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Guide to driving and parking

Having a car in Vancouver means knowing about traffic, where
you can park, and sometimes tickets. 

Find parking

Parking meters are in effect 9am to 10pm every day, including holidays.

Do not park at a broken meter. You will get a ticket. 

Report a broken meter

Time-limited parking

Parking meter rates

Parking at parks​​​​​​​

Accessible parking

Vehicles with a SPARC permit  may:

  • Use designated accessible parking spaces
  • Park for up to 3 hours in restricted resident parking zones
  • Load and unload passengers and materials in non-commercial loading zones and passenger zones

Motorcycle and scooter parking

Designated spaces are:

  • Marked with:
    • Green-topped meters
    • Motorcycle parking signs
    • White painted zones
  • 50% less than regular parking meter spaces on the same block

Loading and passenger zones

Loading zones can be used to unload:

  • Passengers for up to 3 minutes
  • Materials for up to 30 minutes

Passenger zones can be used to load or unload passengers for up to 3 minutes.

Overnight guest parking

Unregulated spaces

Guests can park overnight if:

  • There are no regulations 
  • Their vehicle is not oversized (example: moving vans, Sprinter vans, RVs)

A vehicle is oversized if it is one of the following: 

  • Longer than than 6.4 m 
  • Taller than 2.2 m
  • Heavier than 5,500 kg

Residential permit zones

If your guest is from out of town, you may get a temporary pass in person with:

  • 2 pieces of your ID
  • Your visitor's insurance
  • Payment ($11.14 including tax per week)

Metered parking

In metered spots with no other restrictions, your guest can pay ahead of time with the PayByPhone app.

Permits

A residential parking permit will allow you to park on the street in your neighbourhood.

Buy or renew a permit

  1. Before you buy a permit, read the rules, the eligibility requirements, documents you’ll need, fees, where to attach your decal, and refund policy.
  2. Buy your permit online, by phone at 3-1-1, or in person.
  3. You may start parking in the permit zone 3 hours after you successfully apply online.

Replace a permit decal

You may replace your permit decal, whether your:

  • Car has been damaged
  • Licence plate or address has changed
  • You misplaced your decal

If you have a permit but do not display a decal on your vehicle, you will get a parking ticket.

Moving out of a permit zone

If you move out of a permit zone, you may qualify for a pro-rated refund:

  1. Check that you have more than 30 days left on the permit. 
  2. Remove the permit decal from your vehicle.
  3. Return the decal in person.

Moving trucks

7 days before your moving day, apply for a temporary permit to park a moving truck at reserved parking spaces or meters.

You will need the:

  • Location
  • Existing parking regulations (reserved parking or meters)
  • Date and time the space is needed

Short-term and visitor permits

If you live in a permit zone, you may qualify for a short-term or visitor permit for a:

  • Courtesy vehicle
  • Rental vehicle
  • Borrowed vehicle
  • Hired contractor
  • Out-of-town visitor
  • Housesitter

Tickets

Pay a ticket online

Pay within 14 days and get 40% off the full amount. Review your ticket for dates and what you owe.

You may also pay by phone, in person, or by mail.

If your vehicle was towed, you must pay towing fees directly to the towing company.

 

 

Bylaw officer photos

View photos taken by the bylaw officer:

  • If you have a question about a parking ticket
  • Think the ticket was received in error

Photos, if available, will be online 24 hours after your ticket was issued.

Disputes

If you've viewed the bylaw officer photos and have concerns:

  1. Phone 604-257-8732 Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm (except holidays).
  2. Review how the adjudication process works first.
  3. If you want to dispute a ticket, we can help you complete an adjudication request form.

Towing

Your vehicle can be towed if you broke a parking bylaw or if your vehicle has been abandoned and is a safety hazard or inconvenience to others.

Towing fees

Fees are:

  • Collected by the towing company
  • Paid in addition to parking ticket fees, which are paid to the City
  • Based on the size of vehicle and distance it was towed

If you broke a parking bylaw

To check the City Impound Yard at 425 Industrial Ave:

Open 24 hours, every day.

If your car was abandoned

To check the City Abandoned Vehicle Yard at 1150 E Kent Ave South:

  • Phone 604-321-6527

Open Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm (excluding holidays).

Traffic and safety

Construction, special events, and weather can lead to delays or closures. Plan ahead using our road closure map and traffic feeds.

Help others see you

  • Make eye contact with other road users
  • Don't drive, park, or stop in a bike lane
  • Watch your speed
  • Leave room for other road users
  • Watch for cyclists using hand signals
  • Only honk if you need to warn a cyclist or pedestrian — it can be startling

Signs, markings, and laws

  • Recognize road signs and markings that show lanes for bicycles, special vehicles, and shared roadways
  • Slow down when you see traffic calming signs
  • On roads, watch for bikes, electric-assisted bikes, and motorbikes, and motorcycles
  • On local streets, watch for skateboards, push scooters, rollerblades, and skates

Speed limits

Unless otherwise posted:

  • City roads: 50 km/h
  • School zone: 30 km/h (8am to 5pm, school days)
  • Playground zone: 30 km/h (every day, dawn to dusk)
  • Street bikeways: 30 km/h
  • Lanes: 20 km/h

Update:

  • In July 2020, Council voted to extend the hours of the 30km/hr school zone and playground to 24/7
  • Until new signs are installed, the current speed limits remain in place
  • We estimate new signs will be in place end of 2020/early 2021

Seasonal

Where you can park in Vancouver may change with seasonal events or weather conditions.

PNE backyard parking

If you are visiting Hastings Park during the PNE:

  • Residents near Hastings Park may sell backyard parking spaces.
  • Street parking cannot be sold.
  • Parking enforcement officers step up patrols during the PNE. Make sure you're parked legally.

 

Leaf removal from streets

We remove leaves from streets November to January.

  1. Check the street leaf collection schedule.
  2. Watch for temporary “no parking” signs.
  3. Move your vehicle by 7am on the date marked on the sign.

Vehicles parked in “no stopping” zones will be fined $100 and towed to a nearby location.

Snow removal from streets

We salt and bring major routes before snow or freezing rain starts. 

  1. Get proper tires if driving on provincial highways.
  2. Check the weather forecast.
  3. Check our traffic camera feeds.
  4. Take a major route.

Report

A damaged stop sign is a hazard. Phone 3-1-1 immediately to report stop signs that are damaged, missing, or blocked.

Request stop sign changes

Phone 3-1-1 to request:

  • Stop signs be installed at an uncontrolled intersection
  • Directional changes for existing stop signs
  • Additional stop signs be installed (for example, change a two-way stop to a four-way stop)

Quickly report issues and request City services with our Van311 app.

Download Van311

Or use the links below to try Van311 in your browser.