The 6 Best Parking Places in Ottawa
Unless you’re fond of hoofing it everywhere, parking is part and parcel of urban living. Thank goodness there are numerous parking places in Ottawa.
There’s a range of parking selections in the city to choose from. If you need overnight, short-term, monthly, or public parking, it’s there for the taking.
Of course, not all parking choices are readily available for use. Some will require pre-registration, application for a monthly membership, and other prerequisites before you can pull on your handbrake and be on your way.
How Much Does Parking Cost in Ottawa?
Depending on your location, parking could be totally free. But luck, regulations, and other circumstances also have to do with it.
The great news is public parking in Ottawa is relatively affordable for short-term parking. Certain parking spaces and garages charge a flat daily rate, while others do it by the hour or month.
The City of Ottawa website has a page dedicated to parking spots, guides to available spaces, information on parking, and other helpful details. There’s an interactive map showing all available city parking slots and on-street parking spaces.
Depending on the location and date, public parking in Ottawa can cost anywhere between $2 to $14 maximum for 30 minutes. The monthly average rate is around $200 and holiday parking is mostly free.
Choosing the best parking space will depend on your lifestyle, career, location, and other practical factors. You’ll have to consider your parking needs along with municipal parking rules and regulations, as well.
As for private parking reservations, there are numerous ways to go about it. Apps, websites, and social media platforms offer easy ways to book up to an entire year in advance.
The table below represents some of the most popular private and public parking spaces within Ottawa. They were selected for the services they offer, rates, reliability, and customer feedback.
| PARKING SPACE | PRICE |
| Carleton University Parking Services | Student permit rates per term (2021-2022) $121 to $232 Staff and faculty permit rates per month (2021-2022) $71 to $134 Visitor parking Saturday or Sunday all-day rates $6 Visitor parking evening rates $10 |
| Gilad Parking | Monday to Friday 30 minutes $2.50 Additional 30 minutes $2.50 24 hours $16.25 (ends at 6 AM) Overnight $3 (in after 4 PM, out by 6 AM) Saturday to Sunday 24 hours $3 (ends at 6 AM) |
| World Exchange Plaza Parking | Hourly $3.50 per ½ hour Daily $25 max (6AM – 6PM) Evening $8 (6PM – Midnight) Weekend Max $8.00 per day |
| University of Ottawa Parking Services | Visitor and daily parking rates Monday to Friday $5.50/hour with $17.50 daily max Monday to Friday $5.50/hour with no max Monday to Friday, after 3 PM $5.50/hour with $9 max Weekends and holidays $5.50/hour with $9 max |
| Ottawa City Hall Garage | Residential visitors parking permit (2021) per week $8.25 +HST April to November $38 +HST December to March Residential visitor parking (no refunds) up to 2 weeks (2021) $16.25 +HST April to November $76 +HST December to March Business identity card parking permit (2021)$130 per year (per vehicle) Daycare parking permit (2021) $285 per year Guest parking permit (2021) $27.50 per year Health care parking permit (2021) free Musician and artist loading permit (2021) $52 per year On-street parking permit (residential) April to November 2021 $32.50 plus HST per month December to March 2021 $152 plus HST per month Annual permit (2021) $700 plus HST |
As the estimated prices above indicate, locations and special circumstances dictate the final parking fee across different days and seasons. It’s important to verify if prices are subject to change, so today’s list aims to provide as much detailed information as possible.
The Best Parking Places in Ottawa
Now you already have a working knowledge of how much a particular parking space can set you back. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best options for parking spaces in Ottawa.
1. Carleton University Parking Services
| SERVICES | Student, staff, faculty, and visitor parking spaces, special event and guest parking, bicycle compounds, motorcycle parking, after-hours permit holder parking, parking map, EV charging stations, locker rentals |
| WEBSITE | https://carleton.ca/parking/ |
| ADDRESS | 204 Robertson Hall Carleton University 1125 Colonel By Drive Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | 613-520-3623 [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | 8.30 AM – 4.30 PM by email |
Carleton University is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage site and is “home” to hundreds of thousands of students, faculty, staff, and visitors per month. It’s no wonder it has its own parking services department.
This coordinated service falls under the university’s Campus Safety Services umbrella. It aims to provide the highest quality and most secure parking spaces for Carleton’s students, staff, faculty members, guests, and pedestrians.
The rates for different parking venues on campus vary by location, terms, hours, and season. They also depend on the parking permits granted to the user (whether you’re a student, faculty member, visitor, etc.).
To avail of a parking permit, you’ll have to register and create a user profile on the website’s ParkAdmin system. Cash or cheque payments are expected within ten days of receipt of the permit; otherwise, the permit will be forfeited.
