Picture this:

You’re in a rush to buy a birthday present for a family member and need to drive to the store. When you arrive, you can’t find a place to park in the parking lot, so you zoom into a spot on the side of the road and run into the shop. Once you return to the car, you notice that you’ve received a parking ticket for parking near a fire hydrant.

Has this recently happened to you or someone that you know?

If so, you’re likely wondering, “what is the minimum fire hydrant parking distance in Canada?”.

We answer this question, and many more, in the following paragraphs.

What is the minimum parking distance from a fire hydrant in Canada? — An expert overview

The requirements related to parking near a hydrant range from province to province. Unfortunately, we can’t go over all of the rules and requirements for each province and territory, so we’ll be focusing on Ontario.

If you’ve been asking yourself, “what’s the minimum fire hydrant parking distance in Ontario?”, you should note that you aren’t allowed to park within 3 metres (9 feet) of a fire hydrant.

If you’re caught parking too close to a fire hydrant in Ontario, you’ll receive a parking ticket and a fine. Please note that this applies to drivers that have left their parked vehicle near a hydrant and drivers who are temporarily using the space to “unload” their vehicle.

Be sure to keep this information in mind if you want to avoid getting a parking ticket for parking near a fire hydrant in Ontario.

Fun fact: Certain fire hydrants are responsible for more tickets than others. Drivers have been ticketed nearly 3,000 times at the notorious fire hydrant located at 393 University Ave. in Toronto. The city of Toronto has earned a grand total of almost $300,000 from the hydrant on 393 University Ave.

Why can’t you park near fire hydrants in Canada?

Even though the fire hydrant parking rules vary from province to province, the reasoning is the same; drivers cannot park too close to fire hydrants because they can potentially obstruct firefighters who are trying to extinguish a house fire.

If you park too close to a hydrant, firefighters may not be able to attach a hose to the hydrant, which stops them from extinguishing the flames. 

That being said, even if the firefighters can attach a hose to the hydrant, they may not be able to use the hose properly. Fire hoses need to be in a straight line in order to exert maximum water pressure.

So, when you park too close to a fire hydrant, you’re not just risking getting a ticket; you’re also potentially preventing firefighters from saving lives. With this in mind, it’s easy to see why you should never park too close to a fire hydrant, regardless of the circumstances.

What are the penalties for parking near a fire hydrant?

Parking too close to a fire hydrant can lead to a number of issues, so it’s only natural that it comes with consequences.

If you’re caught parking next to a hydrant in Ontario, you can receive a parking ticket and a $100 fine. Drivers have 15 days to pay their fines online or at their town/city hall.

Please note that if you choose not to pay the required fines within 15 days, you can face additional penalties.

Can you dispute a fire hydrant distance parking ticket in Ontario?

Yes, according to the Ontario Provincial Offenses Act, Ontarians have the right to dispute parking tickets in court (including parking tickets related to fire hydrants). Fighting the ticket in court gives you the opportunity to plead your case and explain why you should not have to pay the fee or only pay a portion of the fee.

That being said, unless you can prove that you had a valid reason to park next to the fire hydrant, you will have to pay all (or a portion) of the related fees. 

6 parking rules that Ontarians should know

There are several rules related to where and how far you can park from various structures in Ontario. Taking the time to learn these rules can help you avoid getting parking tickets in the future.

Here are some examples of the lesser-known parking rules in Ontario:

• Drivers cannot park on a curve, hill or any location that prevents them from seeing a minimum of 125 metres in both directions
• Drivers cannot park in an area that will obstruct a vehicle that is already parked
• Motorists cannot park within 100 metres of bridge
• Motorists aren’t allowed to park within 6 metres of the entrance to a venue that is open to the public, like a theatre or hotel
• Drivers cannot park within 9 metres of a standard intersection or 15 metres of an intersection controlled by traffic lights
• Drivers cannot park within 15 metres of the closest rail of a level railway passing