Whether the forecast snowfall could cross the 7 cm that triggers an overnight on-street parking ban — read from a weather model, with the City's official channels first. It never says a ban is on; only the City declares one.
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From Town Tools. For the current version, visit https://www.towntools.org/ottawa-ontario-ca/parking-ban-watch
Could there be an overnight parking ban tonight? This reads a weather model's snowfall forecast for the next few days and tells you whether it crosses the 7 cm that a ban needs — so you can move your car in time. It is not the City's decision: only the City of Ottawa declares a ban, and this page never says one is on.
Could there be a ban?
No parking ban can be called now — bans run Nov 15 – Apr 1.
Outside the season the City doesn’t declare winter parking bans. Any snow below is shown for information only. Model as of October 12 at 7:50 a.m..
The next few days
Modelled snowfall totals per day. A ban is the City’s call, not this number.
Day
Snow (model)
Reading
Monday, October 12
0 cm
Out of season
Tuesday, October 13
0 cm
Out of season
Wednesday, October 14
0 cm
Out of season
A weather model, not the City’s decision
This is a weather model’s snowfall forecast — not Environment Canada’s official forecast, and not the City’s declaration. Only the City declares a parking ban, and this page will never tell you one is in effect. It shows the “as of” time above and only whether the modelled snowfall could cross the 7 cm a ban needs. Snow totals shift between model runs, and a ban is a decision, not a number — always confirm on the City’s own channels before you leave your car overnight.
How a ban works
When a ban can be called, and how you find out:
Overnight ban (7pm–7am)
An overnight ban covers 7:00pm to 7:00am and is usually announced by about 9:00am that day.
Daytime ban (10am–7pm)
A daytime ban covers 10:00am to 7:00pm and is usually announced by about 3:30pm.
Bans are seasonal
A winter weather parking ban can only be declared between 15 November and 1 April.
What triggers one
The City may declare a ban when Environment Canada forecasts an accumulation of 7 cm or more of snow for the Ottawa area, or freezing rain.
How you find out — set this up before the first storm
The City runs free Winter Parking e-Alerts: they email you each time a ban is declared, extended or lifted, and you can unsubscribe any time. Sign up from the winter parking pages below. Bans are also posted on the City's website and social channels, in the City of Ottawa app, and you can confirm one by calling 3-1-1 (613-580-2400).
Where to leave the car instead
When a ban is declared, the City opens its own parking for the duration of it, free: municipal garages and surface lots, OC Transpo Park & Ride lots, and some recreation centres and libraries. Which lots open is re-published each season, so check the City's list before the first storm rather than at 10 pm during one.
Each kind of place has its own hours — check the posted rules before you walk away:
City parking garages (gate-controlled)
Lot 1 at 70 Clarence Street, Lot 2 at 141 Clarence Street and Lot 3 at 110 Laurier Avenue West are free overnight during a ban — but you have to be out between 4 am and 7:30 am. Leave later and the gate charges you.
City surface lots with pay-and-display
Free during a posted window rather than all night — the City publishes the hours for each lot, and they differ from one to the next. Read the machine before you walk away.
Park & Ride, recreation centres and libraries
OC Transpo Park & Ride lots are free overnight during a declared ban. At these and at recreation-centre lots a car can stay for the whole length of the ban — you move it once the City announces the ban is lifted, not at dawn.
On a banned street, a vehicle without a residential parking permit may be ticketed and towed. If it's towed, getting it back runs roughly $265–$315 within the first 24 hours, more with storage.
Cost figure from towing-company guides — an estimate, not an official City figure.
Who’s exempt
Vehicles with a valid City of Ottawa residential on-street parking permit are exempt from winter weather parking bans.
Snowfall totals are modelled estimates for the area, not measurements, and not the City’s forecast. Weather data by Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). Whether a ban is declared is always the City’s decision — check the official channels above.
Winter parking bans: not in season (Nov 15 – Apr 1).