking or driveway widening

• 14 - Parkdale/High Park
• 18 - Davenport
• 19 - Trinity-Spadina
• 20 - Trinity-Spadina
• 27 - Toronto Centre - Rosedale
• 28 - Toronto Centre - Rosedale
• 30 - Toronto-Danforth

The new by-law which came into effect April 16, 2007 “Parking on Residential Front Yards and Boulevards, City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 918,” outlines all the details. You can read the whole by-law here.

There are a couple of solutions. A short term one is requesting a visitor’s parking permit, rather than a permanent one. The downside with this is that instead of paying $60 for six months, you will have to pay $150. Call it a city cash grab if you like, but if you really need to park your car, this will get you started.

For a longer term solution, many people in the permissible Wards are applying for the right to put a front parking pad on their property. For some it works out, for others not.

Here are some of the issues.

1. If there are no parking pads on the street, you are likely to be turned down.
2. If there are too many parking pads on the street, you are likely to be turned down.
3. If a tree (Toronto the green) or a lamp post or a fire hydrant would be put at risk by your parking pad, you are almost certain to be turned down.
4. If your mutual drive is 7 feet wide or wider between the houses, you will definitely be turned down.

What improves your chances is if you have a shared driveway. This means the curb is already cut and the City won’t object to the loss of parking space in front of your house. It isn’t there. Moreover, they are somewhat sensitive to the situation of people with a shared driveway. Where does that extra car go?

If you do share a driveway, the basic guidelines are like this. If your neighbour doesn’t have a car, count yourself lucky. With good relations, he or she will probably let you have the driveway year round. Except when her nephew comes to visit from Thunder Bay for a week.

If you want to have a front parking pad, there are many city requirements, not least of which is a permit for that space.

But parking and permits is difficult stuff. I’ve outlined some of the theory for general interest purposes, and the city’s own guidelines for parking permits follow, but call your local office for specific information on your own individual situation.

Private Driveway Parking

• existing narrow driveway

• parking area restricted to widened driveway

There cannot be any access to the rear of the property. In cases where the driveway is less than 2.6 metres wide, the driveway can be widened at the front to a maximum of 2.6 metres.

Mutual Driveway Parking

• existing mutual driveway is too narrow

• parking pad adjacent to mutual driveway

• angle parking only permitted where tree
  prevents parking perpendicular to
  sidewalk or roadway

There cannot be any other access to the rear of the property. In cases where the driveway is less than 2.6 metres wide, the parking pad can be constructed adjacent to the mutual driveway.

• application form (PDF)

Click a link below to view specific permit information.

Qualifications

• The current use of the property must be a permitted use in accordance with the Zoning regulations.
• Where a poll is required, the results must be positive.
• The property is not within an area that was polled within the last 2 years where the result was negative.
• The property is not within Ward 18.View map.
• Parking is not permitted in front of the main front wall of a building for any property designated as CA, C1A, C1S or CR.
• Applicant must be the owner or occupant of the ground floor.
• Where the ground floor occupant does not want parking or there is additional space available, other occupants may apply.

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Conditions

• Minimum set back of 0.91 m from the sidewalk must be provided.
• Standard clearances from all trees (depending on size) must be provided.
• Vehicles parking on parking area must have a valid licence plate.
• Parking area is to be paved to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Transportation Services.
• Parking cannot be on a former Metropolitan Road.
• Parking cannot be on outer boulevard (any portion of the street between the curb and sidewalk).
• A suitable fence or barrier or other demarcation may be required to delineate the required setback area.
• A suitable barrier may be required to provide a separation between the parking and an abutting residential area.
• Applicant must obtain a permit prior to commencing any work within the City boulevard.
• Applicant must pay for the installation of ramping to provide access to the parking area.
• Applicant must sign a parking agreement.

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Applicable By-laws

• Chapter 90 (PDF), Polling and Notification Procedures, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code
• Chapter 313 (PDF), Streets and Sidewalks, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code
• Chapter 400, Traffic and Parking, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code

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Application documentation

• An application for Commercial Boulevard Parking must be completed and submitted along with payment to:

  Transportation Services
  Right of Way Management
  433 Eastern Avenue, 2nd Floor
  Toronto, Ontario M4M 1B7.

• Sketch with relevant dimensions showing the parking proposal.
• For proposals that require a grade change greater than 0.6 m, detailed landscape plans may be required.

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Fees *

Cost of ramp installation: varies - based on size of ramp and number of sidewalk bays affected.

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Appeals

• A letter outlining the reason for the appeal is to be submitted to the General Manager, Transportation Services.
• The General Manager, Transportation Services reports to the Community Council. The General Manager, Transportation Services will conduct a poll and include the results of the poll in the report.
• Residents within the polling area will be notified of the hearing date.
• Appeals are not permitted within Ward 18.View map.

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Removal of front yard parking pads
In an effort to maximize green space and preserve community streetscapes, the City currently has an incentive programs for restoring paved areas to sod:

If you are currently licensed for front yard parking but wish to relinquish the front yard parking licence and have the paved area restored to sod, the City, at its expense, will:

• Plant a tree in the boulevard in the front of the house.
• Re-sod the area.
• Remove the curb out.
• Provide free down spout disconnection service.
• Offer a free water conservation audit to the property owner.
• Provide one year’s free permit parking, for one vehicle in the household.

Where the City has removed the front yard parking and restored the boulevard at its expense, the owner and any subsequent owners may not apply to reinstall front yard parking for a period of 5 years from the date of removal.

