Parking rules
Parking is about more than fitting into a space. Where you stop can block emergency crews, hide pedestrians or create a hazard for other drivers.
Each province, and often each city, sets its own parking distances. The examples below come from Ontario's handbook; always check local signs and your own province's rules.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can spot places where parking is not allowed.
- You can parallel park smoothly and finish close to the curb.
- You can turn your wheels correctly when parking on a hill.
- You can leave a parking space safely, checking mirrors and blind spots.
What you need to know and understand
- In Ontario you must not park within 3 metres of a fire hydrant.
- In Ontario you must not park within 9 metres of an intersection, or 15 metres if it has traffic lights.
- In Ontario you must not park within 15 metres of the nearest rail of a level railway crossing, or on or within 100 metres of a bridge.
- Never park where you would block a crosswalk, sidewalk or driveway.
- Facing downhill, turn your front wheels towards the curb or right shoulder.
- Facing uphill with a curb, turn your wheels left, towards the road; uphill without a curb, turn them sharply right.
- Other provinces and cities use different distances, so read the posted signs.
No-parking zones to learn first
Some places are off-limits because they keep the road safe for everyone. These Ontario rules are typical of the kinds of spots every province protects, though the exact distances can differ.
- Close to a fire hydrant, so firefighters can reach it.
- Close to an intersection, so drivers and pedestrians can see each other.
- Near a railway crossing or on a bridge.
- Anywhere that blocks a crosswalk, sidewalk, driveway or road entrance.
- On the travelled part of a highway; use the shoulder if you must stop.
- Where other drivers cannot see your vehicle from a good distance in both directions.
Parallel parking, step by step
- Check that the space is legal and long enough, then check mirrors and signal.
- Pull up alongside the vehicle in front of the space, leaving about a metre between you, with your rear bumpers roughly level.
- Shift into reverse, check all around, and back slowly while turning the wheel towards the curb.
- When your vehicle is at about a 45 degree angle, straighten the wheel and keep reversing slowly.
- As your front bumper clears the car ahead, turn the wheel away from the curb to bring the front in.
- Straighten up, centre yourself in the space and finish parallel and close to the curb.
Hills: which way do the wheels go?
On a slope, your wheel position is a backup in case the parking brake fails. The goal is to let the curb or the shoulder catch the car, not the traffic lane.
- Downhill, with or without a curb: wheels towards the curb or shoulder.
- Uphill with a curb: wheels away from the curb, so the back of the front tire rests against it.
- Uphill with no curb: wheels sharply right, so the car would roll off the road.
- Always set the parking brake and leave the vehicle in park, or in gear for a manual.
Common mistakes
- Guessing at hydrant and intersection distances. Learn your province's figures and read posted signs.
- Parallel parking too fast. Creep slowly and keep looking all around.
- Forgetting wheel position on a hill. Make it part of your shut-down routine.
- Opening your door without checking for cyclists. Check your mirror and blind spot first.
- Pulling out of a space without signalling and checking your blind spot.
Test yourself: Parking rules
Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.
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Sources: Ontario MTO Official Driver's Handbook, Parking along roadways (ontario.ca); Ontario MTO Official Driver's Handbook, Sharing the road with other road users (ontario.ca). Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with your province or territory.