Vehicle Parking Fees and Annual Parking Pass
- Questions and Answers
Q: Where are parking fees collected? There are 13 provincial parks from the Thompson
and Okanagan area and 27 provincial parks from the Lower
Mainland and Vancouver Island areas of British Columbia charging
parking fees. Q: How do your parking fees compare to those in other jurisdictions? |
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| A: Our fees are lower than most of those charged in other jurisdictions. For example Parks Canada charges from between $5 and $9/day to park in its West Coast Parks and Ontario Parks charges from between $7 and $15/day. | |
Q: I understand the money collected goes back into the park system but does it go into the park where it is collected to fix the trails, facilities, etc.?
A: Benefits
from the revenues collected are not limited to fee collecting parks
but spread throughout the system.
Q: Do people arriving by public transportation, e.g. by bus, or by bicycle, etc. have to pay this fee?
A: No,
visitors who arrive on foot, by bicycle or by public transportation
do not have to pay a parking fee.
Q: What happens if I do not pay the day parking fee?
A: Under
section 23(1) of the Park and Recreation Area Regulation and the
Violation Ticket Administration and Fines Regulation, violators
may be fined $58.00 for non-payment of vehicle parking fees and for
other illegal parking. A vehicle may be towed away at the vehicle owner’s
expense and without any warning if the vehicle is parked:
- a) without payment of the vehicle parking fee,
- b) other than in designated parking areas,
- c) on the traveled portion of park roads,
- d) in a manner which impedes the proper use of a park road,
- e) in a manner which damages vegetation, or
- f) in a manner which restricts or inhibits recreational use of the park.
Q: If I’m camping and paying my overnight camping fees, do I still have to pay to park?
A: No,
a current camping receipt for that park displayed on the dash of
your vehicle is equivalent to a day parking ticket.
Q: When and where can I purchase an annual parking pass?
A: The annual parking pass, which will allow unlimited vehicle parking at participating provincial parks, is, as of April 5, 2007, available for $25.00. The annual parking pass can be purchased at selected provincial parks, from Visitor Centres, by calling Super Natural British Columbia toll free at 1-800-435-5622 or from Greater Vancouver at 604-435-5622 or by downloading and mailing an application form from this website. Click here for more information on where to purchase an annual parking pass. The annual parking pass is good for twelve months from date of purchase.
Q: Will I need to supply vehicle license numbers and personal information for the annual parking pass?
A:No, the annual parking pass does not require any license numbers or names.
Q: Is the annual parking pass transferable between my family's vehicles?
A: The
annual pass can be used on any one vehicle in the park.
Q: If I lose my annual parking pass, will it be replaced?
A: No, annual parking passes are non-refundable.
Q: If I purchase a daily parking ticket, can I receive a refund or credit if I decide to purchase an annual parking pass at a later date?
A: No, the daily parking ticket cannot be reimbursed or credited towards an annual parking pass.
Q: If I purchase a daily parking ticket at one park, is it valid at another park for the same day?
A: No, the daily parking ticket is only valid for the park where you purchased the ticket. An annual parking pass can be used at any provincial park that charges parking fees, another excellent reason to purchase one.
Q: What can I use to purchase a daily parking ticket?
A: Electronic parking ticket dispensers take either the correct amount in coin or VISA, American Express or MasterCard credit cards.
Q: Will there be any discounts for seniors or the disabled?
A: There is no discount for seniors. Persons with disabilities meeting the eligibility criteria for free camping do not have to pay a parking fee. Click here for more information.
Q: Why do Persons With Disabilities now have to complete an application form and fax/mail to the Ministry of Environment Permit Authorization Service Bureau for processing?
A: This makes the application process easier for persons with disabilities in that you will no longer need to visit Visitor Centres to receive a parking pass – instead it will be mailed to you. Click here for more information.
Q: Do “groups” get a discount on parking fees?
A: There are no "group" discounts.
Q: If someone is parking and mooring within the same park, do they also need to pay the parking fee?
A: No, if you have paid the appropriate overnight mooring fee, you do not have to pay an additional vehicle parking fee within that park.
Q: How do motorcycles display an annual parking pass or a daily ticket?
A: Motorcycle operators are required to keep their annual parking pass and daily parking tickets in their possession; do not leave on the motorcycle. When approached by a park attendant, you must be able to produce a valid parking ticket/pass or you will be subject to a parking fine as noted below in another question and answer.
Q: Is there a lower rate for short visits?
A: Yes, as of April 5, 2007 there is a $1.00 parking rate per hour to a maximum of $3.00 per vehicle per day.
Q: Are day parking fees still in effect in provincial parks during special events?
A: Parking fees are collected during special events. This policy is consistent with the government's principle of user pay for recreational services. Other municipal, regional, provincial and federal park agencies collect parking fees during special events.
Q: I wish to park for more than one day (e.g. launch my boat and go to another island, etc.). How do I let the Park Staff know that I am parking for more than one day?
A: For multi-day parking you have the option of purchasing an Annual Pass or in some locations, pushing the options button on the Parking Pass dispenser and selecting the number of days that you wish to park for and paying the appropriate fee. For some dispensing machines you will need to purchase the appropriate number of tickets from the machine as required based on the number of days the vehicle will remain in the park. Place tickets on dashboard of vehicle.
Q: If I am camping in the backcountry area at Garibaldi Park and not having to pay for parking, how will the park attendant checking the parking lot at the Diamond Head and Black Tusk/Garibaldi Lake trailheads know that I've paid for both fees?
A: The visitor will pay only one fee - the camping fee ticket is a two-part ticket. One part is left on the vehicle dash and the other part is retained by the visitor as proof of payment at the campsite. It should be noted that parking fees are only charged in two of the five Garibaldi trailheads (Diamond Head and Black Tusk/Garibaldi Lake) and these are the only sections of the park that have camping fees associated with the developed sites or shelters in the park.
Q: Will Cypress and Mount Seymour provincial parks be charging for parking during the ski season?
A: During the ski season from November 1st to March 31st, these two parks will not charge parking fees. Both parks will continue to charge for day-use parking from April 1st to October 31st.
Q: How much are annual bus passes?
A: A Bus Annual Parking Pass costs $250.00 (including all taxes) for 12 months from the date of purchase. This Pass allows unlimited bus parking at all participating provincial parks. The Bus Annual Pass is transferable between company buses. Click here for more information on how to purchase a Bus Annual Pass.
