Registration

Residents

Residents can register for a no-charge permit, which will allow use of waterfront parking lots and on-street permit parking on waterfront area streets. 

Registration options:

1. Register through the HotSpot parking website or app. View detailed instructions.
2. Register through email - email permitparking@pickering.ca for details.
3. Register in-person at Pickering City Hall.

Please note: when registering, you will need your vehicle registration (green slip) to verify your vehicle is registered to a Pickering address.

Non-Resident Monthly/Seasonal Permits

Non-residents can register for a permit ($60+ HST for monthly, or $165+ HST for one year). 

Registration options:

1. Register through the HotSpot parking website or app. View detailed instructions.
2. Register in-person at Pickering City Hall.

Please note: cash will not be accepted for in-person purchases.

For technical support with the HotSpot app, please contact support@htsp.ca or 1.855.712.5888.  

Waterfront Locations

Paid permit parking has been implemented at all City waterfront parking lots, including Liverpool Road, Progress Park (Front Road), Beachpoint Promenade, and the Annland Street parking lot. Signage is posted indicating all areas where a permit or payment are required.

All waterfront area streets are prohibited parking on one side, and permit parking on the opposite side.

• View the Liverpool Road Area Map
• View the West Shore Boulevard Area Map

Streets regulated by permit parking include: 

Rates

The hourly parking rate is $2.50 per hour, Monday to Friday, between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. Parking can be obtained in increments as small as 15 minutes.  On many of the residential streets there will be no charge for the first 2 hours each day (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm), this does not include the municipal lots. However, a parking session must still be initiated in order to obtain the 2 hours free parking.

The rate increases to $5.00 per hour after 5:00 pm and all day on weekends, with a maximum parking time of six hours per session. When you initiate a parking session, the app will provide the total charge prior to finalizing the transaction.

Seasonal Parking Permits are available at a cost of $165.00 plus HST, expiring October 1^st. Monthly passes are also available at a cost of $60.00 plus HST.

Visitors to the area (or residents who have not registered for their free permit), can pay for parking by downloading the HotSpot Parking app, or by scanning the QR code on the fast tap parking signs to access the website.

Regular users of the waterfront parking areas may find it more useful to utilize the HotSpot Parking app, as it allows you to end your parking session as soon as you return to the car and receive a refund of any unused time. It also provides reminders of when the parking session is ending, and allows you to extend your parking session from your phone. View detailed instruction on using the app.

Resident without a vehicle

City of Pickering residents who do not own a vehicle or operate a vehicle are able to request one free caretaker/guest permit.

A resident can email permitparking@pickering.ca to request this type of permit. Proof of Pickering residency along with confirmation that you do not own a vehicle will be required. The request will be reviewed and notification of approval will be sent once the permit is processed.

A permit will be issued to the licence plate number of a vehicle not registered in Pickering and will allow it to park in waterfront areas at no-charge.

New for 2023

Residents who do not drive or own a vehicle may request a physical permit.  The resident must attend City Hall in person to obtain this permit. 

Guest Parking

A new digital guest parking system is available. Please contact permitparking@pickering.ca for information. Residents of Waterfront permit streets are able to obtain one day permits by directly inputting up to 10 vehicles to accommodate guests.

Additionally, waterfront area homes may accommodate guest parking by registering their own vehicles for free residential parking permits and temporarily parking on the street to allow for guest vehicles to park in their driveway.

Waterfront visitors who live in Pickering can register for their own no-charge permit to be able to park for free on waterfront area streets and lots.  Overnight guests will still be required to register for parking consideration by visiting pickering.ca/parking.

Accessible Permits and Veteran Plates

Vehicles bearing accessible parking permits or veterans’ plates are able to park in City waterfront lots or on waterfront area streets at no charge and without having to register for a permit or create a parking session on HotSpot for the same six hour maximum applicable to other permit holders. These vehicles are exempt from the paid / permit parking and will not be ticketed unless parked in contravention of a parking regulation other than the Waterfront Paid Parking.

