Is there any free parking left in Vancouver? Yes, but you have to know where and when to look. The City of Vancouver enforces a complex web of parking bylaws, and misunderstanding them can lead to an expensive ticket.
1. Overnight Meter Parking (10 PM to 9 AM)
For the vast majority of parking meters in Vancouver, you do not have to pay between 10:00 PM and 9:00 AM. This overnight grace period allows you to park for free during those hours.
2. Statutory Holidays and Sundays
There is a widespread myth that parking is free on Sundays and Statutory Holidays. This is false.
- Meters are strictly enforced on Sundays and all Statutory Holidays across the city.
- However, some "Resident Permit Only" zones may relax their restrictions on holidays (always read the sign).
3. The "3-Hour" Residential Bylaw
Even if you find a quiet residential street with no meters and no "Resident Only" signs, you cannot park your vehicle there indefinitely.
City of Vancouver bylaw section 17.6(f) states that you cannot park a vehicle on a street abutting a residential or commercial property for more than 3 hours between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM, unless you live or work at that specific property.
Stop driving in circles.
Use our interactive map to find the best street parking zones, live rates, and PayByPhone codes across the entire city.
Open the Interactive Map