Parking Restrictions
To keep our streets accessible and safe during the winter season, the City of St. John's takes an active role in the enforcement of the St. John's Snow Clearing By-Law. Find ticketing, towing and impound details below.
There are five distinct winter parking restrictions that apply to streets:
- 24- Hour Parking Restriction + NEW e-update sign up
- Outside the Downtown and Business District Parking Restriction
- Business District Winter Parking Restriction
- No Parking-Snow Route
- Downtown Winter Parking Restriction
24-Hour Parking Restriction Implemented as operationally required outside the Downtown and Business District.
Advisories will be published on the City website, and emailed to subscribers, to inform of when the 24-Hour Parking Restriction will be in place and again of when it will be lifted.
To subscribe to receive the 24-Hour Parking Restriction emails, sign up at stjohns.ca/st-john-s-e-updates under Seasonal.
The goal of the restriction is to remove vehicles from on-street parking to enhance the efficiency of snow clearing operations. Once declared by the Deputy City Manager of Public Works the restriction will be in place for 24-hours a day until it is lifted. When in effect vehicles cannot park on streets outside the Downtown and Business District at any time.
Outside the Downtown and Business District Winter Parking Restriction
The overnight parking restriction for streets outside the designated Downtown and Business District came into effect at 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 and is lifted on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 11:59 p.m.
The restriction is in effect daily and tickets can be issued to vehicles parked on the street between 12:30 and 7:30 a.m., regardless of weather and street conditions.
The ban is lifted when conditions are favourable; this often occurs in early April but primarily depends on the amount of snow remaining and if it impedes the safe flow of traffic.
A ticket can be issued to vehicles parked in contravention of the ban, and any vehicle impeding snow removal may be impounded at the owner’s expense.
Business District Winter Parking Restriction
The Downtown Business District Parking restriction came into effect on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, and is lifted on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 11:59 p.m.
While the restriction is in place, vehicles are not allowed to park in the early morning between 4 and 6 a.m., regardless of street or snow conditions, on:
- Water Street, from Waldegrave Street to Prescott Street
- Duckworth Street, from New Gower Street to Cochrane Street
A ticket can be issued to vehicles parked in contravention of the restriction, and any vehicle impeding snow removal may be impounded at the owner’s expense.
From December 1 to March 31 parking is prohibited 24 hours a day, regardless of snow/street conditions, on streets with designated Snow Route signs. These streets can be located anywhere in the city, not just downtown, and are clearly marked with designated Snow Route signs. These restrictions are necessary so that ice control and snow clearing equipment can safely service the streets.
Enforcement is continuous for 24 hours a day from Dec. 1 to March 31 regardless of snow or street conditions.
Downtown Winter Parking Restriction
For more details about downtown winter parking restrictions, including for snow removals, go to the downtown removal page.
The area we've designated as downtown for the purpose of snow removal is identified on this map. 
Scheduled snow removals in the Downtown takes place from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., requiring vehicles to be removed from scheduled streets during this time.
Violating winter parking restrictions can result in a ticket being issued or the veicle being towed.
The list of downtown streets scheduled for snow removal is updated daily and is available by 3 p.m. each day:
- Webpage map.stjohns.ca/snow
- By email. Sign up by choosing Snow Removal (Downtown) at e-updates.
- Call 311
- Check for signs placed in snowbanks at the ends of the streets
Ticketing, Towing and Impounding
Any vehicle that impedes snow clearing or snow removal operations at any time, regardless of the winter parking restrictions in effect, may be ticketed or towed and impounded. Vehicles impounded are released to the registered owner/renter when all charges are paid. If proof of registration and insurance is not provided the vehicle can only be towed, not driven, from the impound lot.
- Towing Charge: $200 + $50 administration fee
- Impounding Fee: $25 per day
If your vehicle is towed, payment can be made (excluding on statutory holidays):
- In person at City Hall, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, by cash, credit or debit card.
- By calling 311 or 754-CITY(2489) between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., by credit card only.
Impounded vehicles can be picked up, after payment is made, by the registered owner/renter from 8 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week at the City Depot, 25 Blackler Avenue. We require proof of ownership, such as a driver’s license or other government identification with the same name and civic address as the vehicle registration, or for rental vehicles, the name and address on government identifications matches the name and address of the rental agreement.