Scrap the $6 overnight parking fee in Markham
The Issue
I'm a resident of Markham, Ontario, and like many of my neighbours, I work hard to make ends meet. It pains me to see the City's new $6-per-night overnight parking fee adding a needless financial burden on families like mine.
On October 1, 2026, the City of Markham began charging residents $6 every time they request an overnight street-parking exemption. The yearly allowance was raised from 5 nights to 10 per licence plate — but now every one of those nights comes with a price tag: up to $60 a year per car, just to park in front of your own home. For households with multiple cars, it multiplies fast.
This is wrong, and here's why:
1. We already pay for these streets. Markham's roads are built and maintained with our property taxes. Charging residents again to park on them is double-dipping — a cash grab, not cost recovery.
2. The City created this problem. Overnight parking (2:30 AM–6:00 AM) is banned outright, forcing residents into an exemption program — and now the City charges for the permission slip to its own ban.
3. Parking is a necessity, not a luxury. Many of us can't expand our driveways due to space constraints or rental agreements — we depend on street parking for a basic need.
4. It hits hardest those who can least afford it. Flat fees like this fall disproportionately on lower-income families, and transportation is already one of the biggest household expenses Canadians face.
5. The timing is cruel. With the cost of living stretching household budgets to the breaking point, Council chose this moment to invent a new tax on residents.
We're calling on Markham City Council to scrap the $6 fee. A fairer alternative: a free resident overnight permit system that respects the diverse needs of our community while keeping streets safe and organized — or, at minimum, a number of free exemptions per year before any fee kicks in.
With the municipal election on October 26, Council has a chance to show it stands with residents. Sign and share — let's make sure parking in Markham stays accessible and affordable for everyone.
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The Issue
I'm a resident of Markham, Ontario, and like many of my neighbours, I work hard to make ends meet. It pains me to see the City's new $6-per-night overnight parking fee adding a needless financial burden on families like mine.
On October 1, 2026, the City of Markham began charging residents $6 every time they request an overnight street-parking exemption. The yearly allowance was raised from 5 nights to 10 per licence plate — but now every one of those nights comes with a price tag: up to $60 a year per car, just to park in front of your own home. For households with multiple cars, it multiplies fast.
This is wrong, and here's why:
1. We already pay for these streets. Markham's roads are built and maintained with our property taxes. Charging residents again to park on them is double-dipping — a cash grab, not cost recovery.
2. The City created this problem. Overnight parking (2:30 AM–6:00 AM) is banned outright, forcing residents into an exemption program — and now the City charges for the permission slip to its own ban.
3. Parking is a necessity, not a luxury. Many of us can't expand our driveways due to space constraints or rental agreements — we depend on street parking for a basic need.
4. It hits hardest those who can least afford it. Flat fees like this fall disproportionately on lower-income families, and transportation is already one of the biggest household expenses Canadians face.
5. The timing is cruel. With the cost of living stretching household budgets to the breaking point, Council chose this moment to invent a new tax on residents.
We're calling on Markham City Council to scrap the $6 fee. A fairer alternative: a free resident overnight permit system that respects the diverse needs of our community while keeping streets safe and organized — or, at minimum, a number of free exemptions per year before any fee kicks in.
With the municipal election on October 26, Council has a chance to show it stands with residents. Sign and share — let's make sure parking in Markham stays accessible and affordable for everyone.
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Petition created on October 6, 2026