If you’re used to paying $1 per hour at your favourite parking meter in Vancouver, this is a heads-up that rates will increase — and also change in various ways — early next year.
In a media release, the City of Vancouver has revealed that city council has approved changes to parking fees and regulations “to enhance traffic flow, reduce congestion, and better support customer experience and sustainable transportation throughout the city.”
This amounts to standardizing fees, increasing the lowest rate fee, extending free parking in some areas, and changing how EV charging rates are applied.
The City of Vancouver has announced that the lowest parking meter fee will increase from $1 to $1.50 per hour to account for inflation and the increased transaction and processing fees. This rate hasn’t been changed since 2012.
Last year, the City also introduced a pilot program that standardized parking meter rates in Chinatown to $2 per hour. According to the City, this has led to more parking transactions and “positive feedback from businesses.”
The City plans to apply this approach to other neighbourhoods across Vancouver by Canada Day (July 1) next year, hoping to improve consistency and the customer experience.
In another change, there’s some good news for some neighbourhoods, as the City plans to end pay parking at 6 pm in parts of the city that have low occupancy with the lowest meter fees.
“Potential areas that could see this change include Strathcona and Great Northern Way,” the City states.
The final note from the City on parking changes concerns electric vehicle parking. Beginning on January 1, 2025, if you have a car that uses an on-street electric charging station, you’ll be charged not for the amount of time you’ve been charging but for the amount of energy that your car has been supplied.
“Pay parking fees remain if charging on a metered street.”
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim also commented on the changes in the City’s media release.
“These changes aim to provide a more consistent and user-friendly parking experience across Vancouver,” Sim said. “By updating our regulations, we hope to improve access and convenience for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.”
The City expects to generate $5.75 million “in incremental parking revenue on an annual basis, with the full amount expected to be realized in 2026.”
You can read more about the changes in the City’s council report.