Residential Parking Study – Update

Residential Parking Study: Options Presented to Special Committee of the Whole

On June 15, 2026, Town staff and the project consultant presented emerging policy options for the Residential Parking Study to a Special Committee of the Whole. This important milestone builds on technical analysis and extensive community input to address parking challenges across Newmarket’s neighbourhoods. Thank you to everyone who took part in the engagement process to help the Town reach this important milestone in the study.

What We Heard and Observed

The background work highlighted several key trends:

• Hotspot areas have higher population densities than the Town average, including multigenerational households;
• Resident parking practices and patterns do not always align with existing parking standards and policies, with many households seeking greater flexibility in how on-site parking can be accommodated;
• A desire for more flexible parking options, balanced with fair and consistent enforcement; and,
• Broader research shows that on-street parking supply can be underutilized or inefficiently used in some areas.

To better understand these patterns, the Town also undertook a Driveway/Walkway Pilot Study, which provided on-the-ground insight into how parking spaces are being used and where current regulations may not reflect real-world conditions. [INSERT IMAGE]. This work provided detailed, on-the-ground insight into how driveways, garages, and walkways are being used for parking; where existing rules may be limiting practical use of available space; and opportunities to better align regulations with real-world conditions. Findings from this pilot are helping to shape potential updates to parking standards and policies.

Options Presented

Based on these findings, the project team presented a range of potential approaches to improve how residential parking is managed, including:

• Three front yard parking options
• Potential adjustments to overnight parking restrictions to better reflect current needs
• Potential permit-based parking programs in high-demand areas
• Consideration of best practices from other Ontario municipalities, including flexible and seasonal approaches

The discussion also recognized the need to balance convenience with broader objectives such as neighbourhood character, safety, and sustainability. View the presentation and listen to the video by visiting: Special Committee of the Whole - Electronic - June 15, 2026

What’s Next

Council’s feedback will help refine the options as the study moves into its next phase. A final report with recommended actions will be brought forward to Council for consideration in 2027.

February 25, 2026

On February 25, 2026, Town staff provided Council with an information report summarizing the progress of the Residential Parking Study to date. The update highlighted key findings from the study's background research, technical analysis, jurisdictional review, public engagement activities, and the November 2025 Council workshop. The report confirmed that residential parking challenges in Newmarket are generally concentrated in specific neighbourhood "hot spot" areas rather than being experienced uniformly across the community. Key themes identified through the study included overnight parking demand, pressures associated with certain housing forms, parking spillover near major destinations, and the need to balance parking flexibility with safety, accessibility, sustainability, and neighbourhood character. The update also outlined the next phase of work, including the development and evaluation of on-street and off-street parking management options that will inform the future Residential Parking Strategy.

Read the Information Report: Residential Parking Study Update (INFO-2026-06)

On November 10, 2025, the consultant and Town staff presented an update on the Residential Parking Study to a Special Committee of the Whole. The presentation provided an overview of current parking challenges, community feedback, and potential policy directions to improve residential parking across Newmarket.

Key Highlights from the Presentation:

• Areas experiencing the greatest parking demand include older neighbourhoods with proximity to Davis Drive and transit, and areas with denser housing stock and limited driveway space.
• Results from Survey #1 and in-person engagement showed strong support for more flexible parking solutions, including seasonal exemptions, balanced with increased enforcement of existing rules.

Preliminary Policy Options Explored:

• Adjusting overnight parking restrictions to better reflect resident needs.
• Introducing permit-based systems in high-demand areas.
• Enhancing communication and signage to reduce confusion and improve compliance.

The Project Team also reviewed parking policies from municipalities across Ontario to identify best practices and innovative approaches:

• Municipalities like Ottawa, Windsor, Milton, and Toronto offer varied on-street permit programs with overnight and seasonal flexibility, and parking management around institutional areas.
• Some cities allow residents with disabilities to apply for designated accessible spaces in residential areas subject to criteria.
• Many municipalities regulate driveway expansions through zoning and/or permits. Toronto allows front yard parking in limited areas with strict licensing rules.
• Richmond Hill, Mississauga, and Toronto have engineering standards to ensure private roads in new developments function like public streets.
• Balancing parking convenience with sustainability, stormwater management are important considerations in moving forward with off-street parking options for Newmarket.

Next Steps

The project team will finalize the Background Summary Report including Council feedback and the results of Survey #2. Town staff anticipate bringing forward a report to Council including the Background Summary Report and key findings, in early 2026. The next phase (Phase 2) will focus on developing parking options and launching related engagement opportunities to gather further input from the community.

