Frequently asked questions

The Climate Emergency Parking Program is designed to:

1. Encourage people to purchase cleaner vehicles
   for people buying new ones
2. Reduce air and carbon pollution
   Rates being considered would achieve about 10% of the climate emission reductions being we are targeting from the switch to clean vehicles
3. Fund climate emergency actions
   Rates being considered would fund about 25% of Climate Emergency Action plan needs, generating about $60M by 2025

It would also allow us to respond more effectively to localized parking issues as Vancouver grows over time.

Burning gas and diesel in vehicles is a major contributor to climate change—accounting for 40% of carbon pollution in Vancouver. 

The pollution charge would:

• Encourage people buying new vehicles to choose efficient ones, without impacting affordability for people who have older vehicles
• Help fund key climate actions such as making our sidewalks safer and more accessible, improving bus speed and reliability, expanding our public charging network for electric vehicles, and switching buildings from natural gas to renewable energy

The pollution charge would be added to the base permit fee of residential parking permits. It would:

• Apply to all existing and future permit zones        
• Only apply to vehicles with model year 2023 or newer
• Not apply to specialized vehicles for people with disabilities

The rates being considered are listed in the table below. Most types of vehicles found in Tier 2 and 3 would also be available as Tier 1 low-polluting options. Click here to learn more about fuel consumption ratings for existing vehicles.

Since motor vehicles are responsible for 40% of carbon pollution in Vancouver, a user fee on vehicles parking on the street is an important part of funding the City’s Climate Emergency Response. The new overnight permit zone would be a stable new source of funding for climate emergency initiatives.  

The new permit zone is also required to implement the pollution charge  across the entire city, since the charge is implemented through parking permits. Without the new zone, the pollution charge would only apply to small parts of the city and not be effective. 

The new permit zone would also enable us to better manage localized parking issues as neighbourhoods change over time. For example, there might be pockets within the new zone where people have difficulty finding parking during the day. These problem areas could be converted into new 24 hour permit zones, making it easier for residents and visitors to find parking.

The new overnight permit zones would apply to residential areas that don't already require parking permits.

The table below provides general guidelines on where the new overnight permit system would apply.

The new overnight residential permit zone would only apply to residential parts of the city that do not already require parking permits. It would not replace existing 24-hour permit zones.

Residents living in the new overnight permit zone:

• Would not need a permit if they only park on the street between 7am and midnight
• Would need a permit if they park on the street overnight between midnight and 7am

Permits would include an annual base fee, plus the pollution charge if applicable.

We are proposing a base fee of about $45 per year (equal to $3.75 per month), which is the same as the cheapest existing permit zones in the city. Residents in low income households would be eligible for a discounted base fee of $5 per year.

Residents in low-income households would be eligible for a reduced base permit rate of $5 per year. 

Eligibility would be the same as with low-income rates currently available in the West End permit area, e.g.

• You are enrolled in an eligible income assistance program
  (e.g. Vancouver Park Board Leisure Access Program, BC Bus Pass Program, Guaranteed Income Supplement, Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters from BC Housing, Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction programs)
• You have low income, but don’t receive income assistance
• You have a child with a disability up to 17 years old

Residents would be able to apply for the discounted rate online, by phone or in person through a simple self-declaration process that the City may audit should the need arise in the future.

The pollution charge would not apply to existing vehicles. It is intended to encourage people who are already planning to buy a new car in the future to choose a more efficient one, and would only apply to future vehicles staring with model year 2023.

In addition, the pollution tiers have been set so that most economy vehicles and many vehicles suitable for families would fall under Tier 1 ($0 fee).

Most economy vehicles and many vehicles suitable for families would fall under the $0 pollution tier.

 

During the day (7am to midnight)

There would be no change from today for people visiting the new overnight permit zone between 7am and midnight. Visitors and service providers would generally be able to park anywhere in the new zone, free of charge.

Overnight (midnight to 7am)

Visitors parking on the street in the new zone overnight would:

• Park anywhere
• Pay an overnight fee of $3 per night
• Pay online using the PaybyPhone app or in person at a neighbourhood pay station

Health care workers who provide overnight services in residential areas would be eligible for an annual permit at the same rate as residents, even if they don't live in the area.

