Open Option Parking

A graphic of a city with "Parking. It's all about space" text.

Homeowners and businesses can now choose how much on-site parking to provide on their properties.

At the June 23, 2020 City Council Public Hearing (item 3.22), City Council voted to enable Open Option Parking city-wide effective July 2, 2020. Open Option Parking means that minimum on-site parking requirements have been removed from Edmonton’s Zoning Bylaw, allowing developers, homeowners and businesses to decide how much on-site parking to provide on their properties based on their particular operations, activities or lifestyle.

Removing parking minimums doesn’t necessarily mean that no parking will be provided. Businesses and homeowners know their parking needs best and have an interest in ensuring they are met, making this approach more likely to result in the “right amount” of parking.

Under the new rules, barrier-free (accessible) parking will continue to be provided at comparable rates to before and bicycle parking requirements have increased. Maximum parking requirements have been retained downtown, and expanded in Transit Oriented Development and main street areas.

Design requirements for both surface and underground parking facilities have also been enhanced, and opportunities created for businesses and homeowners to share parking or lease out parking spaces to nearby properties. The City will monitor the impacts of shared parking and report back to City Council in early 2021.

While the change will be transformative, it will also be gradual. Only coming into effect as homes and businesses are slowly developed or redeveloped across the city in the decades ahead.

Curbside Management Strategy

The introduction of Open Option Parking was recognized as having potential impacts to on-street curbside parking demand and utilization patterns over time. As a result, the City has developed a Curbside Management Strategy, which seeks to more equitably and strategically manage and diversify how we use our public curbside space.

Canadian Institute of Planners Award

The Canadian Institute of Planners awarded the City’s Open Option Parking project with an Award for Planning Excellence. “Edmonton’s Open Option Parking strategy can transform the City and inspire other Canadian communities to look at similar changes,” said a statement from the Jurors. “Crowd-sourcing data collection, and the effort to make parking discussions interesting and relevant, were both key factors that stood out. This project will positively impact the sustainability of Edmonton’s future, while creating a more vibrant livable community.”

Learn more about the award.

Why We Reviewed the Rules

Parking is a powerful, but often hidden, force that shapes how our communities are designed and influences every aspect of how people live, work, and move around.

Many of the zoning rules that determined the minimum number of on-site parking spaces homes and businesses were required to have were put in place in the 1970s. Edmonton has changed considerably since then, and the rules needed to be updated to make sure they made sense for Edmonton today and the future Edmonton envisioned by ConnectEdmonton and the City Plan.

Click on the dots in the infographic below to learn more.

An interactive image with hotspot links for various parking options

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Economical

Image for economical parking options

Providing parking can be expensive, creating cost barriers to owning a business and make housing more expensive.

Abundant

The amount of parking we provide influences how people choose to travel.

Once parking is provided on-site at a home or business, that parking is static and can’t easily be adjusted so we need to get that number right. The amount of parking we provide influences how people choose to get around in Edmonton. We’re looking ahead, planning for Edmonton’s future to support changes in the way people are choosing to get around.

Walkable

Consideration of parking lots must include how they remove walkable areas from neighbourhoods.

How parking is provided and managed plays a powerful role in shaping how our communities look. Large parking lots take up a lot of space, making neighbourhoods less compact and walkable.

Economical + Abundant

Image for economical and abundant parking

Businesses and homes are located further apart, and neighbourhoods less walkable. Commutes are long and you have to drive farther for errands or entertainment. The construction cost of new homes and businesses is relatively low. This scenario would be similar to an area like South Edmonton Common or a condo complex with a large surface parking lot.

Walkable + Economical

Hotspot image for economical and walkable parking options

Some businesses have parking and some businesses do not. Different households have different numbers of parking spaces depending on their needs. Businesses and homes are located closer together and neighbourhoods are more walkable. Commutes are moderate and errands can be done by walking or short drives. The cost of construction for new homes and businesses is moderate. This scenario would be similar to the Whyte Avenue or 124 Street area.

Abundant + Walkable

Hotspot image for abundant and walkable parking options

Businesses and homes are located close together and neighbourhoods are very walkable. The cost of construction for new homes and businesses is high, leading to more expensive homes and higher cost of services at businesses. Commutes are typically short and errands can be done by walking or short drives. This scenario would be similar to Downtown or the Oliver neighbourhood.

Extreme Weather Alert

Parking Ban Declared (Major Roads & Bus Routes)

Curbside Management Strategy

Canadian Institute of Planners Award

Why We Reviewed the Rules

Economical

Abundant

Walkable

Economical + Abundant

Walkable + Economical

Abundant + Walkable

Parking Regulation Options

Assessment of Options

Public Engagement

Engagement History

City Council Public Hearing (June 23, 2020)

Urban Planning Committee (January 28, 2020)

Draft Regulation Options Survey

Parking Trade-offs and Outcomes Survey

Engage Edmonton Events

Project History

Phase 4

City Council Decision (Summer 2020)

Curbside Management Strategy

Phase 3

Phase 3

Urban Planning Committee (Spring 2019 and Winter 2020)

Phase 2

Phase 2

Phase 2A - Parking Trade Offs & Outcomes (Fall 2018)

Phase 2B - Draft Regulation Options (Winter 2019)

Phase 1

Phase 1

Collecting and Analyzing Data (Winter - Summer 2018)

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