Basic Parking Rules

• Parking regulations vary; always observe posted signs. Not all parking bylaws are signposted.

Basic Parking Rules

• Never park on the road's travelled portion; use the shoulder if you must stop.
• Avoid parking on curves, hills, or where visibility is less than 125 meters in both directions.
• Parking should not obstruct other parked vehicles, sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian crossings, or road entrances.
• Do not park within three meters of a fire hydrant.
• Do not park on or within 100 meters of a bridge.
• Do not park within six meters of a public entrance to a hotel, theatre, or public hall when it is open.
• Keep nine meters clear of any intersection.
• Keep fifteen meters clear of an intersection controlled by traffic lights.
• Fifteen meters from the nearest rail of a level railway crossing is the minimum distance to park from it.
• Park where you won't impede traffic or snow removal.
• Check for hazards before opening your car door.
• The "Dutch reach" method (opening the driver’s door with your right hand to force a shoulder check) is encouraged.
• When opening a door next to traffic, only keep it open long enough to load or unload passengers.
• Upon parking, turn off the ignition and lights, remove the key, and lock the door to prevent theft.
• Never leave children or animals unattended in the vehicle.
• Before moving from a parked position, signal and check for traffic.

Parking for People with Disabilities

• The Accessible Parking Permit allows parking in designated areas for people with disabilities.
• The permit is for the individual, not the vehicle.
• The "Disabled Person Parking Permit" is still valid until it expires, then replaced with the "Accessible Parking Permit".
• Licensed physicians, chiropractors, nurse practitioners (extended class), physiotherapists, or occupational therapists, must certify eligibility for an Accessible Parking Permit.
• The Accessible Parking Permit is issued free of charge to qualified individuals.

Types of Accessible Parking Permits:

• Regular permit (blue): For permanent disabilities, valid for five years; recertification may be required upon renewal.
• Temporary permit (red): For disabilities lasting over two months but not permanent; non-renewable.
• Traveller permit (purple): Valid for one year, for those with a valid Accessible Parking Permit who fly from Ontario airports.
• Company permit (green): Valid up to five years, for companies transporting people with physical disabilities.
• Report Accessible Parking Permit misuse or abuse to the police.
• Misuse leads to fines and revoked privileges.
• Applications are available at Service Ontario Centres or via mail.
• Do not park in spaces for people with disabilities without displaying a valid Accessible Parking Permit belonging to you or a passenger.

Parallel Parking

• Always park on the right side of the road in the direction of traffic, unless signs indicate otherwise.
• Find a space about 1.5 times the length of your vehicle.
• Signal and check traffic before pulling over.
• Stop parallel to the car ahead, leaving about one meter between vehicles.
• Reverse into the space, turning the steering wheel fully toward the curb.
• Straighten the wheels when you can see the outside rear corner of the vehicle in front of your space while continuing to reverse.
• Bring aligns the vehicle with the curb by turning the wheel fully toward the road.
• Adjust by driving forward if not parallel to the curb.
• Engage the parking brake and shift into park (automatic) or first/reverse gear (manual).
• Turn off the engine, remove the key, check traffic, and lock the vehicle.

Parking on a Hill

• When facing downhill, turn the front wheels toward the curb or right shoulder.
• When facing uphill with a curb, turn the steering wheel to the left, away from traffic.
• When facing uphill without a curb, turn the wheels sharply to the right, away from traffic.
• Always engage the parking brake and shift into park (automatic) or first/reverse gear (manual).
• Turn off the engine, remove the key, check for traffic, and lock the vehicle.

Roadside Stop

• Check mirrors and blind spot before slowing down.
• Signal before slowing down, unless vehicles are waiting on side roads, in which case wait until you have passed the entrances.
• Stop parallel to the curb or edge of the road, no more than around 30 cm away.
• Do not block entrances or other traffic.
• Activate hazard lights.
• Engage the parking brake and shift into park (automatic) or neutral (manual, if engine running) or low/reverse (manual, if engine off).
• When parking on a hill, turn wheels against the curb appropriately.

Pulling Out from a Roadside Stop

• Release the parking brake and shift into drive or first gear.
• Turn off hazard lights and activate the left-turn signal.
• Check mirrors and blind spot before pulling away.
• Blend with traffic by accelerating smoothly.
• Turn off the left-turn signal once back on the road.