Parking

Winter Overnight Parking Restrictions

Parking on Town roadways is prohibited between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. from November 1 to March 31 (previously December 1 to March 31). This change supports earlier winter snow clearing operations and helps maintain safe road conditions during early-season storms.

Boulevard Parking Regulations

Parking is prohibited within two (2) metres of boulevard trees to protect root systems and preserve the Town’s urban canopy. Parking is also prohibited on boulevards where a raised curb is present, ensuring pedestrian pathways and landscaped areas remain unobstructed.

Bike Lane Protection

Parking or obstructing any part of a designated bicycle lane is prohibited to ensure safe routes for cyclists and encourage active transportation. 

Traffic Calming Zones

Parking is prohibited within ten (10) metres of traffic calming devices on both sides of the road to maintain clear sightlines and support the effectiveness of traffic calming measures.

Residential Yard Parking

Parking is prohibited in front or side yards unless the vehicle is situated on a designated driveway. This provision preserves the intended use and character of residential properties while protecting green space and underground infrastructure.

Accessible Parking Standards 

In accordance with Ontario Regulation 191/11 and the Highway Traffic Act, parking lot owners will be required to provide designated accessible parking spaces and access aisles for the exclusive use of vehicles displaying a valid accessible parking permit.

Residents, businesses, and visitors are encouraged to review the full by-law to understand how these changes may affect them: Parking By-law 2025-060.

1. Why did the Town update the Parking By-law?

The Town of Collingwood updated its Parking By-law to reflect a more modern and effective approach to parking management. The revised by-law introduces several improvements aimed at enhancing clarity and consistency, streamlining enforcement processes, and strengthening public safety. The previous by-law, enacted in 2003, no longer aligned with the needs of our growing and evolving community.

2. What is considered a boulevard, and where is boulevard parking permitted?  

Under the Town of Collingwood’s Parking By-law, a boulevard refers to the portion of a highway located between the property line of adjacent lands and the edge of the curb or, where no curb exists, the area not intended for vehicle travel.

• Boulevard parking is generally permitted, except in specific cases where it is prohibited. These include:
• Parking on a boulevard with raised curbs
• Parking on a boulevard within two metres of a tree  
• Parking on a boulevard where parking would obstruct traffic, snow removal, or public safety
• Parking on a boulevard for longer than 12 hours

These provisions aim to balance residential parking needs with safety, accessibility, and infrastructure protection.

3. Can I park my vehicle in a bicycle lane?

No, parking is not allowed in bicycle lanes.

The by-law explicitly prohibits parking on or over any portion of a bicycle lane, which is defined as a part of the highway designated by signage for bicycle use. This restriction helps ensure the safety of cyclists and maintains clear access for active transportation.

4. Why do overnight parking restrictions now begin on November 1? 

The Town of Collingwood has adjusted the start date for overnight parking restrictions to November 1 to better align with seasonal weather patterns and winter operations. This change ensures that municipal crews can begin snow removal and winter maintenance activities earlier, if needed, without parked vehicles obstructing roadways.

5. What are my options for overnight parking if my driveway is full or I have guests?  

We understand that some homes have limited driveway space. On-street overnight parking is permitted from April 1 to October 31 on many residential streets, outside of the winter maintenance season

From November 1 to March 31, overnight parking on Town highways between 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. is not permitted to allow for snow removal and winter road maintenance.

To support residents and visitors during the winter months, the Town offers free overnight parking permits for select municipal lots. These permits are ideal for households with extra vehicles or guests who cannot be accommodated in the driveway. To request a permit or learn more, please visit www.collingwood.ca/parking or contact Service Collingwood 705-445-1030.

6. How does the updated Parking By-law affect residential yard parking? 
 

Under the Town’s updated Parking By-law, parking on a residential front or side yard is only permitted if the vehicle is fully on a driveway. Expanding a driveway may be possible, provided it meets the requirements of the Town’s Zoning By-law and appropriate permits are obtained. While this requirement has always existed under the Zoning By-law, it is now reinforced through the updated Parking By-law.

7. How does the updated Parking By-law support environmental sustainability?

The updated Parking By-law supports environmental sustainability in several ways:

• Encouraging active transportation: Parking is prohibited in bicycle lanes, helping to maintain safe and accessible routes for cyclists and promoting low-impact travel.
• Supporting electric vehicle use: The by-law includes provisions for Electric Vehicle Parking Spaces and Charging Stations, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the transition to cleaner transportation.
• Protecting green infrastructure: Parking is prohibited within two metres of trees located on boulevards, helping to preserve urban tree canopy and reduce damage to root systems.
• Discouraging yard parking: By reinforcing restrictions on parking in residential front and side yards, the by-law helps protect landscaped areas and reduce soil compaction and runoff.

8. Who can I contact if I have questions about the updated Parking By-law?

If you have questions about the updated Parking By-law, residents and visitors can contact Service Collingwood by:

Phone: 705-445-1030

Email: service@collingwood.ca

Staff are available to assist with inquiries, permit requests, and general information related to parking. 

Accessible Parking Permits

Individuals displaying a valid Accessible Parking Permit or Disabled Person Parking Permit are permitted to park for free in all municipal paid parking locations but are required to abide by any time limits that may apply to that location.

Veteran Plates

Vehicles that have an Ontario veteran license plate are permitted to park for free in all municipal paid parking locations but are required to abide by any time limits which may apply to that location.

Parking is prohibited in Collingwood on all streets between 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. from November 1 each year until March 31 of the following year. This is strictly enforced to assist the Public Works Department's snow clearing and winter operations.

Any vehicle parked or left standing during this period may be removed. Any expense incurred for such removal may be charged to and collected from the owner of the offending vehicle.

