---
title: "Parking in Prince George: downtown, hospital and permits"
description: "Parking in Prince George: free three-hour street parking, downtown lots and parkades, monthly and residential permits, paying or disputing tickets."
url: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/parking/
markdown: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/parking.md
site: PG Pulse (https://princegeorgepulse.ca), The pulse of Prince George, British Columbia
generated: 2026-10-16T15:49:35.007Z
---

# 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 September 30, 2026

![A car buried under heavy snow on a residential street after a snowfall (Quebec City, shown as a generic example of why winter parking rules matter)](https://princegeorgepulse-media.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/prince-george/guides/car-buried-under-heavy-snow-residential-street-after-51f4b5-1280.webp)

Photo: Wilfredor, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

## 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.

![Downtown Prince George seen from University Way](https://princegeorgepulse-media.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/prince-george/guides/downtown-prince-george-seen-university-way-low-rise-c304f5-1280.webp)

Downtown Prince George from University Way. Photo: Erik Frankson, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

## 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](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/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).

1. Create a HotSpot account in the app or at htsp.ca, and add your vehicle.
2. Under Permits, choose the special or residential permit application.
3. Upload proof of residency (driver’s licence, tax or utility bill) and a vehicle registration that matches your address.
4. 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](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/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](mailto:bylawservices@princegeorge.ca). Parking officers work 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

Related: [transit](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/transit/), [bylaws and animal control](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/bylaws-and-animal-control/), [snow and roads](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/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

- [City of Prince George: Parking](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement/parking)
- [City of Prince George: Bylaw Enforcement](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement)
- [City of Prince George: Snow Clearing (winter restrictions)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/roads-transportation/snow-clearing)

## Official links

- [City parking page](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement/parking)
- [Downtown parking zone map (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/media/2819)
- [Hospital parking zone map (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/media/3931)
- [HotSpot parking (permits and payment)](https://hotspotparking.com/users/login)
- [Pay a parking ticket](https://cobweb.princegeorge.ca/TempestLive/ecom/SelectPayableItem.aspx)
- [Dispute a bylaw ticket](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/permits-applications/ticket-dispute-form)

## On this page

- [Downtown](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/parking/#downtown)
- [Hospital zone (UHNBC area)](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/parking/#hospital-zone-uhnbc-area)
- [Residential parking permits](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/parking/#residential-parking-permits)
- [Winter parking everywhere else](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/parking/#winter-parking-everywhere-else)
- [Tickets](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/parking/#tickets)
- [Contact](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/parking/#contact)

## More in city services

- [Moving to Prince George: a new resident checklist A checklist for settling into Prince George: utilities, garbage day, alerts, MSP and a family doctor, ICBC, voting, schools and winter readiness.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/moving-to-prince-george/)
- [Garbage, recycling and the landfill How curbside garbage and recycling work in Prince George: cart sizes and costs, set-out times, bear rules and where to take what the cart won’t.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/garbage-and-recycling/)
- [Water, sewer and sprinkling rules Where Prince George tap water comes from, year-round sprinkling rules, frozen pipes, leaks, water meters and what not to flush.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/water-and-sewer/)
- [Property taxes and utility bills Prince George property tax and utility due dates, how to pay, the home owner grant, MyCity accounts, utility rates and what if you fall behind.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/property-taxes-and-utilities/)
- [Snow clearing, winter parking and roads How Prince George plows its streets, when your road gets cleared, winter parking rules, spring sweeping, road closures and reporting potholes.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/snow-and-roads/)
- [Getting around by bus A practical guide to Prince George Transit: fares, Umo, passes, handyDART, free-ride days, trip planning and service alerts.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/transit/)

## Data

Machine-readable data behind this page, from the free PG Pulse API (https://princegeorgepulse.ca/developers/).

### Guide facts, FAQ and sources

Source: [PG Pulse guides (plain-language guides with links to official sources)](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/). Licence: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Updated 2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z.
JSON: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/api/v1/guides/city/parking?fields=summary,faq,officialLinks,sources,updated

- **summary**: 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.
- **updated**: 2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z

#### faq

| q | a |
| --- | --- |
| 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. C… |
| 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 HotS… |
| 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. T… |
| 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. |


#### officialLinks

| label | url |
| --- | --- |
| City parking page | https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement/parking |
| Downtown parking zone map (PDF) | https://www.princegeorge.ca/media/2819 |
| Hospital parking zone map (PDF) | https://www.princegeorge.ca/media/3931 |
| HotSpot parking (permits and payment) | https://hotspotparking.com/users/login |
| Pay a parking ticket | https://cobweb.princegeorge.ca/TempestLive/ecom/SelectPayableItem.aspx |
| Dispute a bylaw ticket | https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/permits-applications/ticket-dispute-form |


#### sources

| title | url |
| --- | --- |
| City of Prince George: Parking | https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement/parking |
| City of Prince George: Bylaw Enforcement | https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement |
| City of Prince George: Snow Clearing (winter restrictions) | https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/roads-transportation/snow-clearing |

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Markdown version of https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/parking/. Guide for AI agents: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/llms.txt. Free API: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/developers/
