Fines, fees and footprint: Here are the changes coming to Regina’s downtown parking

Regina city council will add parking vouchers at City Hall after complaints. (CTV News/Gareth Dilistone)

A series of changes are coming to downtown and on-street parking in Regina after bylaw amendments were finalized by council Wednesday.

The changes stem from council decisions during 2026 budget deliberations, which will see parking fines and fees increase, in addition to the city’s removal of physical parking meters and the creation of a ‘zoned’ system.

“Some of the changes through this amendment move us forward and get us to a better spot,” Mayor Chad Bachynski said during last week’s debate at executive committee. “Perfection is the enemy of progress; this is progress for sure.”

The city has already begun the transition to coinless payment for parking March 1, moving to a fully app-based payment system and will begin removing parking meters in the coming months.

For those without access to a smartphone or credit card to pay, parking vouchers paid by cash or card will be available at city hall.

According to the city, the amendments will lead to thousands in newly generated revenue and cost savings:

• Temporary Street Use Permit Fee Increase – $80,000
• Parking Ticket Fine Increase – $400,000
• Parking Meter Fee Increase – $175,000
• Removal of coin deposit for paid parking savings – $220,000

After garnering council approval, all other changes will be in effect beginning March 25, 2026.

Parking fees & fines increasing

Of the most notable changes is the increase in both per-hour parking fees and the fines for parking illegally.

“An increase in the parking rate is not administration’s recommendation,” noted city manager of operations Kurtis Doney during committee. “This came from the budget deliberations where there was a need to increase revenue.”

Before the changes, drivers would pay $2.00 per hour to park in Regina’s standard on-street parking.

Following council’s December decision, that fee is now $2.50 per hour.

“Not only have we increased the fees, we’re also on top of that charging an additional $0.25 [on the app],” Ward 7 Coun. Shobna Radons said. “It’s a deterrent for people to come downtown, and if we’re focusing on revitalizing our downtown, this is a step backwards.”

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“Administration agrees increasing parking rates will not have a positive impact on downtown,” added Doney. “Whether or not we’ll meet their revenue projections or not is subjective.”

In addition to the parking rates going up, so too are the penalties for parking illegally.

Due to council’s decision in December, fines will increase by a flat rate of $10.

Most parking tickets, like expired time on the app, were $30 if the offender pays within 14 days of its issuing and increased to $65 if after 14 days.

Now, the fine is $40 and $75, respectively.

Fines for more severe violations, such as illegal parking in an accessible stall, can be higher, with potential fines reaching $200 or more.

Zoned parking

As a compromise for increasing rates, the city has formulated a new plan which creates two parking zones in the downtown.

In the downtown core, the rates will become the newly approved $2.50 per hour. However, in the second tier, parking rates will become $1.50 per hour.

‘Zone A’ will use Victoria Avenue, Saskatchewan Drive, Albert Street and Broad Street as a border, with paid parking outside those streets being ‘Zone B’.

“South of Victoria and east of Broad, the utilization rate there is quite low,” Doney explained. “Our thought process is, if we have a lower rate there, this will encourage more people to park in that area and those that are able can then walk into the downtown.”

Administration believes if more people park in Zone B, they will still meet their revenue projections.

“The thought is that if it’s decreased by a dollar in this other area or zone, more people would park there than they would if it’s $2.50. And that’s how by decreasing it, it’ll still be revenue neutral?” asked Ward 8 Coun. Shanon Zachidniak.

“That’s correct. The parking rate [previously] was $2. And so we’re actually going to decrease it,” responded Doney.

Still some councillors wanted to walk back the previously approved decision from December.

“We’re saying we want to zone it, but why don’t we go $1.75 in the core, $1.50 outside?” asked Ward 2 Coun. George Tsiklis. “I think, mathematically, we can hit our revenue without punishing business. I think that’s pro-merchant pro-business and pro-fiscal responsibility.”

“We’re a little bit concerned we won’t meet those revenue projections, and then that is not going to align with the budget that was approved in December,” Doney added.

Bachynski welcomed the outside the box thinking of giving more options for drivers.

“It’s just that creative thinking to try and get more folks downtown and give different options for parking for folks that are able to in different areas,” the mayor said.

Regular on-street parking hours remain in effect as parking remains free after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends.

Private parking lots with assigned rates are also available.