Winter Parking Bans

Main page content begins here

Seasonal Parking Ban Sign

A parking ban can be declared during the winter season with 8 hours notice.

Phase 1 Parking Ban Declared

Phase 1 (Major Roads) parking ban for arterial roads, collector roads and bus routes begins on Wednesday, December 17 at 7pm. The ban remains in effect until declared over.

Parking bans are initiated when heavy snowfall occurs over short periods of time. A parking ban allows crews to more effectively clear snow and ice by having parked vehicles removed from roadways. Not every snow event leads to a parking ban.

At least 8 hours’ notice is provided prior to enforcement of a parking ban. Notice of the parking ban is communicated in a variety of ways, including through the free Service Notifications service, local news media, the City’s social media, signs, the City website and more.

When a parking ban is activated, the Roadways Snow Clearing Map displays the clearing status of each roadway. Parking may resume once roadways are shown as completed if parking is allowed normally.

Two Phases of Parking Bans

White No Parking sign

A parking ban Phase 1 is for major roadways and bus routes.

Includes all roadways with white “seasonal no parking” signs
City-wide and 24 hours a day during the entire 3-4 day period (depending on weather conditions)
Roadways included in a parking ban Phase 1 include:
- Arterial and collector roads
- Business Improvement Areas
- Bus routes (including bus routes through residential neighbourhoods)

Yellow No Parking sign

A parking ban Phase 2 is for all residential and industrial areas.

Residential roads are bladed to a level snowpack of about 5 cm and not cleared to bare pavement.
While a Phase 2 ban can last up to 14 days, the ban only affects individual neighbourhoods for around 72 hours.
Each neighborhood will be scheduled for clearing and notice of this scheduling will occur at least 24 hours before the clearing begins. Yellow “No Parking” signs are placed at main entrances to neighbourhoods at least 24 hours in advance of clearing.
Once crews have completed work in a neighborhood, the parking ban will be lifted for a particular area and parking may resume even while the broader ban is in effect.
Use the Roadways Snow Clearing Map, Residential Snow Clearing Schedule or the Service Notifications to know when work is completed and the ban is lifted for a specific area. Plows can make several passes, so do not resume parking until the area is confirmed to be completed.
A Phase 2 parking ban is not always necessary.

Sign Up for Parking Ban Notifications

Parking Ban Notices

Subscribe to receive parking ban, snow clearing and street sweeping notifications.

Roadways Snow Clearing Map

Roadways Snow Clearing Map

See where the plows and snow clearing equipment are during and after snow events.

Residential Snow Clearing Schedule

In addition to the Service Notifications tool, residents can also find out when a neighbourhood road is scheduled for snow clearing when a Phase 2 parking ban is in effect. This tool displays when a residential street is scheduled to be cleared. Enter an address to see the status. Please note that not all areas will be scheduled immediately when a parking ban is called.

To see what week your area is scheduled for, enter your address:

Do not use hyphens. Only use spaces. Choose an address from the drop down menu.

The City does not collect addresses that have been entered using this tool.

Important Notice

Status: Rescheduled Rescheduled for:

Accessible Parking Spaces

Vehicles in accessible parking spaces with visible accessible parking placards or vehicles permitted to be parked in accessible parking spaces will not be subject to the ban. Any vehicles parked without proper authorization in those zones will be fined.

Apartments and Condos

Developers may provide parking for residents of apartment buildings and condominiums. Guests or residents with vehicles which exceed the designated number of parking lot spots will have to be parked on public roads or in private parking lots.

Alleys

Alleys are completed as part of the same priority as their adjacent roadway during both Phase 1 and Phase 2 parking bans. There will be no parking in alleys during each ban phase until they are cleared. Alleys are typically cleared after most of the roadways in the area are cleared.

Where to Park

During a parking ban Phase 1, residents may continue to park on residential roads that do not have white “Seasonal No Parking” signs posted. Parking garages and public parking lots are also an option.

During a parking ban Phase 2, parking may occur on any road that has been cleared as part of the Phase 1 parking ban, if parking is allowed there normally. Parking in driveways is also allowed.

Parking vehicles on lawns or front yards as an alternative to roadway parking is not allowed.

The Zoning Bylaw Section 45(7) Prohibited/Restricted Objects in Residential Zones forbids parking in the front yard or flanking side of any residential zone, or in the case of a corner site. The bylaw states “vehicles shall not be located on the landscaped portion of the yard; and vehicles shall only be allowed on a driveway or within an attached or detached garage.”

Vehicles left on roadways during a parking ban may be ticketed $250 or towed. Alleys and back lanes are cleared in tandem with adjacent roadways in both parking ban phases.

Tow Inquires

For General Parking Enforcement Tows - Contact 311
Impound Lot - Police Seized Vehicle Section, 12230 124 Avenue NW
Phone: 780-496-8668

Related Information

Parking Ban Notifications

Parking Enforcement

Snow and Ice Control Policy

Snow and Ice Control Procedure

Ticketing and Towing

If you're parked on a road that is under a parking ban, you may be subject to being ticketed and towed. Vehicle owners will receive a $250 ticket and will not be charged for the enforcement tow to the nearest cleared roadway in their neighbourhood.

The Traffic Bylaw 5590 (Section 26.2) also bans vehicles from parking in one spot for over 72 hours.

Use the "Find Your Vehicle" lookup tool if your vehicle has been towed during a parking ban or call 311 for assistance.

Find Your Vehicle

Contact Us

Winter Maintenance

Telephone	In Edmonton: 311 Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311

TTY	780-944-5555