Accessible Parking

The City of St. John's is committed to building an accessible and inclusive community. We provide accessible parking on streets, in parking lots, and enforce the use of accessible parking permits in public and private areas to ensure availability for permit holders.

Accessible Parking Locations

Accessible parking spaces managed by the City are available both on-street and in City facility parking lots. 

Signage in the parking area will indicate parking restrictions. It is important to locate and adhere to parking signage.

Map of Accessible Parking Locations

The map does not reflect seasonal changes to accessible parking or special event parking. For updates, please refer to the City news section.

On-Street Accessible Parking Spaces

Accessible parking spaces are available in both commercial areas and residential areas. Drivers should exercise caution when exiting their vehicles since the driver’s side is adjacent to moving traffic.

Accessible parking spaces located in building parking lots are regulated by the provincial Building Accessibility Act and Regulations. On-street parking spaces do not fall under the Building Accessibility Act regulations. Instead, these are implemented based on traffic patterns and demand in an area, while they are enforced under City By-Laws.

Commercial Areas

On-street accessible parking can be found in commercial areas where on street parking exists (i.e. Water Street, Duckworth Street, etc). The City is working toward having all on-street accessible spaces in business areas serviced by a low back and curb cut.

Feedback or requests for new accessible parking spaces can be directed to Access St. John’s.

Residential Areas

Accessible on-street parking permits are issued to residents who do not have access to off-street and meet the following criteria:

• You must have a designated Accessible Parking Permit from the provincial government.
• You must be the driver yourself or a wheelchair user.
• There must not be an accessible parking space on your property.
• There must be sufficient room adjacent to your property to accommodate a parking space with no parking restrictions currently in place.

If you meet these criteria, you can apply for a permit.

Special Event Accessible Parking

City events typically provide designated accessible parking on a first-come, first-serve basis. A valid accessible parking permit must be displayed. The City collaborates with private operators to ensure accessible parking is available during City-approved events. These will be identified by accessible parking signage.

Pedestrian Mall: Accessible Parking and Bus Stop locations can be found on the Downtown Pedestrian Mall Parking and Transportation Map.

Enforcement

The City honours all valid accessible permits issued by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and other Canadian provinces and territories. The City does not issue its own accessible parking permits.

Enforcement of on-street spaces and City parking lots falls under the Ticketing Amendment By-Law, with a minimum fine of $700 for parking without a permit. On private property enforced by the City, violations are addressed under the Highway Traffic Act, with a minimum fine of $400. Properties owned by the Provincial or Federal Government are not enforced by the City.

Reporting Violations

To report a parking violation (e.g., parking without a valid permit), contact Access St. John’s. City parking enforcement must witness and document the violation to issue a ticket; tickets cannot be issued based on submitted photos. Responding to accessible parking violations is a priority for enforcement staff.

On-Street Winter Accessible Parking Impacts

In downtown St. John’s, snow clearing presents challenges due to narrow streets and high traffic. Snow removal operations occur overnight and can affect on-street accessible parking immediately following snowfall. Learn more about Winter Parking, Downtown Snow Removal and Sidewalk Snow Clearing.

FAQs