When a winter storm hits Milton, street parking permits are suspended: 13 park lots allow 48 hours, and extended-exception requests end November 14

The everyday rules

Parking on Milton streets is limited to five hours, and the Town says you cannot park on the street between 2 and 6 a.m. unless otherwise posted. A resident who needs longer can request a short-term on-street parking exception. Each vehicle (licence plate) is eligible for up to 25 short-term exceptions per calendar year, and the vehicle must be parked where parking is allowed.

What happens in a winter storm

The Town defines a winter storm as weather that makes snow clearing and parking difficult, usually heavy snowfall, freezing temperatures or strong winds that cause drifting snow. When one occurs, street parking exception permits are suspended and, in the Town's words, no cars can be parked on Milton roads. The Town says this helps snowplows and salt crews clear roads quickly and safely, and that vehicles left on the road during a suspension may be ticketed or towed at the owner's expense. It does not publish a fine or towing amount on these pages.

On its Snow Removal page the Town says that, as a guideline, it typically considers a forecast of 10 cm or more of snow a trigger for suspending parking exemptions, though lower amounts may apply when other factors make snow removal difficult. Time of year, snow already on the ground and pending freezing rain can all count.

Where to park for 48 hours

For residents who normally rely on street parking permits, the Town keeps designated park lots open for 48 hours while permits are suspended for snow removal.

The Town also asks residents not to shovel snow from their property onto the road or sidewalk, which it says violates its Road Fouling By-law (By-law 035-2020).

Overnight parking in parks: a $60-a-month pilot

Separate from storm-day lots, Milton is running a pilot that sells monthly overnight parking permits in designated park lots. Permits cost $60 a month, go to Milton residents only, are first-come first-served and do not guarantee a spot. The vehicle needs valid Ontario plates and insurance, and supporting documents must show a Milton address. Commercial vehicles, trailers, RVs, school buses and inoperable vehicles are not allowed, and a holder may have one permit at a time. The Town lists 15 participating parks. Most are also storm-day lots, but Cobban Neighbourhood Park, Milton Community Park and Sunny Mount Park are in the pilot only, and Bowes Neighbourhood Park is a storm-day lot only. Permits are applied for through the Town's online permit portal.

Extended exceptions: the November 14 date

A household that needs more than 25 short-term exceptions, for example because of delayed house construction or a renovation, can ask for extended exceptions. The Town's Parking Exceptions page says requests are accepted from April 15 to November 14. To qualify, a household must have used or booked all 25 short-term exceptions for every vehicle registered to it and park at least one vehicle in its garage. The permit costs $48.29 per vehicle and the application fee is non-refundable. Requests must be submitted at least five business days before the requested start date.