Parking downtown and around the hospital
Parking in Prince George: free three-hour street parking, downtown lots and parkades, monthly and residential permits, paying or disputing tickets.
Updated
At a glance
- Downtown street parking is free for up to three hours; time limits apply 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
- Near the hospital, register your plate (QR code on the sign or the HotSpot app) for three free hours, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.
- City lots and the Plaza parkade cost $1.50 an hour or $8 a day, and are free evenings, weekends and holidays.
- Residents on time-limited streets can buy a residential permit for $20 a year (two per home).
- You have 14 days to dispute a City bylaw ticket. The City never texts you about unpaid tickets.
Most parking in Prince George is free or cheap by big-city standards. The rules differ between downtown, the hospital area and residential streets, and they change in winter.
Downtown
On the street
- Free for up to three consecutive hours, except in signed no-parking zones.
- Time limits are enforced 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.
- From October to April, street parking downtown is banned from midnight to 7 a.m. so crews can clear snow. Parked cars can be ticketed or towed. Downtown is also swept at night in summer.
Lots and parkades
For stays longer than three hours, use a City lot or parkade. These charge $1.50 an hour or $8 for a full day, and are free on weekends, statutory holidays and weekdays after 5 p.m. Hourly and daily parking is available at:
- Plaza parkade (1055 5th Avenue)
- Civic Plaza lot
- Columbus lot (2nd Avenue)
- George Street lot
- Royal lot (2nd Avenue)
- Westel lot
The downtown parking zone map (linked above) shows where each one is.
Monthly parking
Monthly stalls are sold through HotSpot. The City lists monthly rates of roughly $66 to $123 depending on location and whether the stall is covered or on the roof. Monthly options include the 2nd Avenue parkade, 5th Avenue parkade, Plaza parkade, Westel parkade and lot, Royal lot, Columbus lot, Earl Brown lot and George Street parkade. Rates don’t include GST. For help with HotSpot, call 1-855-712-5888.
Free parking for civic facilities
If you’re visiting the Conference and Civic Centre, Bob Harkins Library, Two Rivers Gallery or the Canfor Leisure Pool, you can park free in the Civic Plaza and library lots. On weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. you must register your plate using the QR code inside the building, or ask staff. Pool patrons get up to three free hours. The City Hall lot is free evenings, weekends and holidays.
Hospital zone (UHNBC area)
- Street parking is free for up to three hours, but you must register your vehicle. Scan the QR code on the parking sign, or use the HotSpot app.
- Enforcement runs 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday.
- In winter (October 15 to April 15), street parking in the hospital district is banned 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
See health care for getting to UHNBC.
Residential parking permits
If you live on a street with posted time limits, including downtown and the hospital zone, you can get a residential parking permit for $20 a year (maximum two per home).
- Create a HotSpot account in the app or at htsp.ca, and add your vehicle.
- Under Permits, choose the special or residential permit application.
- Upload proof of residency (driver’s licence, tax or utility bill) and a vehicle registration that matches your address.
- When you get the approval email, log back in and buy the permit.
Social service agencies, health care providers and volunteer groups can request free special permits for staff or volunteers who transport clients downtown. Requests go to Bylaw Services on letterhead.
Winter parking everywhere else
From October 15 to April 15, residential streets are off-limits for parking 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Overnight, you can park on the odd-numbered side unless signs say otherwise. Tickets are $50 per offence, and vehicles can be towed. See snow and roads.
Tickets
Paying
Pay online through the City’s payment portal, in person at City Hall (1100 Patricia Boulevard), or by mailing a cheque or money order with a copy of the ticket. Postmarks don’t count as the payment date.
Disputing
You have 14 calendar days from the date of the ticket to dispute it using the online form. A City screening officer reviews it and may:
- cancel the ticket,
- reduce the fine through a compliance agreement, or
- uphold it, after which you can ask for a hearing with an independent adjudicator.
If the adjudicator upholds the ticket, you pay the full fine plus a $25 fee.
Watch for scams
The City never texts about parking tickets or bills and never asks for banking details, your SIN or passwords by phone or text. Delete those messages.
Contact
Bylaw Services: 250-561-7622, bylawservices@princegeorge.ca. Parking officers work 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
Related: transit, bylaws and animal control, snow and roads.
Common questions
Is downtown parking free in Prince George?
On-street parking downtown is free for up to three consecutive hours unless signs say otherwise. Time limits are enforced 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. City lots and the Plaza parkade charge $1.50 an hour or $8 a day on weekdays, and are free after 5 p.m., on weekends and on statutory holidays.
How does parking near UHNBC work?
In the hospital parking zone you get three free hours on the street, but you must register your vehicle by scanning the QR code on the sign or through the HotSpot app. It’s enforced 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.
How do I get a residential parking permit?
If you live on a street with posted time limits, including the downtown and hospital zones, apply through the HotSpot app or website with proof of residency. The permit costs $20 per year, with a limit of two per home.
I got a text saying I owe a parking ticket. Is it real?
No. The City of Prince George never texts people about parking tickets or bills. Don’t click the link or share any personal information.
How long do I have to dispute a parking ticket?
14 calendar days from the day you got the ticket. Use the City’s online ticket dispute form. After that, you can’t dispute it.
Sources
Official links
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