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Location of front yard, driveway widening and residential boulevard parking pad to maximize landscaped open space

The following measures are in place to reduce the amount of paving used for Front Yard, Driveway Widening and Boulevard Parking:

• limit paved areas to the driveway, parking pad and walkway areas

• limit the size of the parking pad to a maximum of 2.6 metres (8.5 feet) wide by 5.9 metres (19.4 feet) long

• locate the parking pad at right angle to the sidewalk, set back no more than 1.5 metres from the sidewalk

• permit the parking pad on each lot to be angled to the sidewalk only if one mutual curb ramp is used for two adjacent lots (joint Front Yard Parking applications only)

• limit the width of the walkway to 1.06 metres (3.5 feet)

• require the parking pad and driveway to be paved with semi-permeable material

• locate the parking pad, driveway and walkway adjacent to one another to consolidate soft landscaping and tree planting areas

• the landscaped open space requirements of the Zoning By-law must be met on private property

• A minimum of 50 percent of the boulevard and front yard must be maintained as landscaped open space for lots less that 15 metres.

• A minimum of 60 percent of the boulevard and front yard must be maintained as landscaped open space for lots greater that 15 metres.

• A minimum of 75 percent of the boulevard and front yard must be maintained as soft landscaping.

• all sidewalk reconstruction costs and applicable fees must be paid by the applicant

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Protection of street trees

The preservation and planting of street trees is crucial to the maintenance of healthy residential streetscapes and can play an important role in minimizing the effect of Front Yard, Driveway Widening and Boulevard Parking. To provide sufficient space for tree growth and planting, it is necessary to limit the amount of paving or impervious material such as concrete or interlocking brick used in front yards and on City boulevards.

Increased use of pervious materials will provide greater water infiltration to support trees and vegetation, in addition to diverting rainflow from the sewer system.

It is also important to consolidate tree planting areas to create places for trees to grow to maturity.

Paving in proximity to City trees must comply with the following specifications contained in Building Division Streetscape Manual:

Parking Permits

To determine whether your street or area is designated for permit parking and spaces are available contact the City at 416-392-7873 or email them at

The City of Toronto has made info regarding properties currently licensed for boulevard parking (ie front yard parking, driveway widening, residential/commercial boulevard parking) available on its website.

In 2009 The City has advised all homeowners that a license for boulevard/front yard parking DOES NOT FOLLOW, the property, and that the new property owners need to apply to have the license agreement transferred.

Boulevard Parking Information on the  City’s Website is available at www.toronto.ca/transportation, under “parking” , then “off-street parking” , and then “licensed locations.”

Types of permits available and fees

Two types of permits are available in most areas: 6 and 12 month term resident-only permits; and, temporary resident or visitor permits.

6 and 12 Month:Permits are issued to residents only on a six months basis although permits for two consecutive terms are available. Terms are from December to May and from June to November. All permits issued during a term will be effective until the end of that term.

Permit fees vary according to a priority system based on need as reflected below:

No access to on-site parking for resident’s first vehicle:
$10.36/month plus GST

No access to on-site parking for resident’s second and any subsequent vehicles:
$25.91/month plus GST

Resident does have access to on-site parking (permit is for convenience):
$36.28/month plus GST

Provided space is available, a temporary parking permit may be purchased by residents and their guests to park a motor vehicle on a street designated under the permit parking program, at a cost of $15.61 (incl. GST) a week. This program generally services those residential areas where driveways are not common.

A City of Toronto temporary parking permit can be purchased online in four easy steps by clicking here. You can also call 416-392-7873 to inquire about the permits.

How to obtain a permit (including application, required documentation and payment)
To obtain a permit, one must:

Ensure that your street or area is designated for permit parking and spaces are available.

Complete a permit parking application form. You can download the .pdf file from here.

Assemble photocopies of proper documentation. Proper documentation includes a valid vehicle registration and valid driver’s licence containing your name and correct address. Other acceptable documents showing proof of residence include: formal lease agreement or utility bill; Purchase & Sale Agreement if the applicant is the owner of the property; Bank Statement/Credit card statement, etc.; and Change of address receipt from Canada Post.

If there is currently parking on the property where you reside, you must provide evidence that you do not have access to it in order for you to obtain a permit at a lower fee. Such proof includes:

For applicants who own the property: a photocopy of the ownership(s) of vehicle(s) registered to that address and parked on the property.

For applicants who are tenants: a letter from the property owner stating that access to on-property parking is not available. If you live in an apartment, condominium, or town house, the letter should be on letterhead from property management.

Determine appropriate payment.
If purchasing in person: cash; credit card (VISA, MasterCard, or American Express); debit card; and personal cheque or money order, made payable to “Treasurer, City of Toronto”.

If purchasing by mail: personal cheque or money order, made payable to “Treasurer, City of Toronto”

Submit application, documentation and payment, in person or by mail to the City.

New Residential Front Yard and Boulevard Parking Regulation

A new by-law regarding front yard parking in the City of Toronto came into effect on April 16, 2007. To download the by-law, please click here. For specific questions on how the by-law can affect you, please contact your local office:

Etobicoke York District – Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13 & 17. Please call 416-394-8419

North York District – Wards 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33 & 34. Please call 416-395-7431

Toronto and East York District – Wards 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 & 32. Please call 416-392-7768

Scarborough District – Wards 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 & 44. Please call 416-396-7505

For more information, visit the City of Toronto transportation page