Pros
- Visitor parking fees waived for Winter 2021
- Supports sustainable transportation efforts within the campus
Cons
- Parking fees are a bit steeper than others
- 2021-2022 parking rates have increased by 3%
- COVID restrictions affect current parking capacity and permits
2. Gilad Parking
| SERVICES | Parking spaces, online parking passes, interactive maps, online parking registration, consultation, parking lot design/construction, handicapped parking |
| WEBSITE | https://giladparking.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 1801 Woodward Dr. Ottawa, Ontario K2C 0R3 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | [email protected] (613) 727 4011 (regular business hours) (613) 292 8987 (after hours) |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday to Thursday 8 AM – 4 PM Friday 8 AM – 12.30 PM Closed on Saturdays and Sundays |
Being able to find a parking spot in a crowded city could be considered good luck. Multiply that by the number of hours, days, weeks, and months of parking, and you’ll need nothing short of a miracle.
It’s a good thing there’s Gilad Parking and similar businesses to address this need. It’s a parking lot management company aiming to popularize efficient parking solutions across Canada.
Aside from parking lot design and construction consultation, Gilad provides parking passes to dozens of locations in Ottawa. There’s an interactive map on the website to see which spaces are free on the streets nearest you, along with their daily/monthly rates and available amenities.
Gilad Parking simplifies its permit registration via an online application on the site. This makes it convenient for vehicle owners to get parking permits, or be waitlisted for one.
Pros
- Handicapped parking spots available
- No height restrictions for most parking spaces
- Reasonable flat, daily, and monthly rates
Cons
- No BBB accreditation
- The office is closed on weekends
3. World Exchange Plaza Parking Garage
| SERVICES | Multi-level parking spaces, car wash, onsite parking attendants, tenant bike parking, free parking, security escort services, 24/7 parking |
| WEBSITE | https://impark.com/ottawa/world-exchange-plaza-parking-garage/ |
| ADDRESS | 150 Isabella Street, Suite 300 Ottawa, ON K1S 5P7 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | 613.234.6119 613.234.6119 (for meter and parking lot issues) |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday to Friday 8 AM – 4.30 PM Closed on Saturdays and Sundays |
If there’s a one-stop shop for parking services, it would have to be the World Exchange Plaza Parking. It boasts of five underground parking levels, with a carwash and tenant bike parking at the lowest level.
The building is situated at the heart of downtown Ottawa. This makes it an ideal parking space for shoppers, retail owners, bus commuters, and office-goers of nearby buildings.
To sweeten the deal, there’s free parking available on weekends. It might sound too good to be true, but it’s verified by a notification on the site itself.
There are also onsite parking attendants to ensure your vehicle’s safety and security. For added peace of mind, World Exchange Plaza Parking offers a security escort service in case you’re working late and need to walk back to your car.
Pros
- 5 levels of 24/7 underground parking
- Free weekend parking
- Security escort services available
Cons
- Monthly parking permits available only for building tenants
- Propane-fuelled vehicles are not allowed to park
- The office is closed on weekends
Customer Reviews
Thinking of parking your car at the World Exchange Plaza Parking garage? Read how others found the experience:
“The closest pay parking lot is definitely under the World Exchange Plaza, just 2 blocks south of Parliament Hill. The parking entrance ramp is on Metcalfe St, sharply around the corner from Albert St. The entrance ramp is set back from the street, so GO SLOW or you’ll miss it. FREE PARKING there on WEEKENDS! (Sat and Sun) with 24-hour access from the street beside Shoppers Drug Mart (Albert St at O’Connor). We parked there all weekend for FREE, and saw a movie upstairs on the 3rd floor at the Empire Theatres too! Washrooms are best on the 2nd floor. Single-person washrooms only on the 1st floor.” – WantMoneysWorth
“Free weekend parking, two sets of public washrooms, yes, but do not forget that the tourist info centre is there now as well as bank machines, a drug store and a liquor store. A very handy location for folks visiting Ottawa. Locals too.” -JazboOttawa
4. University of Ottawa Parking Services
| SERVICES | Parking spaces, visitor and daily parking, parking maps, parking permit provision, ticket appeal, permit cancellation and refund, handicapped parking |
| WEBSITE | https://www.uottawa.ca/parking/parking-services |
| ADDRESS | 139 Louis-Pasteur Room 133 Ottawa ON, K1N 6N5 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | [email protected] 613-562-5785 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday to Friday September to May 7.30 AM – 4 PM June to August 7.30 AM – 3.30 PM Closed on Saturdays and Sundays |
The University of Ottawa has its own Parking and Sustainable Transporation division, and it’s manned by competent security and administrative personnel. Its mission is to ensure the safety and security of all university staff, students, pedestrians, and cyclists.
