Parking

As the City’s declared state of emergency was terminated on March 1, 2022, and recognizing that the Province has removed most COVID-19 public health restrictions, at this time there has been no direction from Orillia Council to re-instate a parking program for the summer of 2022. At this time, the City of Orillia has returned to pre-pandemic parking requirements. At this time there are no fees for parking at Orillia waterfront parks or boat launches.

Notice: Work to move the Waterfront Redevelopment Project forward will impact two temporary municipal parking lots beginning in July

As part of the redevelopment environmental work taking place by FRAM Building Group (FRAM) at and around 70 Front St. N., temporary Municipal Parking Lots 8 and 12 will be decommissioned effective July 5, 2022.

Alternative paid parking is available in Municipal Parking Lots 1, 2, 5 and 10 and free parking is available in the waterfront parking lots (see Key Map).

Parking is free daily in all of the City’s public pay-and-display parking lots and on-street parking spaces after 5:30 p.m. and all day Sunday and on public holidays.

For more information on projects taking place in the area, please visit the Downtown Tomorrow Plan page.

Parking is prohibited on all City streets and lots from November 15 to April 15 from 12:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.

This provision is in effect whether it is snowing or not. Your vehicle may be ticketed and towed. The fine for overnight parking during this time is $50.00.

As recommended by the Downtown Orillia Management Board, the City of Orillia is returning to regular paid parking in municipal pay and display parking lots when the province enters Step 1 of the Roadmap to Reopen, effective June 11, 2021. As noted above, there is free holiday parking between November 19, 2021 and January 2, 2022.

On-street paid parking remains in effect. 

The Passport Parking app can be used to pay for on-street parking and in the pay and display parking lots.

PassportParking App

Say hello to convenient parking with the PassportParking app!  No more digging for coins. This is how parking should be. 

Pay, extend, and manage your parking session with just a few taps. It’s easy!  Just park where you see PassportParking app signs and decals, pay for your parking session from your phone, and be on your way.

Park. Pay. Be On Your Way.TM with the PassportParking app!

To report a broken meter at a municipal parking lot, please contact the Development Services and Engineering Department - Legislative Services Division at 705-325-2313. 

There are a limited number of monthly permit parking spaces available in the City's downtown area parking lots.

Monthly permits are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be purchased by attending the Orillia City Centre, 50 Andrew Street South (First Floor), Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

24 Hour Permit Parking in Lot 1

Council adopted a staff recommendation to convert 10 pay and display parking spaces in Municipal Lot 1 to 24-hour permit parking spaces.

• Permits will be available for purchase at City Hall, first floor Treasury.
• $1,250 plus HST per year (will be sold on a yearly basis.
• Permits will be sold on a first come first served basis and will require an application to ensure the need for parking is between the hours of midnight and 7:00 a.m.
• There is a no parking restriction in these spaces between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. from November 15 - April 15. 
• Printable Hardcopy Application
• Electronic Application

Council approved a by-law amendment to allow boulevard parking.  Residents are now able to park their vehicle on their driveway between the sidewalk and the roadway year round.  Set back are in place to ensure that safe sight lines for drivers are maintained and that there is no interference with winter operations. 

Notice regarding Boulevard Parking

Parking is available on many streets throughout the City of Orillia. Please pay attention to posted parking signs for applicable restrictions. 

The Development Services and Engineering Department receives numerous requests from residents requesting a change to the existing on-street parking by-law restriction on their roadway.

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines, procedures and criteria for the initiation, investigation and implementation for the requests of on-street parking by-law regulation changes. If you wish to initiate the process, the steps to do so can be found in the policy document below. You will have to complete an application and provide a petition with supporting residents. Once the City receives an application staff will happily review the request and notify residents of the status of the request.

Guideline and Procedures for On-Street Parking Change Requests

In order to park in a designated accessible person parking space, you must display an approved Ministry of Transportation Accessible Parking Permit.

The fine for parking in an accessible space without a proper permit is $350.00.

Both on-street and off-street accessible spaces are available in the downtown area.

Parking in any accessible space in the downtown is free, however, parking in any metered space in the downtown requires payment, even if an Accessible Parking Permit is displayed.

Map of accessible parking locations

There are a number of convenient methods for paying a parking ticket/fine.

To report a parking violation, please call 705-325-2313.

You cannot stop or park a vehicle in a designated fire route zone.

Please look for and obey signs when parking in public and private parking lots. The fine for parking in a designated fire route is $100.00.

Parking is available on many streets throughout the City of Orillia. Please pay attention to posted parking signs for applicable restrictions. 

The Development Services and Engineering Department receives numerous requests from residents requesting a change to the existing on-street parking by-law restriction on their roadway.

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines, procedures and criteria for the initiation, investigation and implementation for the requests of on-street parking by-law regulation changes. If you wish to initiate the process, the steps to do so can be found in the policy document below. You will have to complete an application and provide a petition with supporting residents. Once the City receives an application staff will happily review the request and notify residents of the status of the request.

Guideline and Procedures for On-Street Parking Change Requests

Only electric vehicles that are plugged in and charging may park in the designated spots. All other vehicles may be subject to a fine of $125.00 under section 30.2 of the Highway Traffic Act.

To learn more about EVs, check out the Electric Vehicle webpage

The City of Orillia has installed two Level 2 Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations at the Orillia Recreation Centre. These charging stations are open to the public and can be accessed 24/7 to charge electric vehicles. The rate for charging is $2.00 per hour. Payment can be made via credit card or through the charging station app. 

To learn more about EVs, check out the Electric Vehicle webpage

In 2008, Council approved a by-law to prohibit vehicles idling for more than three minutes on public or private property within the City. Exemptions exist such as for emergency vehicles, vehicles participating in emergency activities, and a vehicle transporting a person who has in his or her possession a doctor’s certificate requiring that the environment surrounding him or her is to be maintained at a certain temperature or humidity. This by-law encourages residents to be environmentally responsible and to protect the air for everyone. It also supports the City’s commitment to a healthy environment, as stated in the Municipal Strategic Plan.  

Anti-Idling By-law

About the Study

The City has engaged Trans-Plan Transportation Engineering to complete a comprehensive traffic and parking study of the waterfront and downtown area. 

The study will evaluate the parking needs in the downtown and waterfront areas based on amenities, attractions and growth and analyze parking issues such as the number of parking lots, spaces and their locations, along with parking programming such as pricing, timing and availability. An analysis of traffic activities in the study area will help staff understand the total parking requirement throughout the downtown and waterfront area.

This study is anticipated to be presented to Council Committee within the next few months but is not expected to impact our waterfront parking this summer. More information about the study is below.

Study Area

Public Information Centre

The virtual Public Information Centre took place Tuesday, November 30, 2021.  Thank you to all those who attended.  If you missed it, please check out the recorded Public Information Centre below.  Recorded Public Information Centre

What is the timeline of the Study?

The survey was available during the fall of 2021, followed by a Public Information Centre held November 30, 2021 between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The final report is anticipated to be presented to Council in the coming months.

What is the budget?

The approved budget for this study was $70,000.

Other Resources

Downtown Parking Study (2011)