The City of Pickering has launched its seasonal waterfront parking program, which will run annually from May 1 to October 1.
According to the city, the program is designed to manage high volumes of visitors and ease traffic congestion at popular waterfront destinations while ensuring balanced access for both residents and visitors. The program includes paid parking at all city-owned waterfront lots and restricted or paid parking on select waterfront-area streets.
Key features of the program include:
- No-Charge Permits for Residents: Pickering residents are eligible for a free seasonal parking permit, valid for two years from the date of issue. Those who obtained a permit in 2024 do not need to renew until 2026 and may continue to park for free in designated areas.
- Hourly Parking for Non-Residents: Visitors must pay $2.50 per hour from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday.
- First Two Hours Free: Non-residents can park free for up to two hours between 9 am and 5 pm on weekdays in most permit areas—excluding Beachpoint Promenade, Front Street, and municipal lots. A parking session must still be activated via the HotSpot app or website.
- Free Permits for Seniors: Non-residents aged 65 and older can apply for a free seasonal permit.
- Accessible & Veteran Parking: Vehicles displaying accessible parking permits or veterans’ plates can park at no charge in waterfront lots and on applicable streets without activating a session. A six-hour parking maximum applies.
- Free Wi-Fi Access: Available in the Liverpool Road, Progress Park, and Beachpoint Promenade parking lots to support access to permits and payment services.
Accessing Parking Permits and Payments
Both residents and non-residents can register for parking permits or pay for hourly parking through the HotSpot app (available on Google Play and the App Store) or at hotspotparking.com. Onsite activation is also available via QR code scanning at HotSpot Fast Tap signage.
Originally introduced in 2022, the waterfront parking program aims to address long-standing parking concerns at busy Pickering waterfront areas, which continue to attract large numbers of visitors from across the region.
More information, including maps, rates, and registration instructions, is available at pickering.ca/WaterfrontParking.
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