Residential Parking on Private Property

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

• Parking Space Size:
  • For single width (1 vehicle)) driveway – exactly 2.7 metres in width by a minimum of 6.0 metres in length
  • For double width (2 vehicle) driveway – exactly 5.4 metres in width by a minimum of 6.0 metres in length. 
  • Boulevard Parking Spaces can not exceed 5.4 metres in width.
• Parking Space Layout:
  • The space must be perpendicular (90 degrees) to the sidewalk and not be angled or parallel. The parking space cannot be gained from a neighbouring driveway.
  • The parking space may be located either entirely on the boulevard or partly on the boulevard and partly on private property.
• Driveway Approach Ramp:
  • Upon approval of a Boulevard Parking space, the City’s Public Works Department will provide a cost estimate to install (or widen an existing) driveway access ramp. The cost estimate will be provided directly to the property owner.
  • A single driveway approach ramps typically cost between $1,500 and $2,000 whereas a two-vehicle driveway approach ramp typically is between $2,000 and $2,500. The actual cost will vary depending on the work involved.
  • The cost of this construction is the homeowner’s responsibility and the price will be total cost will be determined by the City’s Public Work Department at the time the quote is issued.
  • Approach ramps must be completed by the City. Applicants are not permitted to hire their own contractor for approach construction.

• Driveway Surface Treatment:
  • Once a Boulevard Parking agreement is issued and has been approved, the parking space can then be constructed.
  • The property owner, at their discretion, may initially build the driveway in gravel. However, the driveway must ultimately be converted to a hard surface (asphalt, concrete, interlocking brick) as per the Boulevard Parking Agreement. Permeable surfaces are not currently permitted for Boulevard Parking.

• Types of Vehicles Permitted to Park in a Boulevard Parking Space:
  • All vehicles registered as non-commercial, passenger vehicles can park in residential boulevard parking spaces.
  • Commercial vehicles such as trailers, boats or recreational vehicles are not permitted to park in these spaces. Commercial vehicles, trailers, boats and/or recreational vehicle are not permitted to park in a Boulevard Parking space.
• Landscaping Requirements:
  • A Boulevard Parking application cannot be approved if the proposed parking space(s) will result in less than 50% of the private property portion of the front yard located being soft landscaping (lawn or garden).
  • If the application is denied for this reason, the Applicant may apply to the Committee of Adjustment for a minor variance to allow boulevard parking without meeting the City of Hamilton's Zoning By-law.

• Shared or Mutual Driveway: The proposed parking space can not include any portion of an existing shared/mutual driveway and each space must have its own approach ramp.
• Clearance from fire hydrant, hydro/utility poles and other public infrastructure: The proposed parking space must be a minimum 1.0 metre away from all hydro poles, utility boxes, fire hydrants and all other City owned assets.
• Clearance from Front Steps: The proposed space must account for a 1.0 metre clearance from the bottom of the stairs to the bumper of the vehicle to provide emergency access to the home.
• Proximity to Intersections: The driveway cannot be located within 7.6 metres of an intersection.
• City Trees: Boulevard Parking may not be approved if the proposed parking space is under the canopy of a City tree or within the proximity. If there is a tree within the City right-of-way, Forestry confirmation will be required, and a Tree Permit may be required

Applications must be submitted by the current property owner.

Download the Boulevard Parking Application(PDF, 1.2 MB)

You will also need to provide a drawing with these measurements (in metres):

• Location and dimensions of the proposed driveway;
• The width and length of the front porch and stairs;
• The width and length of any walkways;
• The distance from the front porch (or front of the house) to the City sidewalk; and
• The width of your property (from side property line to side property line).

Feel free to include any other measurements you believe would be helpful in identifying the location of the proposed parking space(s)

The drawing does not need to be drawn to scale or done professionally however it must have all required measurements in metres in order to process the application.

Property lines vary from street-to-street. To find the approximate location of your property line, visit: https://spatialsolutions.hamilton.ca/hamiltonmap/index.html

The driveway and property must match the approved permit and drawing for the Boulevard Parking Space to be considered legal.

Note: Once the application is submitted, staff will confirm with you that all documents have been received. Processing of applications typically take 6 to 8 weeks after the application is received and may exceed this normal timeframe due to higher volume of applications.

Application Fee: There is a non-refundable application fee of $400 + HST (subject to annual user fee increases).

To submit your application, drawing and fee:

• Please email the completed application form and drawing to [email protected]. Ensure the documents are legible and all information is provided.
• Upon receipt of your application, a representative of Municipal Parking will contact the applicant within 5 business days to confirm the application was received.
• Once staff are ready to review the application, a member of Hamilton Municipal Parking will call the applicant to process payment by credit card of the non-refundable application fee. 

Please email [email protected] to start the application process.

There is a non-refundable application fee of $400 + HST (subject to annual user fee increases).

Once your application is submitted staff will contact you.

Once you receive approval from the City, you will be given:

• a quote to install a concrete driveway approach or culvert entrance

Do not put asphalt on the road to create or extend a driveway approach ramp. Putting any material on the roadway without authorization from the City is against Hamilton’s Streets By-law. You will be subject to a fine up to $5,000 and all costs for removing the material.

Follow these rules for driveway approach widths:

• Single vehicle driveway approaches are 4 metres (13 feet) wide.
• Multiple vehicle driveway approaches can be up to 8 metres (27 feet) wide.
• The standard width of a culvert platform entrance (not the pipe) is 6 metres (20 feet) for residential properties.
• Your driveway must be 0.91 metres (3 feet) away from a fire hydrant or hydro pole.
• The City of Hamilton has a 50% green space requirement under the Zoning By-law No. 05-200. You cannot pave your entire front yard.