It’s not only the community within the university that benefits from this department, though. Visitors can pay for parking using the HotSpot app, with new users getting their first half-hour of parking for free.
Main campus parking requires a permit for those wishing to park before 4 PM from Monday to Friday. Fortunately, this permit allows the user to park on other affiliated campuses.
Parking availability is broken up by locations, rates, timetables, and days. There are usually hourly rates, but due to COVID restrictions, monthly permits are the only kind currently available for purchase.
Pros
- Handicapped parking spots available
- No height restrictions for most parking spaces
- Monthly parking permits available for online purchasing
- On-campus sustainable transportation programs
Cons
- Some parking facilities closed for the winter season
- Cash payments currently not accepted
- The office is closed on weekends
- Only monthly parking permits are allowed for the time being
5. Ottawa City Hall Garage
| SERVICES | On-street parking, underground parking, interactive parking maps, EV charging stations, car wash, handicapped parking |
| WEBSITE | https://ottawa.ca/en |
| ADDRESS | 110 Laurier Ave W, Ottawa ON K1P 1J1 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +1 613-580-2400 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday to Friday 8.30 AM – 5 PM Closed on Saturdays and Sundays |
Visitors and other Ottawa habitues who frequent touristy places like Lansdowne Park might require reliable parking spaces. The Ottawa City Hall garage is fortunately within spitting distance to provide its services.
You have a choice between underground garage parking and on-street parking. The rates vary, of course, but they are generally affordable even for monthly parking permits.
Parking permit application links are available online for different designations. Visitors, residents, health workers, musicians and artists, daycare staff and guests, and others can apply for their particular parking permits on the site.
Most of the parking spaces covered by Ottawa City Hall feature helpful amenities like EV charging stations and motorcycle parking. There’s a handy table on the website listing all available parking along with the number of spaces, height restrictions, and monthly parking rates.
Pros
- Available EV charging stations
- Handicapped spaces provided
- Vertical clearance over 7 feet in some spaces
Cons
- More exit signage needed to avoid confusion
- The office is closed on weekends
Customer Reviews
“Very secure and well-organized underground parking garage. It’s free after 6 PM (Mon-Fri), 24 hrs on Weekends and Stat Holidays. You will have to take a ticket at the entrance and keep the ticket with you. On exiting, you will have to insert the ticket and the door will open. You can either take the stairs or elevator to exit the garage.” – Shah Arafat
“Very good parking option. The rates are very cheap compared to the nearby surrounding and the parking lot is always in very good condition. It is underground, which is always a big plus when it’s too cold or too warm outside. The location is well lit, secure and the parking spaces are big.
The only negative is that the signage is not very clear. I would like to see more signs on the floors or ceilings, especially indicating which the exits (not just which street) but which direction the exit is taking you.” – Esteban Naranjo
6. WhereiPark
| SERVICES | Locating Monthly Parking Spots |
| WEBSITE | https://www.whereipark.com/ |
| ADDRESS | Ottawa. ON |
| CONTACT DETAILS | [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | 24/7 |
Having a regular parking spot is convenient. However, we can’t deny that this convenience is often expensive, which is why we look to paying for parking spots for a short while.
If you’re on the lookout for a monthly parking spot, the next company is for you.
WhereiPark is an online map that tracks down all the available monthly parking spaces in the area. Users can navigate through Ottawa with the use of a handy interactive map, which can be used on all devices that have internet connections.
This map showcases all of the spots and even details how much they go for. Users can then reserve the slot, pay for it online through a secure channel, and save money for renting a space long-term instead of on a daily basis.
Pros
- Accessible on all devices with internet
- Easy booking and payment process
- Available in Ottawa and other major cities
- Clients can have parking spots sourced via Google Form
Cons
- Doesn’t offer actual parking spaces
- Limited to monthly parking spots
Customer Reviews
Here are some comments left by users:
“I’ve used WhereiPark in two cities now, Seattle and Los Angeles. I would be lost without them in both cases. I came across them in Seattle looking for extra parking for my office. When I moved to LA and the new office was in need of extra parking, my first thought was to look them up. They have been a true lifesaver for extra parking.”
“I live in Marina Del Ray, California where it’s hard and expensive to find safe, covered parking. WhereiPark was able to provide me with amazingly convenient, safe, clean, covered parking spaces with 24/7 access – unheard of in the beach area that I live in. The value for the price is unparalleled and it’s always a pleasure dealing with their office! I have 7 classic cars and I rest very well at night knowing that these are clean and safe-all thanks to WhereiPark – I highly recommend using them”