**Note on Survey #2**
Survey #2 was distributed to residents in identified hot spot areas with an initial deadline of November 10. For those who received a letter requesting participation, the deadline has been extended to December 5, 2025.

To view the full discussion, view a recording of the Council Meeting and/or view a copy of the presentation.

Newmarket's Residential Parking Study: Phase 1 Findings

On December 9, 2024, Newmarket's Residential Parking Study consultant, WSP Canada, presented findings from Phase 1 of the residential parking study to the Committee of the Whole. This phase included a comprehensive background study, jurisdictional analysis, and summarized input from virtual and in-person public engagement events and tools.

5 Key Observations from the Phase 1 analysis include:

1. Many Newmarket residents park on their driveway rather than in a garage.
2. For some development types, Newmarket’s minimum parking requirements are not in line with parking standards in other municipalities or with the number of cars owned by residents.
3. A large share of parking violations in the Town relate to overnight parking.
4. ‘Hotspot areas’ (e.g., with high on-street parking utilization) in the Town are near paid parking lots, particularly in areas near Southlake Regional Health Centre.
5. Some Newmarket residents experience challenges with parking accessibility within or adjacent to residential communities (e.g. Historic Main Street).

View the recording of the workshop by visiting the Council Meetings and Minutes page. You can also view the presentation and the Residential Parking Study Survey Results Summary in the documents tab or by clicking on the links above.

Please see the study area map for more information on where the study is taking place.

Thank You for Participating in the Residential Parking Study Survey!

We are excited to share that we received responses from over 850 participants in the Town of Newmarket's Residential Parking Study Survey held from June to August 2024. Your feedback helps us understand and address parking needs in the Town's residential communities.

We have randomly selected a winner from the survey participants—congratulations to Gina of Newmarket. You will be contacted via email on how to claim your prize.

The survey focused on:

• parking behaviours for those who live, work or visit Newmarket’s residential areas;
• your thoughts on parking restrictions in residential areas and challenges with accessibility; and,
• your vision for sustainable parking options in the future, and more!

The results from the survey can be found in the Documents tab. Thank you for your participation and support!

About the Project

The Town of Newmarket, together with the consultant retained by the Town (WSP Canada), has initiated a Residential Parking Study (the “Study”) to develop a strategy to meet parking demands while supporting and promoting urban design standards, enhanced economic development, and accommodating alternative forms of transportation. Parking management plays an important role in the Town's plan to manage how people move through Newmarket’s residential areas, today and in the future. The Study will primarily focus on residential areas in the Town and will build on Town policies, plans, and strategies such as the Town of Newmarket Official Plan, the Active Transportation Implementation Plan (ATIP), and Zoning By-law 2010-40.

What will the study explore?

The Study will explore recommendations for parking standards for low and medium density residential dwelling types, strategies for accommodating bike lanes and on-street parking, design standards for private condominium roads, and updated driveway standards. Over the course of the two-year study, the Town and the consultant team will engage in conversations with residents and interested parties to explore the value of residential parking and the tradeoffs that may be necessary when considering how to plan for future parking needs.

The study will include a review of current parking conditions in residential communities and evaluate parking with the public and stakeholders. It is intended that a set of recommendations will be ready for Council consideration in Fall 2025 [see Study Process below].

Study Area (click map to enlarge)

The Study will also:

• Investigate the availability, sustainability, technology, and operations of parking.
• Consider the parking effects of the increase in hybrid working.
• Provide recommendations and direction for how findings can be put into practice.

Study Process

The Study will be undertaken in four phases:

Phase 1: Includes project start-up tasks, and a background review and analysis. This will include reviewing all background materials including existing Town policies and parking regulations, a jurisdictional scan, collecting necessary data to inform the Study recommendation, initial outreach with the public and targeted stakeholder engagement with the development industry and other stakeholders, and presenting the results to the Committee of the Whole.

Phase 2: Based on the analysis and comments received in Phase 2, the study team will prepare a draft Study Report and present recommendations, which will be based on the outcomes of engagement and research completed during Phase 1 and 2.

Phase 3: The Final Study Report, which will refine the recommendations and design standards presented in Phase 2, will be presented to Council.

Background Information

In 2016, an area-specific Parking Standards Background Study was completed for the Urban Centres Secondary Plan Area. The background study explored residential parking rates for multiple dwelling unit buildings, townhouses, and non-residential uses within the Yonge Street & Davis Drive Urban Centres. Findings from the background study supported the implementation of parking standards for the Urban Centres Secondary Plan Area through the Urban Centres Zoning By-law 2019-06, as amended. Learn more about the Urban Centres Secondary Plan.