Cars parked on a Vancouver street

Time-limited and meter parking

Parking meter tips

  • Parking meters are in effect from 9am to 10pm, 7 days a week, including holidays.
  • Report a broken meter. Do not park at it. You will get a ticket.
  • Daytime rates (9am to 6pm) may be different from evening rates (6pm to 10pm).
  • Before paying, check if there are parking restrictions in effect, such as rush hour, special events, or construction.
  • Pay with the PayByPhone app and get text alerts when your session expires and extend it.

Parking time limits, meter parking, and other regulations help to:

  • Ensure you can find on-street parking near destinations such as shops, services, and amenities
  • Manage streets in industrial areas
  • Serve residential visitors and service providers in denser neighbourhoods
  • Minimize unnecessary searching for parking, congestion, traffic safety risks, GHG production, and air pollution 

Our goal is to provide up to two available parking spaces per block in peak periods.

Time-limited parking

  • Is typically 1 hour or 2 hours  
  • Gets shorter as demand for parking increases 
  • Is replaced with parking meters if time limits alone are not effective at managing parking

Parking meter rates

  • Vary throughout the city
  • Are set based on demand and may vary by time of day
  • Are adjusted annually based on parking data collected in the previous year
  • 5% tax is included in parking meter rates

Parking for veterans

To recognize the service and dedication of Canadian military personnel, Council voted on October 19, 2021, to provide free year-round parking to vehicles displaying veteran or Memorial Cross licence plates.

Vehicles displaying veteran or Memorial Cross licence plates are exempt from:

  • Any parking meter fees at all on-street meter parking (time limits and any other posted regulations still apply)
  • Fees at City-owned off-street parking facilities (EasyPark ) in Vancouver

Read the Parking Meter By-law No. 2952 (4.9 MB).

Find out how to obtain a veteran licence plate through ICBC

Other street parking regulations

Loading and passenger zones

Find out about the rules on using a loading zone or passenger zone in Vancouver.

Accessible parking

Find accessible parking in Vancouver. Learn about parking exemptions for people with disabilities, and how to get a SPARC parking permit.

Car-sharing, carpooling, and ride-sharing

Save the environment and make new friends. Find out how to join a carpool, car-share, or car co-op.

Motorcycles and scooters

Find motorcycle and scooter parking in Vancouver. Learn how much it costs to park your motorcycle and scooter.

Public parking lots

EasyPark is a City-owned, non-profit company that manages parking lots that are owned and leased by the City of Vancouver.

Find parking lots around Vancouver and in City parks on the EasyPark website .