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 15 Nov – 1 Apr.
Outside the season the City doesn’t declare winter parking bans. Any snow below is shown for information only. Model as of 29 July at 17:26.
The next few days
Modelled snowfall totals per day. A ban is the City’s call, not this number.
Day
Snow (model)
Reading
Wednesday 29 July
0 cm
Out of season
Thursday 30 July
0 cm
Out of season
Friday 31 July
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.
How you find out
Bans are announced on the City of Ottawa's website and its road and social channels, and by calling 311.
If you’re parked on a banned street
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.