No tows as the snow goes: City runs out of money to tow vehicles during residential parking ban

The city says if you don't move your car during the Phase 2 residential parking ban, it likely won't be towed. CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson explains.

With Phase 2 of Edmonton’s parking ban underway, residents who don’t move their vehicles won’t need to worry about getting towed, but could still see a $250 ticket on their windshield.

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City council allocated $100,000 for towing this season, which had already run dry by the end of the year.

“One of the main barriers that was highlighted for me was the ability of towing companies to prioritize city towing requests,” said Ward Sspomitapi Coun. Jo-Anne Wright.

Last month saw a record-high snow fall on Dec. 28 clocking in at 54 centimetres – typically double than what we see at this time of the year.

Wright said residents should make an effort to get their vehicles off of the road when plows are scheduled to visit their neighbourhood.

“Those roads where there are going to be a lot of vehicles parked on the side of the road and aren’t being moved, the city will just pass over that road and come back when people comply,” said the two-term councillor. “But if we get another snow dump and we have to put (crews) back on the major arterial roadways, then it might delay it even further.”

In a statement, the city said it will revisit areas that were passed over if residents contact 311 to report uneven road conditions, after residential clearing is completed.

This season, the city has towed 33 vehicles.

“Towing services were not funded to continue past 2025,” said the city. “However, there may be occasional towing provided during Phase 2 of the ban for locations deemed necessary to tow for the safe and efficient clearing of the roads by city crews.

With no more towing, ticketing is the main means of enforcement.

The city has five dedicated officers to issue fines, which start at $250 for violating a parking ban.

A city report took a look at reducing the fine amount for parking bans from $250 to $150 and offering an early payment option for $100 if paid within seven days.

Ticket deductions, if approved, would ultimately impact city revenue, and therefore be adjusted in the 2026 Municipal Tax Levy, said the report. The same goes for an early payment option.

The report also found legal implications with an early payment option that would likely create difficulties in determining if an early payment was made on time.

For example, online ticket payments are generally not available until three to five business days after the date of the offence and online payment cannot be accepted until the ticket is entered into the system. There are also challenges with early payments submitted by mail with regular mail presumed to have been served on the city seven days from the day of mailing.

“It is likely that, unless payment is made in person within the seven-day early payment period, it will be very difficult for people to exercise the early payment option with the current system,” said the report. “The seven-day early payment option presents a legal risk in establishing service of early payment within the relevant timeframe.”

The report said there are no legal concerns with reducing the fine amount from $250 to $150.

While some residents have raised concerns about windrows, particularly those blocking driveways, Wright said the city is working to get skid steers out to neighbourhoods within a few hours of them being plowed to partially clear driveways. But it’s up to residents to make sure they clear the remainder.

City council will be reviewing the amendments to the bylaw proposing adjusted fines.

Edmonton’s Phase 2 parking ban will last 14 days from Monday, unless the city gets hit with another dump of snow.

The city encourages residents to keep an eye out for yellow signs at major entrances to neighbourhoods, signalling that crews are coming. Signage for neighbourhoods where crews will be coming will appear at least 24 hours ahead of work starting.

When signage is present, or when roads are listed as “in progress,” on the interactive map, vehicles must be removed from roadways. The ban for the neighbourhood is 24 hours a day and will remain in place until the neighbourhood is completed.

An online schedule is also available for residents to check the anticipated start date of plowing.

But as a warm spell lingers in the area for the next week, Edmontonians can be more prepared for a thaw rather than snow.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson