City of Hamilton - Planning & Economic Development

Commercial and Residential Boulevard Parking

Residential Boulevard Parking

Also known as front yard parking, Residential Boulevard Parking allows residents of one, two and three-family dwellings to establish parking spaces in their front, side or rear yards, either partially or entirely on city road allowance. The road allowance includes a portion of the front yard at each residence in the City and the portion varies in size from home to home.

Residential Boulevard parking has been very successful in alleviating parking difficulties for residents who live in older areas of the City where driveways are few and far between.

Once approval is given, an agreement must be registered on the title of the property. The agreement, among many other provisions, requires that the parking space be hard-surfaced with asphalt, concrete or a combination of the two.

There are currently almost 5,000 registered residential boulevard parking agreements.

If Scenario "B" applies to you then you need a
Residential Boulevard Parking Agreement

Driveway Access Permit Example

To qualify for a residential boulevard parking space, the following requirements must be met:

Size - A minimum parking space of 2.7m (9’) wide by 6m (19.5’) length is required. Where less space is available, the length of the driveway may be reduced depending on the size of the vehicle that will be parked in the space. For rental properties, a minimum of 5.35m (17.5') is required. A minimum clearance of 25.4cm (10”) is required between the rear of the parked vehicle and sidewalk.

Ramp - An approach ramp not to exceed 5.7m (18’) in width for a one or two family dwelling or 8m (27’) in width for a three family dwelling may be granted for boulevard parking spaces. The cost of this construction is the homeowner’s responsibility and the price is determined by the Public Works, Operations and Maintenance Division.

Types of vehicles - All vehicles registered as non-commercial, passenger vehicles are allowed to park in residential boulevard parking spaces. Commercial vehicles such as trailers, boats or recreational vehicles are not permitted to park in these spaces.

Proximity of fire hydrant – Boulevard parking is not permitted where a vehicle would be parked within .91m (3') of a fire hydrant.

Location – Parking is allowed perpendicular to the City sidewalk only within the area immediately adjacent to the approved approach ramp so that access to the space cannot be gained from a neighbouring driveway.

Ownership – Boulevard parking is permitted whether entirely on the boulevard or partly on the boulevard and partly on private property.
Fees – There is a one-time fee effective January 1, 2012 of $221.70 (including HST). A $20.00 (plus HST) annual fee for insurance and administrative costs each year thereafter is payable and will be included in your property tax bill.

Landscaping – A boulevard parking application cannot be approved if the proposed parking space(s) will result in less than 50% of the private front yard being landscaped. If the application is denied on this basis, the applicant may apply to the Committee of Adjustment for a minor variance to allow boulevard parking without meeting the 50% landscaping by-law.

City Trees – Boulevard parking will not be approved if the proposed parking space is under the canopy (branches) of a City tree.

Inquiries about existing driveway approaches / ramps (i.e. repairs, maintenance, estimates for widening, etc.) should be forwarded to the Operations and Maintenance Division.

Commerical Boulevard Parking

There are currently 300 Commercial Boulevard parking agreements registered with the City of Hamilton. The use of the property adjacent to the area used for parking must be designated as commercial, institutional, industrial or multiple residential.

Only the abutting owner is eligible to enter into an Agreement respecting the use of a portion of the road allowance for parking. Applications in writing must be made to the Manager, Parking Operations and Maintenance for the Hamilton Municipal Parking System.

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Commercial and Residential Boulevard Parking