Early payment option for Ottawa parking tickets may be extended to 15 days

A parking ticket under the wiper blade of a vehicle's windshield in Ottawa on March 4, 2026. (Dave Chrabonneau/CTV News Ottawa)

Ottawa drivers may soon have an extra week to pay the early payment fine for a parking ticket, as part of changes to the city’s penalty system bylaw.

The City of Ottawa currently offers an early payment penalty for parking infractions, giving drivers seven days to pay the fine at a cheaper rate, with the penalty updated to the “set fine” amount eight days after the ticket is issued. For example, the fine for parking in excess of the posted time limit is $70, with an early payment option of $50.

A report for the finance and corporate services committee meeting on April 7 outlines proposed changes to the Parking Administrative Penalties System Bylaw, including expanded timelines for offenders to pay the early payment penalty and “clearer dispute and adjudication rules.”

The proposed changes would extend the early payment period 15 days after the ticket is issued.

“These changes will provide recipients with additional time to act at the early payment stage, as well as to allow sufficient time for recipients to act after receiving the penalty or the first notice,” staff said.

The city will also extend the timeframe between the first late notice and the second late notice, with the late feed added on day 46 after the ticket is issued instead of the current 31-day limit.

If approved by council, the changes to the parking bylaw will be implemented within six months.

According to the Ottawa Traffic and Parking Bylaw, the early payment option is $20 cheaper than the set fine for parking and traffic fines.

Council approved an Administrative Penalty System for certain parking violations and camera-based infractions in 2024. The city designated screening officers, and appointed adjudicators, to manage the dispute and resolution processes for parking, red light camera and photo radar camera infractions, instead of the disputes being handled by the provincial offences court.

Ottawa began using the Administrative Penalty System for parking penalties last June. Drivers can submit a request for a screening officer to review the parking ticket up to 16 days after the ticket was issued.

Other changes proposed for the Administrative Penalty System

Undue hardship

Screening and hearing offices can cancel or vary penalties if financial hardship is proven by the offender, cancel the penalty if the infraction did not occur or uphold the penalty, according to the city.

Staff recommend defining “Undue Hardship” to ensure “that those experiencing undue financial hardship have clarity on what must be provided in a claim to receive relief on a penalty.” The report says decisions to cancel or vary the ticket will be made “in cases where undue financial hardship is proven to materially compromise the vehicle owner’s ability to pay their administrative penalty.”

Timeline to challenge a red light camera ticket

Drivers will have an extended period of time to file a challenge to a red light camera ticket.

Staff propose changing the Cameras Administrative Penalty System to align with the Parking Bylaw. Under the current bylaw, drivers can submit a screening request for a red light camera ticket within 30 days, with the timeline to submit a dispute ending on day 46.

“Staff propose extending the period to submit a late screening request by 15 days, to end on day 61 rather than on day 46,” staff said.

“This change will allow the recipient additional time to action their penalty within the late screening stage. The intent is to ensure that recipients are equipped with the utmost clarity and awareness of options available to manage their penalty.”

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