Parking Laws And Towing Zones In York Region: What Drivers Need To Check

Before parking in York Region, check the municipality, the signs and any active winter restrictions. Local streets, Regional roads, private property and provincial highways follow different rules.

This guide covers the main checks, with examples from Richmond Hill, Markham and Vaughan. Official guidance was checked on October 22, 2026.

Start With Your Parking Location

• Local street: Check municipal parking hours, permits and winter notices.
• Regional road: Check York Region’s restrictions for that road segment.
• Private property: Confirm permission, visitor registration and posted conditions.
• Provincial highway: Check restricted tow-zone instructions before arranging a pickup.

Some general restrictions apply even without a sign beside your car. Read nearby signs and municipal rules. If you are unsure who manages the road, give the municipal parking office the street name and nearest intersection.

For Regional roads, consult the York Region parking bylaw and amendments.

Overnight Parking In York Region

There is no single overnight parking window for the whole Region. Posted restrictions, permit conditions and weather notices still apply.

Richmond Hill

• April 1–November 30: No street parking from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m.
• December 1–March 31: No street parking from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m.
• Daytime: A three-hour limit applies between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Temporary permits can exempt parking duration limits.

Markham

• Year-round: No street parking from 2:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. without a valid exemption.
• Winter maintenance: Permits and overnight exemptions are suspended during snow clearing and winter maintenance.

Vaughan

• Overnight: No street parking from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. unless a valid permit covers the date, time and location.
• Daytime: A three-hour limit applies between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., unless otherwise restricted.
• Evening: No general time limit applies from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., unless otherwise restricted.

For Aurora, Newmarket, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King or Whitchurch-Stouffville, check that municipality’s current rules. Before an overnight visit, confirm the permit date, vehicle registration and display requirements.

What Changes During Snow Clearing?

A parking permit does not guarantee permission during winter operations. Check current notices before leaving your vehicle on the street.

• Richmond Hill: Vehicles parked during a declared Winter Event, or interfering with snow removal or winter operations, may be towed.
• Markham: Street parking is prohibited during winter maintenance, including salting, sanding and plowing. Permits and overnight exemptions are suspended.
• Vaughan: On-street parking is prohibited during significant weather events and while snowplows clear streets, including for vehicles with permits.

Regional roads have separate winter-operation provisions. Arrange an authorized alternative space before snowfall, and do not assume a break in the weather means maintenance has ended.

Stopping And Private-Property Parking

Staying In The Car

Remaining behind the wheel or turning on hazard lights does not automatically make a stop legal. On Regional roads, stopping can include a momentary halt, subject to exceptions such as obeying traffic controls or avoiding a conflict with traffic.

Check the sign’s arrows, days and hours before waiting. Keep fire routes, hydrants and sidewalks clear, including any part of the vehicle that overhangs a sidewalk.

Parking On Private Property

At a plaza or condominium, check visitor registration, reserved spaces, customer-only conditions and time limits. Confirm the property owner’s permission.

Property managers should confirm the applicable municipal enforcement process before arranging removal. Ontario’s guidance says consent is generally required for towing unless police or an authorized official initiate it.

See Norman’s private-property towing guide for the records and information to gather.

Provincial Highway Tow Zones

Ontario’s restricted tow zones govern highway towing arrangements. They are separate from municipal parking restrictions and cover designated highway sections.

Check your exact location against Ontario’s current tow-zone information before independently booking a pickup.

• Call 911 for an emergency, or if the vehicle is in a travelled lane and cannot safely be moved to a safe location.
• Call 511 and select the tow-zone option if you are safely stopped and need a tow within a restricted provincial highway zone.

Give the highway, direction, nearest exit and whether you are in a lane or on the shoulder. Follow police and dispatch instructions. Our Ontario tow-zone guide includes a pickup-information checklist.

If Your Parked Car Is Missing

1. Check the location and signs. Ask the property manager or parking enforcement office whether removal was authorized.
2. Prepare your vehicle details. Have the licence plate, vehicle description, parking location and approximate time ready.
3. Confirm collection arrangements. Ask for the towing company, storage address, release requirements and applicable charges.
4. Keep your records. Save photographs, permits, notices and receipts. Use the review process on any penalty notice to dispute a ticket.

If you cannot confirm a tow and suspect theft, contact police. York Regional Police lists 1-866-876-5423 for non-emergency assistance. Call 911 for an emergency.

Need Help Moving A Disabled Vehicle?

Call Norman Towing at (647) 244-1129 for roadside assistance across Toronto and the GTA. Share your exact location, vehicle details and symptoms so the team can discuss assistance, availability and pricing.

If a parking restriction is approaching, notify the property manager or parking office. Requesting a tow does not automatically grant permission to remain. For a restricted provincial tow zone, follow the official dispatch instructions above.