A vehicle may be permitted to park overnight in any municipal parking lot provided the owner of the vehicle has a valid digital Overnight Parking Permit issued by the Town of Collingwood.

How to apply:

• Complete the Overnight & Temporary Parking Permit Application Form.
• Customer Service will issue a digital permit in HotSpot to the requested vehicle licence plate(s). No physical pass will be received.
• Applications are accepted for the period from November 1 to March 31 annually. Outside of these dates, overnight parking permits are not required for municipal parking lots in the downtown.

There is no cost for an Overnight Parking Permit. Overnight Parking Permits are valid in Downtown Municipal parking lots only. Permits are issued during regular business hours Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding holidays). Applications received outside of regular business hours will be processed on the next regular business day

Free Holiday Parking 

Celebrate the season with free parking in downtown Collingwood and municipal parking lots from Saturday, December 6, 2025, to Sunday, January 4, 2026. Please remember that overnight parking restrictions remain in effect from 1:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. For longer stays (3+ hours) downtown, please use the municipal parking lots.

Gift It Forward Parking Ticket Campaign 

The Town’s Gift It Forward Parking Ticket Campaign will run from Monday, November 17, 2025, to Friday, December 5, 2025. During this time, you can pay for your parking ticket by donating a new unwrapped toy or non-perishable food items.

Eligibility requirements:

• Tickets must be issued between November 17 and December 5, 2025. Fire Route and Accessible Parking violations are excluded. 

• Donations must be of equal or greater value than the fine on the ticket.

• The donation receipt must be presented at the time of donation.

• Donations must be made in person at Town Hall before 12:00 p.m. on December 5, 2025.

Town Hall Address & Hours:
Address: 97 Hurontario St., Collingwood
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

For more information, please contact Customer Service 705-445-1030.

Individuals may contest or dispute a Parking Infraction Notice that has been issued to them. If a resolution cannot be made through the First Attendance process, you or your agent may attend court by completing a Notice of Intention to Appear.

How to dispute a parking ticket

Request First Attendance: This can be done online using the Town’s online payment portal. After searching your ticket you will be able to submit your request for First Attendance.  Completing this option will prompt By-law staff to contact you to discuss the ticket. Please note: If a resolution cannot be reached through First Attendance, you may proceed with a Notice of Intention to Appear in Court by following the steps outlined under option 2. 

Notice of Intention to Appear in Court: Complete and sign “Option 2 – Trial Option” on the back of your parking ticket or complete and sign the Notice of Impending Conviction document and deliver it in-person or by mail to:

Town of Collingwood
97 Hurontario Street
P.O. Box 157
Collingwood, Ontario
L9Y 3Z5

• Private Property Parking By-law 
• Idling By-law 2009-095 and amendment 2010-050
• Fire Route By-law 2009-078

1. What are some common parking regulations that could lead to a Parking Infraction Notice?

Some common parking regulations that may result in a Parking Infraction Notice include:

• Parking on any street / municipal lot between the hours of 1:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. from November 1 to March 31;
• Parking within 3 metres of a fire hydrant;
• Parking facing the wrong direction (not on the right side of the roadway in the direction of traffic, or not in the designated direction on a one-way street);
• Advertise a vehicle for sale on public property (roadway, municipal lot);
• Parking or stopping in a fire route;
• Parking in an accessible parking space without an Accessible Parking Permit;
• Parking in a manner that obstructs the movement of traffic
• Parking in a manner that obstructs or interferes with snow removal or winter maintenance activities;
• Parking on or over any portion of a sidewalk.

Any vehicle found in violation of the Parking, Fire Route, and/or Idling By-laws may be issued a Parking Infraction Notice and/or towed at the owner’s expense. If a Parking Infraction Notice is not paid within the specified timeframe, a conviction may be registered, and your Ontario licence plate sticker will not be renewed until the fine and any associated costs have been paid in full.

2. What is the difference between "No Parking," "No Standing," and "No Stopping"?

No Parking

• Definition: The Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8 ("HTA") defines "park" or "parking" as the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when standing temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers.
• What This Means: Motorists are only allowed to load or unload passengers or merchandise in a "No Parking" zone.

No Standing

• Definition: The HTA defines "stand" or "standing" as the halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers.
• What This Means: Motorists are only permitted to receive or discharge passengers in a "No Standing" zone.

No Stopping

• Definition: The HTA defines "stop" or "stopping" as the halting of a vehicle, even momentarily, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or of a traffic control sign or signal.
• What This Means: Motorists are generally not permitted to stop for any reason in a "No Stopping" zone, except to avoid conflict with other traffic or to comply with the directions of a police officer or traffic control sign or signal.

3. What requirements are couriers and delivery vehicles required to follow?                                                  

Where parking is prohibited, motorists may stop while actively engaged in loading/unloading passengers and/or merchandise. However, motorists should not leave their vehicles unattended if going into a building. Otherwise, couriers and delivery vehicles are subject to the same rules and regulations as other motorists, as set out in the Town's Parking By-laws.

How to use the Hotspot Parking App

Download the HotSpot Parking App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 

1. Create an account with your mobile phone number or email address.
2. Park anywhere you see HotSpot Parking App signs and decals.
3. Pay for your parking session from your phone.
4. Extend your time remotely if you’d like to stay longer.
5. Receive digital copies of your parking receipts through the app.

For more information, please preview the Hotspot video:

In a Hurry? No Problem!

HotSpot also allows users the ability to pay for parking through Apple Pay or Google Pay by scanning the NFC/QR code on the parking signs located throughout Downtown Collingwood and at the Waterfront.