$1 million in fines for violating Ottawa’s winter weather parking bans during back-to-back storms

Ottawa road crews will be working long hours to clean up after nearly 70 cm of snow was dumped on the capital in less than a week. CTV’s Tyler Fleming reports.

Bylaw Services officers issued more than 10,000 tickets to drivers parked on Ottawa roads during the winter weather parking bans over the past week, as city crews worked to clear nearly 70 centimetres of snow from roads and sidewalks.

The City of Ottawa issued winter weather parking bans on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 10 a.m. Sunday to 7 a.m. Monday.

In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, Ottawa Bylaw and Regulatory Services said 10,678 parking tickets were issued for violating the parking bans over the five-day period, resulting in $1.1 million in fines.

The fine for violating the winter weather parking ban is $125, with an early payment option of $105.

• Ottawa issues over $300,000 in fines for violating winter weather parking ban on Thursday

Here is a look at the number of parking tickets issued during the parking bans Feb. 13 to 17:

• Thursday, Feb. 13: 2,950 tickets
• Friday, Feb. 14: 3,267 tickets
• Sunday, Feb. 16: 2,601 tickets
• Monday, Feb. 17: 1,860 tickets

Some people complained on social media they received a ticket for violating the winter weather parking ban after a snowplow had cleared the street. The city says only vehicles with on-street parking permits are allowed to park on streets during a parking ban.

“During a winter weather parking ban, any vehicle that does not have an on-street parking permit and remains parked on the street is subject to receiving a ticket,” Roger Chapman, Director of Ottawa Bylaw and Regulatory Services, told CTV News Ottawa.

“This is the case regardless of whether the plow has passed, as it is possible that a second plow run is necessary. When the ban is lifted, vehicles may return to on-street parking. The safety of residents and visitors is the City’s priority, and we thank everyone for their co-operation when a winter parking ban is implemented.”

In 2024, Bylaw Services issued 4,536 tickets for violating a winter weather parking ban on Jan. 10, and 3,374 tickets for violating a ban issued on Jan. 13. Officers issued 3,739 parking tickets during a winter weather parking ban on Dec. 4, 2023.