Existing 24-hour permit zones

In existing permit zones, there would be no change from today. 

The program would generate between $44M and $72M by 2025. Revenue would be used to fund initiatives outlined in the Climate Emergency Action Plan, e.g.:

• Improving green, low-cost transportation options like walking, cycling, and transit
• Expanding the electric vehicle charging network
• Helping buildings switch to renewable energy

Future budget consultations would provide the public an opportunity to inform more detailed spending. The list of items below costs about $60M in total, providing a sense of what could be funded by the program.

• Develop 20 km of bus priority projects to improve transit speed and reliability
• Construct street improvements around two transit stations to facilitate safer, easier, and more pleasant transfers and movement
• Install 25 new pedestrian signals to provide safer crossing opportunities and encourage walking
• Infill 100 missing curb ramps to improve accessibility and the walking experience for all
• Plant over 1,000 street trees in underserved neighbourhoods to provide tree canopy for improved air quality and temperature regulation
• Construct 4km of green rainwater infrastructure to reduce flooding, clean rainwater, and prevent pollutants from getting into our waterways
• Install 15 fast charging stations to provide easy public charging opportunities for hybrid and electric vehicles
• Install 500 Level II charging stations with an emphasis on rental buildings

If approved by Council, the program would launch in 2022.

A number of cities around the world have implemented citywide parking permits and/or pollution surcharges for residential parking, including Sydney Australia and Montreal Canada.

Permits in Vancouver’s existing residential zones cost between about $45 and $400 annually, depending on location, which is equal to about $3.75 to $33 per month. Fees are generally higher in more dense parts of the city where parking issues are more significant. 

In the West End (the most expensive zone at ~$400 per year), a lower cost non-market rate of ~$90 per year is available to low-income households. To help manage demand, permit sales are limited to two per household in some locations.

Visit vancouver.ca/parking to learn more about the City’s existing residential permit program.

Permits in Vancouver's existing residential zones cost between about $45 and $400 annually, depending on location. 

Permit rates vary from one city to another. See the table below for some examples.

Council endorsed the idea in principle as part of the Climate Emergency Action Plan. 

Staff will bring forward detailed recommendations to Council on October 5, 2021. If approved, the program would be implemented in 2022.

Climate Emergency Action Plan (2020)

In November 2020, Vancouver City Council approved the Climate Emergency Action Plan to reduce carbon pollution 50% by 2030. 

The plan includes transportation targets that by 2030:

• 90% of people will live within an easy walk or roll of their daily needs
• two-thirds of all trips in the city will be by active transportation and transit
• 50% of distance driven in the city will be by zero emissions vehicles

The plan includes many actions to support these targets, including a two-part motion on parking that staff bring forward recommendations in 2021 to:

• Eliminate off-street motor vehicle parking requirement minimums (except for spaces required for accessibility), implement parking maximums, and support sustainable transportation choices in new developments 
• Transition toward managing all curbside space, including an on-street parking permit system citywide to support the elimination of parking requirements in buildings, better manage parking within neighbourhoods, and support the introduction of carbon pollution surcharges for vehicles 

Transportation 2040 (2012)

In October 2012, Council approved Transportation 2040, the City’s long-range transportation strategy. It includes a number of parking policies (section M.2) that informed the Climate Emergency Action Plan directions.

The final recommendations have been modified based on public and stakeholder feedback earlier this year and are now online.

Visit this page to learn more, including how to speak to Council.

The table below highlights how the directions respond to common issues raised during Phase 1 and Phase 2 engagement.

The recommendations have been modified based on feedback from public and stakeholders this summer. Changes to the recommendations include:

• Introducing a reduced permit base rate for residents in low-income households ($5 per year for residents living in the new overnight permit zone)
• Reducing the time the new overnight permit zone would be in effect (midnight to 7am instead of 10pm to 7am)
• Allowing overnight care workers who work in the new overnight zone to purchase an annual residential permit, even if they live outside the area