Drivers in Mississauga will now face higher fines for illegal parking as a series of fee increases came into effect on Tuesday. The City of Mississauga has raised penalties for 76 parking offences, marking the first fine hike in nine years. Moving forward, city officials plan to review parking fines annually, potentially leading to more frequent increases.

The most significant hike, percentage-wise, applies to drivers who park or stop in bicycle lanes. These offenders will now face an additional $75 on their ticket, bringing the fine to $130 under the newly approved rules.

City officials explained that the hikes are necessary as research has shown that current fine amounts have not effectively deterred drivers from breaking parking regulations. The aim of the increases is to encourage better compliance with parking rules and reduce safety hazards posed by illegally parked or stopped vehicles.

Overall, parking fines across Mississauga are increasing by 38 per cent, aligning the city’s fee structure with those in Toronto, Brampton, Ottawa, Hamilton, and Vaughan. City staff noted that Mississauga’s penalties were, on average, $25 lower than those in other municipalities.

Since 2021, the city has seen a significant rise in both parking complaints and issued tickets, with numbers continuing to climb. In 2024, Mississauga received 182,096 parking complaints and issued 208,433 tickets, representing a 75 per cent and 60 per cent increase, respectively, from 2021.

Raj Sheth, the city’s commissioner of corporate services, stated that the rise in non-compliance causes traffic congestion and safety concerns. Strengthening parking bylaws is crucial to improving compliance, reducing congestion, and ensuring the safety of all road users.

Notable increases include a $75 hike for parking in bicycle lanes, bringing the fine to $130, and a $225 fine for parking large vehicles too close to fire hydrants (up from $125). Other fines will see a $50 increase, such as for parking in accessible spots ($450, up from $400) or blocking fire routes ($225, up from $175). Additionally, fines for stopping in school zones will increase from $65 to $145.

In the Lakefront Increased Penalty Zone, south of Lakeshore Road, certain offences like stopping on a sidewalk or parking within three metres of a fire hydrant will see increased penalties between May 1 and September 30.