The permit parking program entitles permit holding residents to park their automobile on the street within a specified area exclusively during permit parking hours. This program generally services those residential areas where driveways and/or garages are not common.

Currently, the program is in effect in the communities of the former cities of Toronto, East York, and York and to a limited extent Etobicoke. Expansion of the permit parking program citywide, is under consideration.

Current permit holders

• Renew parking permit
  (late October thru early December OR late April thru early June)
• Refunds for returned parking permits
• Re-issues
  (i.e. change of address or licence plate information, or lost parking permits)

Getting a permit

• Permit parking areas
• Types of permits available and fees
• How to obtain a permit
  (including application, required documentation and payment)
• Waitlist

General information

• How permit parking is implemented
• Restrictions for permit parking holders
• Permit parking harmonization
• Municipal Code Chapter 925
• Contact us
  (i.e. e-mail, locations, hours of operation, phone/fax numbers)

Refunds for returned parking permits
If you are changing your place of residence, selling your car or for any other reason no longer require a permit, permits may be returned by mail or in person for a refund. (For office locations contact us.) The refund amount will be pro-rated based on the unused full months remaining in the permit parking term.

Note: All refunds are mailed in the form of a cheque.  Please allow 2-3 weeks for the refund cheque to arrive.

Re-issues
Permits may be re-issued for a change of address, to transfer the parking permit to another car, or if lost. The fee to reissue a permit is $6.40 plus HST.

• Change of address: Bring in proof of your change of address (lease, bill, or other documentation with your new address) along with your current permit to get a new permit for parking at the new address. If your new place of residence is not within a permit parking street or area, or if it is and permit parking spaces are not available, you may be eligible for a refund. (See refunds for returned parking permits).

• Change of licence plate number: Permits are issued to a specific licence plate and are not transferable from vehicle to vehicle. If your licence plate number has changed, return your permit along with a copy of your new vehicle registration, and a permit will be reissued for a fee of $6.40 plus HST.

• Replacement vehicle: If your automobile is being repaired or temporarily replaced, and you wish to park your replacement vehicle on the street, you can go to a Permit Parking office and obtain a no-charge temporary parking permit. You will be required to present the permit holder's driver's licence, proof of replacement vehicle (i.e. police report indicating accident or theft or fax/letter on body/repair shop letterhead indicating anticipated repair completion date).

• Lost permits: Bring in the permit holder's driver's licence (or a photocopy) that reflects the address where the permit is for, and a permit will be reissued for a fee of $6.40 plus HST.

• Permit not received:  If you applied by mail or renewed online and did not receive your permit via the mail, you are entitled to a reissue free of change.

Permit parking areas
To determine whether your street or area is designated for permit parking and spaces are available contact us.

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

• 6 & 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:
    $13.70/month plus HST
  • No access to on-site parking for resident's second and any subsequent vehicles:
    $34.27/month plus HST
  • Resident does have access to on-site parking (permit is for convenience):
    $47.98/month plus HST

• Temporary (resident/visitor): Temporary parking permits may be obtained to provide 24-hour, 48-hour and weekly on-street parking within the limits of a permit parking street or area provided space is available.

  • Temporary permits purchased on-line can be purchased up to a maximum of 1 week in advance of the date required.
  • Temporary permits purchased at a Permit Parking office can be purchased up to a maximum of 2 weeks in advance of the date required. Temporary permits issued from a Permit Parking office can also be purchased for up to a maximum of 8 consecutive weeks.
  • Temporary permits are non-refundable

All fees are subject to an annual inflationary increase based on the City's User Fee Policy and change without prior notice.

How to obtain a permit
(including application, required documentation and payment)

To obtain a permit, one must:

1. Ensure that your street or area is designated for permit parking and spaces are available. To obtain more information on this, contact us.

2. Complete a permit parking application form. PDF

3. 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 the property owner at 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.

4. Determine appropriate payment. For more information see types of permits available and fees.

5. Choose acceptable method of 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"

6. Submit application, documentation and payment, in person or by mail to our office (for locations contact us).

Waitlist
Certain streets and areas are wait-listed if there are no available parking spaces. To go on a waitlist, complete a waitlist application form PDF and submit to our office (for locations contact us). Once the application is processed, you will be notified when a parking space becomes available.

How permit parking is implemented
Permit parking is implemented on either a street name basis where parking is restricted to one specific street, or on an areas basis where a number of streets have been grouped into permit areas in order to maximize the available parking.

In areas-based permit parking, residents may park on any licensed street within their permit area, but are not guaranteed a parking space on their specific street. Area-based permit parking provides greater flexibility by enabling permit holders to park not only on their licensed street but on other licensed street within their area should space not be available on the street where they live. Within each permit area there may be significant differences in the operation hours of the permit parking program. For example, in the Toronto community, there are currently over 60 unique combinations of permit parking operating hours which were developed over time, in consultation with area Councillors and community representatives in response to specific concerns e.g. long-term non-resident parking. These operation hours are clearly posted at regular intervals on each street licensed for permit parking within the area.

For more information contact us.

Restrictions for permit parking holders
A permit holder who parks on a street authorized for permit parking must park in a legal space during licensed parking hours shown on the signs on the street. Though subject to other existing traffic regulations, permit holders generally have the privilege of parking their vehicles overnight and are exempt from the 1, 2, and 3 hour parking restrictions. Conversely, vehicles without parking permits may be tagged if parked in parking spaces designated for those with permits. The permit parking by-law is enforced by Toronto Police Services, Parking Enforcement Unit. Contravention of the by-law may result in the loss of your permit parking privilege.

A vehicle with a valid permit which remains parked in the same location on a street for more than seven consecutive days may be tagged and towed at the owners' expense.

Where there is a change in parking from one side of the street to the other side, a permit holder shall be given a grace period to move their vehicle from 9:00 p.m. the previous night to 9:00 a.m. the next morning on changeover days.

For more information contact us.

For a permit to remain in effect, the permit must be visible and affixed to the lower windshield on the driver's side, the vehicle registration must remain valid, and the validation sticker must be affixed to your licence plate.

Permit parking harmonization
In November of 2001, City Council adopted a by-law Chapter 925 to harmonize the permit parking programs, which existed in the former municipalities prior to amalgamation. The intent of the by-law is to ensure equity across the City in the delivery of the permit parking programs, including the permit fees and eligibility.

The two most significant highlights of the new by-law are the fee structure and the priority system. The priority system ensures that those residents with no on-site parking options have first access to any available parking permits on the street or permit area at and affordable rate. The fee structure provides for higher fee for a resident's second or any subsequent parking permits. Those residents who do have on-site parking but still choose to purchase parking may do so, subject to availability, but for a significantly higher fee.

For more detail on the fee structure, see types of permits available & fees.

Contact us
E-mail: pparking@toronto.ca

Office locations:

Toronto
City Hall
100 Queen St W
Main Floor, West Tower
Toronto ON, M5H 2N2
Tel: 416-392-7873
Fax: 416-392-1911

Etobicoke
Etobicoke Civic Centre
399 The West Mall
Toronto ON
M9C 2Y2
Tel: 416-394-8419
Fax: 416-394-8942

Office hours of operation: Monday to Friday; 8:30am - 4:15pm