Enforcement

The waterfront area will have dedicated enforcement staff working from May until October, seven days a week from 9 am – 10 pm, including Statutory Holidays. Staff will patrol City waterfront parking lots and waterfront area streets for compliance with permit parking requirements and prohibited parking areas.

Vehicles found parked without a permit or not having a valid parking session are subject to a parking ticket with a set fine of $75.

Enforcement Officers will also be stationed at the waterfront parks to patrol for compliance with the City’s Parks By-law, Responsible Pet Ownership By-law, Noise By-law, etc.

If there are parking issues on a waterfront area street, please contact the City at 905.683.7575 to have an officer dispatched to the area. This number can be used during regular business hours, as well as evenings and weekends.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I register in-person? 

Yes! Both residents and non-residents can register for a permit in-person at Pickering City Hall. See the 'Registration' tab on this page for full details.

2. What is the app called and where can I download it?

The app is called HotSpot Parking Transit Taxis and it can be downloaded from the Apple or Google Play App Stores. 

2. How will I know if my permit has been approved?

You will receive a confirmation email from HotSpot once you submit your application, and a follow-up email once your permit is approved (this can take up to three business days). Please note that no physical permit is issued. Once you receive your email indicating your digital permit is approved, your vehicle is considered registered and you are able to park for free.

3. What is the process for registering a leased or company vehicle?

Please send an email to permitparking@pickering.ca requesting a free resident waterfront parking permit and provide the following information: 

• Name
• Address
• Vehicle Make, Model, Year
• Licence Plate Information
• For personal leased vehicles; attach photos / scans of the vehicle ownership information and a copy of your driver’s license showing your address
• For company owned vehicles; attach vehicle ownership and drivers license as well as some form of employee ID, letter from employer, business card, or employment record, that shows you are employed by the company shown on the vehicle ownership.

A staff member will review and may process a manual digital permit on the applicant’s behalf or get in touch for further information if required. 

4. What is the process for registering a vehicle that I may not own or am in the process of changing ownership?

A permit cannot be issued to a vehicle that is not registered to the applicant’s Pickering address. The Ministry of Transportation requires vehicle registration be updated within six days of moving or changing ownership. There are also provisions to allow for gifting a family member’s car to be exempt from sales tax. Information is available at Ontario.ca.

Staff at the Clerk’s Counter in City Hall frequently assist residents completing this transfer by commissioning the documents. 

Once the ownership is changed to reflect the resident’s name and address, they can register the vehicle for a permit. 

5. Will waterfront resident parking permits expire?

Yes, they are valid for 2 seasons. (Permits issued in 2023 will be valid through October 2024)

6. Are permits limited to one per resident? What if I own multiple vehicles?

Residents may register multiple vehicles provided the vehicle ownership is registered to their address.

7. How does the digital waterfront parking permit work?

The parking permit program is based on licence plate recognition software. Scans are made of vehicles parked in permit parking areas, with the software indicating whether there is a permit registered, parking has been paid, or there is no authorization to park there.

Once you have received confirmation that your permit is active, you will be able to park for free at any of the designated waterfront parking areas until the permit expires.

8. Do residents and non-residents use the same registration process?

Both registration processes will be completed using HotSpot Parking. Residents will register for permits at no charge, while non-residents can create accounts to purchase seasonal or monthly permits, or pay for parking on an hourly basis. Paid hourly parking can also be done by scanning the QR code on the HotSpot Fast Tap parking signs.

9. What onsite payment options are available at the waterfront permit parking locations? 

Visitors to the waterfront can pay for onsite parking by using their smart phones or devices to download the HotSpot Parking app, or scan the QR code on the fast tap parking signs. Free W-Fi hubs have been installed at the three main parking lots (Millenium Square at Liverpool Road, Progress Park on Front Rd and Beachpoint Promenade) to improve access for those that do not have a cellular data plan. At this time, in-person payment kiosks are not available due to the associated cost of installation and maintenance, and expected limited use by the general public.