Accessible Parking Permit
A person with a disability who has a valid SaskAbilities parking placard is eligible to apply for a City of Saskatoon Accessible Parking Permit which allows parking at all on-street public parking areas beyond the posted time limit, including Pay Parking areas and Residential Parking Program (RPP) permit zones. The City of Saskatoon Accessible Parking Permit sticker must be attached to a current SaskAbilities parking placard, and the placard must be hung from the inside rear-view mirror and be visible from outside the vehicle. The City of Saskatoon Accessible Parking Permit expires every year at the end of October and can be purchased for $20 for the year, or $10 on a pro-rated basis. Permit holders are responsible to renew each year. Email us or visit City Hall for more information on how to apply.
The City of Saskatoon has completed its review of the Accessible Parking Permit Program. Objectives of the City of Saskatoon Accessible Parking Permit Program are to provide users with convenience of parking in pay parking zones without having to pay at a pay station. The program strives to provide seamless on-street parking opportunities for motorists with accessibility needs.
A review of the Accessible Parking Permit Program was undertaken to improve the program by aligning needs of users, best practices elsewhere, and to mitigate program risk. Key themes were derived from consultation with users and stakeholder organizations. Based on the consultations, administration has made the following recommendations to enhance accessible parking:
- Enhanced communication of the program - administration can improve program awareness and program provisions. This will be done through partnerships with SaskAbilities, improving communication with users via email and the website, and improving distribution of informational takeaway sheets at the point of purchase.
- Fee and time limit change
- To minimize financial disruption for users, administration is recommending a phased-in permit fee increase to $60 per year or $30 on a six-month prorated basis for the 2024-2025 permit year; increase to $100 per year or $50 on a six-month prorated basis for the 2025-2026 permit year.
- Furthermore, a low-income cut-off application process will be developed where users can apply for a half-priced permit.
- Rationale - The permit fee has not changed since 1981 and has not aligned with on-street pay parking rates for some time. In 1981, the pay parking rate was $0.50 per hour. Administration costs for the program have also increase since that time.
- Reduce time restrictions from unlimited (72 hours) to four hours
- Rationale - The intent of the pay parking zones is to promote parking turnover to ensure adequate parking options exist for all those who require it. Program overuse can be mitigated through a change in accessible parking permit time restriction as it encourages parking turnover.
- The time restrictions apply on-street in a pay station zone, including in a loading zone, or disabled parking zone or area within a pay station zone.
- To minimize financial disruption for users, administration is recommending a phased-in permit fee increase to $60 per year or $30 on a six-month prorated basis for the 2024-2025 permit year; increase to $100 per year or $50 on a six-month prorated basis for the 2025-2026 permit year.
- Automation - create a more convenient process for purchasing the accessible permit that does not necessarily involve coming into City Hall. This can be accomplished through improved technology through the Parking Technology project occurring in 2024.
On January 31, 2024, Council approved the recommended changes to the Accessible Parking Permit Program. The changes will go into effect on October 1, 2024. Questions or comments on the forthcoming changes can be emailed to parking.permits@saskatoon.ca.