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Guelph overnight parking: the winter 2–6 a.m. rule, free exemptions and City lots

From December 1 at 2 a.m. to April 1 at 2 a.m., Guelph doesn’t allow parking on City streets between 2 and 6 a.m. unless signs say otherwise. A free winter exemption covers up to 2 days at a time, 12 times a year. Without one, the 2026 penalty is $50; downtown lots charge a $3 overnight flat fee.
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Facts checked November 11, 2026

Your overnight options

Winter exemption [1]City streets, December 1 to April 1, unless signs say otherwiseFree; up to 2 days at a time, 12 a year, 2 vehicles per permitApply in the City’s parking portal. On sale after the third Wednesday in November; can be suspended during storms and emergencies.
Recreation centre overnight permit [1]Designated spaces at Victoria Road Recreation Centre and West End Recreation Centre$45.53 a month, overnight only (9 p.m. to 9 a.m.)Winter permit, December 1 to April 1. One permit per licence plate and one per account; park only in the designated spaces.
Downtown lots and parkades[2]Market Parkade (10 Wilson St.), West Parkade (110 Macdonell St.), East Parkade and lot (146 Macdonell St.), Macdonell Street lot (28 Macdonell St.), Fountain Street lot (51 Fountain St. E.), Neeve lot (12 Neeve St.)$3 flat fee midnight to 8 a.m.; $3 flat fee 9 p.m. to midnight; $3 a day on weekends2026 rates. Pay with HONK (plus a $0.35 service charge), a QR code or a pay station.
Downtown resident monthly permit [1]Market Parkade, West Parkade or Macdonell Street lot$90.02 a month (proof of address required)Other lot and parkade monthly permits are $99.04 to $202.56. A permit doesn’t guarantee a space.
University of Guelph winter lots[6]P13, P17, P18, P19, the Gordon Hall Only lot and West Residence Only (P96)Daily permits from $6.00 (Gordon Hall) and $7.50 (P18)From December 1 to March 31, these are the only campus lots where overnight parking is allowed. Check U of G’s overnight map before you leave a car.
Street parking outside winter[3]City streets, April 1 to November 30Free, up to 48 hours in a rowThe winter 2 to 6 a.m. rule doesn’t apply in this period; posted signs and the 48-hour limit still do.

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The overnight rules and fines

  • From December 1 at 2 a.m. until April 1 at 2 a.m., on-street parking isn’t allowed between 2 and 6 a.m. unless a sign says otherwise. The City does this to make room for snow plows, buses and emergency vehicles.[1]
  • Parking on a street between 2 and 6 a.m. during the winter rule is a $50 penalty in 2026.[4]
  • Parking on a street during a temporary parking ban is a $90 penalty. A winter exemption can be suspended during storms and emergencies, so check before you park.[4]
  • At any time of year, a car can’t stay on any road for more than 48 hours in a row. That penalty is $60.[3]
  • Year-round street rules still apply overnight: no parking within 1 metre of a driveway or laneway, within 3 metres of a fire hydrant, or within 15 metres of an intersection, trail crossing or railway crossing.[3]
  • At home, don’t park on your front lawn or a landscaped part of the front yard. Boats, trailers and campers go in a garage, side yard or rear yard.[5]

How the winter exemption works

  • Winter overnight parking permits run from December 1 to April 1, and sales begin after the third Wednesday in November.[1]
  • The winter exemption is free. Each permit covers up to 2 vehicles and is valid for up to 2 days at a time.[1] Official page
  • You can get up to 12 exemptions a year.[1]
  • Set up or sign in to an account in the City’s parking portal to order a permit.[1]
  • The City can suspend exemptions during storms or emergencies.[1]
  • Need more than 12 nights? The rec-centre overnight permit ($45.53 a month) or a downtown lot ($3 overnight) are the City’s other options.[1]

Downtown lots and campus parking overnight

  • All seven downtown lots and parkades charge the same 2026 rates: $3 an hour from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ($24 maximum), a $3 flat fee from 9 p.m. to midnight, a $3 flat fee from midnight to 8 a.m., and $3 a day on Saturday and Sunday.[2]
  • Downtown street parking is free from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. and on Sundays, with a 2-hour limit once a day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Saturday. From December 1 to April 1, the 2 to 6 a.m. rule still applies on the street unless signs say otherwise.[2]
  • Pay stations are on Level 1 of the Market, East and West parkades and in the Macdonell Street lot, and take debit, credit and coins. HONK works in every municipal lot and parkade.[2]
  • Height limits: Market Parkade 7′8″ at the Wilson Street entrance (6′8″ at Northumberland Street), West Parkade 6′3″, East Parkade 6′1″.[2]
  • University of Guelph: parking is free after 5 p.m. and on weekends in Red, Yellow and visitor zones, except during the winter overnight restrictions (December 1 to March 31), and rules are enforced 24/7.[6]
  • U of G daily permits are virtual and tied to your licence plate: Gordon Hall $6.00, P18 $7.50, Yellow Zone $13.00, Red Zone $16.50 (same day only).[7]

Common questions

Can I park on the street overnight in Guelph?
From April 1 to November 30, yes, for up to 48 hours in a row unless signs say otherwise. From December 1 at 2 a.m. to April 1 at 2 a.m., Guelph doesn’t allow street parking from 2 to 6 a.m. unless you have a winter exemption or a sign allows it.
How do I get a winter overnight parking exemption in Guelph?
Order it in the City of Guelph’s online parking portal; sales begin after the third Wednesday in November. The exemption is free, covers up to 2 vehicles, lasts up to 2 days at a time, and you can get 12 a year.
How much is an overnight parking ticket in Guelph?
In 2026, parking on a Guelph street between 2 and 6 a.m. during the winter rule is a $50 penalty. Parking during a temporary parking ban is $90, and leaving a car on a road for more than 48 hours is $60.
Where can I park overnight in Guelph in winter?
In Guelph, use a free winter exemption on the street, a $45.53-a-month overnight permit at Victoria Road or West End Recreation Centre, or a downtown lot or parkade, where midnight to 8 a.m. is a $3 flat fee in 2026.
How much is overnight parking in downtown Guelph?
Downtown Guelph lots and parkades charge a $3 flat fee from midnight to 8 a.m. and another $3 flat fee from 9 p.m. to midnight in 2026. Weekends are $3 a day. Downtown residents can buy a $90.02 monthly permit.
Can I park overnight at the University of Guelph?
From December 1 to March 31, the University of Guelph allows overnight parking only in P13, P17, P18, P19, the Gordon Hall Only lot and West Residence Only (P96). Daily permits start at $6.00 for Gordon Hall and $7.50 for P18.

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Sources

  1. City of Guelph: Get a parking permit (winter parking permits)
  2. City of Guelph: Find a parking spot Downtown Guelph (2026 rates)
  3. City of Guelph: On-street parking reviews (on-street parking rules)
  4. City of Guelph: By-law (2025)-21188, Schedule A-1 parking penalties (from January 1, 2026)
  5. City of Guelph: Residential parking
  6. University of Guelph Parking Services: Evening and overnight parking
  7. University of Guelph Parking Services: Daily permits

Rates and rules change. Check the official page before you park; these were last checked November 11, 2026.

Researched by the Parkeas team from the official pages above. Parkeas is independent: not affiliated with the Cities, venues, hospitals or universities named in these guides. How we check these guides

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