Parking bans are initiated when heavy snowfall occurs over short periods of time. At least 8 hours’ notice is provided before enforcement of a parking ban.
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. Not every snow event leads to a parking ban.
Parking Ban Notices
Subscribe to Service Notifications to receive communications specific to your location.
Roadways Snow Clearing Map
See where the plows and snow clearing equipment are during and after snow events.
Residential Snow Clearing Schedule
When a Residential (Phase 2) parking ban is in effect, this tool displays when a residential street is scheduled to be cleared. Not all neighbourhoods may be scheduled when a parking ban is activated. Residential culs-de-sac are part of a separate snow clearing operation that may occur after residential roadway clearing.
To ensure plow crews can clear streets efficiently and safely from curb to curb, residents must remove all personal property from the public right-of-way prior to their scheduled clearing window. This includes unattached trailers, temporary curb ramps, commercial dumpsters, and any other portable structures or objects.
Placing or leaving objects on City property can impede the safe operation of heavy clearing equipment and violates Bylaw 5590 (see Bylaw Lookup). Non-compliant property owners may face a $250 fine under the Traffic Bylaw for creating hazards or obstructing winter maintenance operations.
Citywide Winter Parking Ban: How It Works
Edmonton is a winter city with unpredictable weather. When it snows, the City’s Snow and Ice Control team works around the clock to clear the roadways, but they need space to do the job effectively. A parking ban may be called to keep streets clear and allow crews to safely and effectively clear the roadway. It’s important to know what to do when a parking ban is activated and the differences between the two types of parking bans: Major Roadways (Phase 1) and Residential (Phase 2).
Two Phases of Parking Bans
Major Roadways (Phase 1) Parking Ban
A Major Roadways (Phase 1) parking ban includes:
- Arterial roads
- Collector roads
- Roads in Business Improvement Area
- Bus routes (including bus routes through residential neighbourhoods)
This parking ban is City-wide for 24 hours a day during the entire 3–4-day period, depending on weather conditions.
Watch for white “seasonal no parking” signs to indicate parking locations affected by this parking ban.
Residential (Phase 2) Parking Ban
A Residential (Phase 2) parking ban 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 Residential (Phase 2) ban can last up to 14 days, the ban only affects individual neighbourhoods for around 72 hours.
- Each neighbourhood 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.
- During any parking ban, parking on the roadway may resume once the roadway is shown as completed in the Roadways Snow Clearing Map
- 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 Residential (Phase 2) parking ban is not always necessary
Where to Park
During a Major Roadways (Phase 1) Parking Ban
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 Residential (Phase 2) Parking Ban
Parking may occur on any road that has been cleared as part of the Major Roadways (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.
Bylaw
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 subject to a $250 fine. Alleys and back lanes are cleared in tandem with adjacent roadways in both parking ban phases.
Additional Parking Information
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.
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 may be completed as part of the same priority as their adjacent roadway during both Major Roadways (Phase 1) and Residential (Phase 2) parking bans. There will be no parking in alleyways during each ban phase. Alleys may be cleared after most of the roadways in the area are cleared. Clearing crews may return at a later time to clear alleyways.
Ticketing
If you're parked on a road that is under a parking ban, you may be subject to a $250 fine.
Traffic Bylaw 5590 (Section 26.2) (see Bylaw Lookup) also bans vehicles from parking in one spot for over 72 hours.
Contact Us
Winter Maintenance
Phone In Edmonton: 311 | Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311 | TTY: 780-944-5555