Parking and Idling Control

Mail or drop off a cheque made payable to the Town of East Gwillimbury to 19000 Leslie Street, Sharon, ON, L0G 1V0. 

• Traffic and Parking By-law #2019-136
• No parking on the road between 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. year-round 
• No parking longer than three-hours on any road - There is a three-hours parking limit on all EG roads, unless otherwise posted. However, EG offers a parking exemption period from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. in addition to the three-hour parking limit, except during a snow event, meaning you may park on the road during these designated times.
• No parking to block a sidewalk - Vehicles must be fully contained on the driveway and are not allowed to overhang onto the curb, road or sidewalk, as this can cause a dangerous situation for traffic and impede road maintenance. Sidewalks must be clear for pedestrians, strollers, wheelchairs, and snow clearing operations. Parking tickets will be issued to all vehicles in violation.

  

• The Town does not allow idling - See the Idling Control By-law 2019-085 for full details on the Town of East Gwillimbury's (EG) by-law to prohibit needless idling of vehicles.

  Idling facts

  • Children breathe 2x as much air as adults, making them more susceptible to airborne pollutants such as those made by idling.
  • New vehicles emit about 99% less CAC (Criteria Air Contaminants) emissions than vehicles built in the 1970's. Vehicles today still release carbon dioxide, which is the principal greenhouse gas linked to climate change.
  • For the average vehicle (3-litre engine), 10 minutes of idling costs over one quarter of a litre (over 1 cup) in wasted fuel. Every litre of gasoline you use produces about 2.3 kilograms of carbon dioxide.
  • Warming up the vehicle means more than warming the engine. The tires, transmission, wheel bearings and other moving parts also need to be warmed up for the vehicle to perform well. Most of these parts do not begin to warm up until you drive the vehicle.
  • Excessive idling is not an effective way to warm up your vehicle, even in cold weather. The best way to warm it up is to drive it. With today's computer-controlled engines, even on cold winter days, no more than two to three minutes of idling is usually enough warm-up time before starting to drive. This also reduces fuel consumption and GHG emissions.
  • A 1998 survey on driving habits suggests that in the peak of winter, Canadians voluntarily idle their vehicles for a combined total of more than 75 million minutes a day – equal to one vehicle idling for 144 years. We idle about 40 percent less in summer, but Canadian motorists still waste a significant amount of fuel and emit unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions.
  • The more fuel you use, the more carbon dioxide your vehicle produces– an easy way to cut fuel consumption is to avoid unnecessary idling.

  Visit the Government of Canada, Natural Resources website for more information on idling.

The EG by-law is easy - when it is snowing, please do not park on roadways, as our plows need access to the streets to keep them safe and clear. This includes unassumed roads. All Parking Consideration Forms are not valid when it is snowing. If you are parked on Town roadways during snow clearing operations, you may be ticketed or towed at the Owner's expense. For more information on snow clearing in EG, visit the Snow Clearing page.

Parking Consideration Forms

EG accepts requests for parking considerations. Parking Considerations must be sent 48 hours in advance and may be issued for a maximum of 15 days per plate per calendar year. You can fill out your Parking Consideration Form now.

Upon review of your Parking Consideration, you will receive an email saying whether your request has been approved or denied. If you do not receive a response email for the parking consideration, your vehicle may be ticketed.

Parking Considerations exempt vehicles from the following parking provisions:

• Parking between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. and the three-hour restriction. This can be used for special circumstances such as out-of-town guests, driveway repairs, or special occasions.
• Considerations are issued for short-term use only and at the discretion of the By-law Department.
• Parking considerations are not valid during a snow event.

Overnight Parking Permit

The permitted parking program has been developed as a measure to address immediate parking challenges in the community while a more comprehensive analysis is undertaken. Parking spots are available at at the Ross Family Complex, Civic Centre, and Holland Landing Community Centre. To access a parking spot, residents must pre-purchase a permit at a cost of $100/per month for a 30 day period. Spots are available on a first-come first serve basis for the duration of the pilot. For more information and to apply, visit the Parking Permit page.