This document outlines the requirements and guidelines for parking configurations on residential front yards and boulevards in Toronto. It discusses the types of parking allowed which include parking pads in front yards or on boulevards. It provides the qualifications needed and conditions that must be met like landscaping requirements, setbacks from trees and infrastructure, polling requirements. Maximum sizes for parking spaces and protection of street trees are also outlined.

1. Types of parking configurations • Condominium Corporations or apartment Landscaping Requirements
buildings.
that require a licence
• For properties less than 15 m in width:
Qualifications • Private property - minimum of 50% of the front
yard maintained as landscaped open space, of
Parking on Residential Front Yards and Boulevards which 75% must be soft landscaping.
may be permitted where: • City boulevard - same requirements as private
• Property is not on a Major Arterial Road or property.
extension of the King’s Highway. • The remaining 25% of this area (landscape open
• Permit parking not on the same side of the street. space) will be permitted as hard surface such as
• Where on-street permit parking is permitted on the walkways, patios etc provided that the area can
opposite side of the street and is greater than 90% not be used or capable of being used for parking
allocated on the block. purposes - both on private property and City
"Parking on Residential Front Yards and boulevard.
• Width of mutual driveway can not exceed 2.2 m.
Boulevards" • For properties greater than 15 m in width:
• There is no access to an existing parking space or
a feasible parking space at the rear of the property • Private property - minimum of 60% of the front
Background by means of a lane, driveway or street. yard maintained as landscaped open space, of
Residential front yard parking, in its various forms, • The owner submitting the application relinquishes which 75% must be soft landscaping.
essentially allows for residents to have a designated his/her on-street parking permit. • City boulevard - same requirements as private
parking space located in front of the main wall of their • Owners of adjoining residential properties may property.
residence, either entirely on the private property, submit a joint front yard parking application to use • The remaining 25% of this area (landscape open
entirely within the City-owned public boulevard or a one curb ramp to service two front yard parking space) will be permitted as hard surface such as
• Existing mutual driveway is ▪ Parking pad in front yard combination thereof. This mode of parking was pads. walkways, patios etc provided that the area can
too narrow, less than 2.2 m ▪ Curb cut does not exist regulated by the former municipalities prior to • Basement or grade-level garage has been removed not be used or capable of being used for parking
• Parking pad adjacent to amalgamation. and legally converted to habitable space, provided purposes - both on private property and City
mutual driveway that front yard parking is permitted within the ward. boulevard.
Prohibition • All applications to comply with polling requirement. • Hard surface paving areas must be separated from
driveways, parking pads and walkways by means of
• All sidewalk reconstruction costs and applicable
a permanent physical barrier.
Applications for Parking on Residential Front Yards fees must be paid by the applicant.
• Width of private approach is not to exceed 1.05 m
and Boulevards will not be accepted within: • Vehicle restrictions - passenger motor vehicles and
in width.
• Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16 (portion motorcycles only with valid plates. Trucks,
commercial vans, campers or other oversized • LANDSCAPED OPEN SPACE – The area of the
outside former City of Toronto, excluding the boulevard or front yard that supports the growth of
portion east of Avenue Road, south of Brooke vehicles are not permitted.
vegetation and may include a walkway, patio or
Avenue in the former City of North York), 23, 24, similar area, but does not include a driveway, front
25 (portion outside former city of Toronto), 33, Polling yard parking pad or the sidewalk.
34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44; • SOFT LANDSCAPING – The area of the boulevard
• Wards 14, 18, 19, 20, 27, 28, 30, 31 and part of Petition required, prior to polling. or front yard that supports the growth of vegetation
Ward 21 (south of St. Clair Avenue West). • Petition consisting of signatures of at least 50% such as grass, trees, shrubs, flowers or other plants
• Parking pad at side of house adjacent to flanking street • Ward 26, unless the property has an existing of total of residences on both sides of the street, and permits water infiltration into the ground, but
• Only at corner lots with no back yard or parking space mutual driveway. on both sides of the property to the nearest soft landscaping does not include above-ground
• To determine your ward go to the following link intersection. pots and/or planters which are readily moveable.
