Price of parking fines in Kitchener increasing for first time in nearly 20 years

Posted Jun 25, 2025 10:34:50 AM.
Last Updated Jun 25, 2025 11:37:25 AM.
The price of parking tickets is set to increase in Kitchener for the first time in almost two decades.
Fines for illegally parking haven’t increased at the City of Kitchener since 2008, but at a meeting on Monday, council voted to approve an increase to fines. Non-safety-related fines increased by $10 across the board, meaning parking in a ‘no parking zone’ or on private property will result in a $35 ticket.
Fines for parking in front of a fire hydrant have doubled to $50, and fines for parking in a fire route have gone up to $100.
The ticket that increased the most was the fine for parking in an accessible parking zone, which rose by $100 to $400.
According to city staff, the intent behind the increase was to deter people from illegally parking, not to increase the amount of revenue generated from parking tickets.
Staff added that collecting fines can be challenging and unreliable, since Service Ontario collects ticket charges on behalf of the city, meaning staff have no control over when and if fines are paid.
The number of tickets given out in Kitchener has steadily increased since 2020, rising to more than 67,000 in 2024.