Council Brings 24/7 Paid Parking to All City Lots and Parkades Starting January 1st

A major parking shift is coming to downtown Guelph as the City prepares to introduce full-time paid parking in all municipal lots. Here is what drivers can expect when the changes take effect on January 1, 2026, including rates, locations, and what rules are staying the same. 

Guelph will begin charging for parking in all City-owned lots and parkades around the clock on January 1, 2026, following a Council decision made during the 2026 budget update. The shift means drivers will be required to pay 24 hours a day, seven days a week when using municipal lots and parkades downtown. 

Under the updated structure, daytime rates between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. will be set at $3 per hour, with a maximum charge of $24 for the full day. Evening parking from 9 p.m. to midnight will carry a flat fee of $3, and overnight parking between midnight and 8 a.m. will also cost a flat $3. Weekend parking on Saturdays and Sundays will move to a $3 flat fee for the day. Special events will be priced at a $5.50 flat rate, while stays shorter than two hours will cost $3 per hour.

The locations shifting to 24-7 paid parking include the East Parkade and East surface lot, Fountain Street lot, Macdonell Street lot, Market Parkade, and West Parkade. The City is installing new signage at all affected areas to reflect the updated rates and hours.

Payment options will continue to include the HONK mobile app, which applies a $0.35 service charge, as well as HONK QR codes posted throughout the parkades for quick payment. Pay stations accepting debit, credit, and coins will remain available on Level 1 of the Market, East, and West parkades.

Several existing parking rules will remain unchanged. Free two-hour on-street parking downtown will still be available once per day, though returning to the same area after leaving ends the daily limit. Permit-only lots on Arthur Street, Neeve Street, and Norwich Street are not affected, and paid on-street parking on Delhi and Westmount from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. will continue as usual. Monthly parking permits for lots and parkades will remain available at their current cost through the City’s online parking portal.

The City encourages residents to review the complete list of updated downtown parking rates and schedules on its website.