NOTE: Http://app.toronto.ca/wards/jsp/wards.jsp Polling to be conducted if no other poll with a negative
Within the Former City of Toronto, result in past 3 years. Parking Space Sizes
you must submit an application for Applications will not be accepted for any of the • Polling of residential properties on both sides of
these parking configurations, following conditions: the street, within 100 m of either side of the
property or to the nearest intersection whichever • Minimum width 2.2 m.
including where parking pad is totally • The application is for more than one vehicle
is the lesser distance. • Maximum width 2.6 m.
on private property at the front. • The property has a private driveway.
• A minimum polling response rate of 50% of • Minimum length 5.3 m.
For other former Municipalities, • The property is within an area that was polled
within the last 3 years where the result was eligible voters is required. • Maximum length 5.9 m.
please contact the appropriate
negative. • Polling results are valid for a period of 3 years.
District Office.

2. • Maximum width 3.6 m for disabled persons parking Conditions - Tree Planting Further Reference
permit.
• Minimum of 2.0 m from fire hydrant. • For all approved parking applications the applicant Chapter 918 – Parking on Residential Front Yards
• Minimum set back of 0.3 m from parked vehicle to must fund the planting of a tree. and Boulevards
any of the following: sidewalk, any door, bottom of
stairs, basement or ground floor window, building www.toronto.ca/transportation/offstreet/index.htm
Protection of Street Trees
wall.
• Minimum of 2.0 m from parking space to curb if no
sidewalk. • Trees are not to be removed for the purpose of
• Parking pad must be constructed perpendicular and front yard parking.
immediately back of the sidewalk. District Offices
The preservation and planting of street trees is crucial
• Angled parking space may be permitted only where to the maintenance of healthy residential streetscapes
an obstruction such as fire hydrant, tree or hydro and can play an important role in minimizing the effect Etobicoke York District 416-394-8419
pole is present. of Residential Front Yard and Boulevard Parking. To 399 The West Mall, South Block
• Minimum of 2.0 m setback from sidewalk for angled rd
provide sufficient space for tree growth and planting, it 3 Floor
parking. is necessary to limit the amount of paving or
• In the case of a mutual driveway, the proposed impervious material such as concrete or interlocking North York District 416-395-7431
parking space can not be located within the existing brick used in front yards and on City boulevards. th
5100 Yonge Street, 4 Floor
mutual driveway.
• Vehicle must park facing basement window. It is also important to consolidate tree planting areas
to create places for trees to grow to maturity. Scarborough District 416-396-7505
nd
Conditions - Parking Area 150 Borough Drive, 2 Floor
Paving in proximity to City trees must comply with the
• Parking space to be
following specifications contained in Municipal Code
constructed to slope upward Toronto and East York District
Chapter 813; and the City’s Specifications for nd
at 2 to 6% gradient from the 433 Eastern Avenue, 2 Floor 416-392-7768
Construction Near Trees:
back of the sidewalk or curb 850 Coxwell Avenue Main Floor 416-397-4480
to the private property.
Trunk Diameter Minimum Protection
• Parking pad is to be paved
(DBH)* Distance Required**
with a permeable surface
treatment such as ecostone Permit Applications
or an approved equivalent. < 10 cm 1.8 m
11 – 40 cm 2.4 m
For Parking on Residential
41 – 50 cm 3.0 m Committee of Adjustment Front Yards and Boulevards
51 – 60 cm 3.6 m
61 – 70 cm 4.2 m Etobicoke York District 416-394-8060
71 – 80 cm 4.8 m Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13 and 17
81 – 90 cm 5.4 m
91 – 100 cm 6.0 m North York District 416-395-7000
Wards 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33 and 34
• *Diameter at breast height (DBH)
measurement of tree trunk taken at 1.4 Scarborough District 416-396-7030
metres above ground. Wards 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44
• ** Tree Protection Zone distances are to be
measured from the outside edge of the tree Toronto and East York District 416-392-7565
base. Wards 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32
For further information regarding trees,
Please visit www.toronto.ca/trees
or call 416-338-TREE (8733). Want More Information?
www.toronto.ca Transportation Services