What should I know about parking on the street?

Whether it be from the people worried about their neighbours parking on the street, or those who receive tickets themselves, one of the issues we hear most often about concerns parking on the street. We've compiled some of the important information here so you can be prepared; whether it be to keep your streets clear or to avoid fines in the future.

Can I park on the street?
In the City of Toronto, unless otherwise signed, you are allowed to park on the street for up to three hours at a time. If you exceed that limit, whether it be at your house or not, you risk being fined. This includes overnight parking.

What do I do if neighbours are parking on my street for more than three hours?
As a resident, you can call Parking Enforcement at 416-808-6600. Give them all the information you can (where the car is parked, when and how long it's been parked, and if possible, the make, model, and license plate of the car.), and they will send out an officer to investigate.

If it is a recurring problem, call our office at 416-392-1374. We will contact Parking Enforcement on your behalf, and set up an extended parking detail.

What do I do if I've been issued a ticket?
You have two options, pay the fine, or dispute the ticket. You can make the payment online, in person, by mail, or by telephone. If you choose to dispute the ticket, you must bring the ticket to one of four Parking Tag Operations offices, and schedule an appearance in court. More information on both of these can be found in the links below.

I've been parking on the street for years, why did I only get a ticket now?
Parking on the street for over three hours has always been illegal. Because of the complaint-driven nature of enforcement, street parking may not always be ticketed right away.

Can I apply for a parking permit to let me park on the street?
Parking permits allow the holder to park in specified areas on-sreet at designated hours. Unfortunately, parking permits are not issued for the Scarborough area at the current moment. The permit program is only in effect for the cities of Toronto, East York, York, and limited parts of Etobicoke; generally in areas where driveways are not common. Plans for expansion are under consideration.

Why have I received a notice of violation when I was parked on my own driveway?
If you are parking on a widened portion of your driveway, this is a Property Standards violation. A good rule of thumb is that you should not be parking more vehicles side-by-side than will fit in your garage. You may also receive a Parking Enforcement for parking over the sidewalk or on the boulevard portion of your driveway, both of which are City property. We will be exploring both these issues in more depth a future article.

Useful links:
Parking offences that do not require signs
What to do if you've received a parking ticket
Online parking ticket payment system
Permit Parking in Toronto
Toronto Police Services: Parking Enforcement

Valleyview Garden Awards Nominations

We're working once again this year with our friends Valleyview Gardens to present Valleyview Garden Awards to some of Ward 39's best looking gardens. Each of the ten winners of the Valleyview Garden Awards will receive a $25 gift certificate donated by the garden centre. If you or someone you know have a great looking garden, drop us a line at 416-392-1374 or send us an email. Be sure to provide your name, address, and home telephone number so we can contact you. Entries close July 1st, so don't delay!

Useful Links
Valleyview Gardens
Email a nomination

Washing wisely - what you need to know when washing your car this summer

Before you wash your car this summer, you should know that the City of Toronto has by-laws regulating what can and can't be done to wash your vehicle. Read on to find out how you can avoid a stiff fine.

June 15, 2010

Washing wisely - what you need to know when washing your car this summer

With the warm weather upon us, many Toronto residents are taking the opportunity to add car washing to their list of weekend chores. Unfortunately, the water that comes from washing your car often contains dirt, oil, grease, heavy metals, hazardous chemicals and soaps - all of which enter local streams, rivers and Lake Ontario and can then harm aquatic habitat.

It is important to be aware that there are two types of sewer systems in the City of Toronto. The sanitary system takes the used water from homes and businesses to a wastewater treatment plant for cleaning. The storm sewer system - the square grates on the side of the road - takes rainwater and melted snow from the streets and releases it, untreated, into local streams, rivers and Lake Ontario.

To avoid having dirty water run into the storm sewer system, consider these options for washing your car:
• Use a commercial car wash facility. These facilities are required to follow a set of practices determined by the City, including treating wastewater and discharging it into the sanitary sewer system where it will receive further treatment.
• Find a location where the wastewater won’t flow into the storm sewer. For example, washing cars on a grassy lawn or gravel surface allows the wastewater to be absorbed by the soil. Washing the car on your lawn doubles the water use by giving your lawn a good watering at the same time.
• Dispose of the wastewater into the sanitary sewer. By using a pail, washcloth and only a small amount of water, and then wiping the car dry, the waste water can be contained in the bucket and disposed of into the sanitary sewer through a laundry sink or toilet.

When choosing one of the above car washing options, here are a few tips to stay green:
• Don’t use soap. Instead, use a small amount of environmentally friendly water-based detergent that is phosphate and NPE free. Many other car-care products also contain harmful chemicals which should be avoided.
• Don’t wash your car during drought conditions.
• Re-think the need to wash your car if rain is in the forecast.

The City of Toronto has a Sewers Bylaw that prohibits the discharge of any water other than storm water or melted snow into the storm sewers.

For more information, visit http://www.toronto.ca/water or call 311.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Toronto's government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents. For information about non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Tax & Water Relief Programs for Low Income Seniors and Low Income Persons with a Disability

The City of Toronto offers tax and water relief programs for low income seniors and low income persons with a disability. If you are a senior and interested in this program, contact our office at 416-392-1374 as soon as possible to request an information package and application form. Application must be submitted by August 31, 2010.

Useful Links
City of Toronto: Property Tax

"Secret" Parking Ticket Cancellation Guidelines Revealed (UPDATED)

Toronto Parking Enforcement's secret parking ticket cancellation policies were made public by City Council yesterday, so here is your chance to take a look.

Download (18 pages, pdf format)

Update! The City of Toronto has published a press release concerning this document. A seperate version of the document can also be found within it.

News Release

June 9, 2010

City of Toronto releases guidelines on parking ticket cancellation

Toronto City Council yesterday approved the public release of the City's parking ticket cancellation guidelines. The guidelines outline the circumstances in which a City of Toronto parking ticket may be cancelled and the evidence required to support a parking ticket cancellation.

The City of Toronto uses established guidelines to help staff make informed, consistent decisions about parking ticket cancellations. Reasons for cancellation may include bylaw exemptions, an error in a parking ticket, an individual having a valid permit, or a medical emergency.

City staff at parking ticket counters review each disputed ticket and the evidence presented to understand the nature of the infraction and the circumstances surrounding the ticket issued, and to determine whether a cancellation is warranted.

Publishing the cancellation guidelines will help streamline the process for disputing a parking ticket and may reduce the number of requests for trials to dispute parking tickets. If a parking ticket does not meet the requirements for cancellation, or the proper evidence cannot be provided, individuals may choose to pay the ticket rather than request a trial.

The guidelines are available at http://toronto.ca/pay-toronto-tickets/pdf/cancellation_guidelines.pdf.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Toronto's government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents. For information about non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Take A Load Off Toronto

Take A Load Off is a project from Toronto Hydro to help you to save $140 on an Energy Star qualified clothes washer at your local Home Depot or Caplan's Appliance store. When you purchase a qualified washing machine, you will receive an $80 instant rebate, a $60 mail-in rebate, and a free drying rack as well. For more information, visit the Take A Load Off Toronto website, but act soon, the offer expires June 30th.

Useful Links
Take A Load Off Toronto
Toronto Water: Water Efficiency
Toronto Hydro
The Home Depot Canada
Caplan's Appliances