To apply for a resident parking permit online through HotSpot, we require proof of residency as the permits are free to Collingwood residents only. This proof can be a property tax statement, utility bill, driver’s licence, motor vehicle registration, or tenant rental/lease agreement. Before you take a picture you can always block out any other information that you wish not to share if you choose, so long as we can see the name and address of the resident applying, along with the type of document being uploaded.
If you don’t wish to take a picture of your document at all, our customer service team can also assist. If you are a property owner, we would be able to validate you in person or over the phone with your tax roll details to confirm your residency. If you are a tenant, you would be able to attend Town Hall with your ID for visual validation. We would require a licence plate(s) to be provided to assign you a digital permit.
Once proof of residency is provided in any of these ways, documents are not saved. They are used as a one time visual check to confirm residency and then the permit is granted. Photos are not kept by HotSpot or the Town. As with all partner applications that we use, a requirement during the procurement process is that all information must be stored on servers located in Canada, this would be the same for HotSpot. This would mean any uploaded files would be temporary saved (typically between 1-3 days) until the application is approved/declined. Additionally, you can also review HotSpot’s privacy policy from their website.