Parking Concerns & Tickets

Parking regulations aim to create safe and convenient access for all drivers in Fernie, from limited free parking zones to spaces reserved for electric vehicles and people with mobility issues.

In 2011, Halcrow Consulting Inc., was contracted to draft a Parking Management Plan for the City of Fernie. The Plan identified strategies to address zoning, collaboration, time limits, metering, permits, enforcement, sidewalk cafés, programming, design standards, monitoring, and a small set of specific concerns.

Enforcement of Parking Regulations

Bylaw Services is responsible for ensuring compliance of City bylaws related to parking. The Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 1400 regulates the use (including parking) of all City of Fernie streets. This Bylaw, in large part, reflects the Province of British Columbia Motor Vehicle Act.

Although Bylaw Enforcement Officers work primarily on a complaint-driven basis, they do periodically patrol city streets and may issue tickets for parking infractions such as:

  • Parking contrary to winter parking regulations - i.e., alternate parking infractions;
  • Parking contrary to traffic control devices; 
  • Parking continuously in excess of 72 hours unless posted otherwise;
  • Parking a vehicle facing the wrong direction (against the flow of traffic); 
  • Parallel parking too far away from a curb (more than 30 cm);
  • Parking any kind of trailer that is not attached to a motor vehicle; 
  • Parking a vehicle with a gross weight in excess of 10,200KG for longer than 2 hours in a residential zone; or
  • Parking in a lane less than 6 metres wide.

Posted signs notify drivers of some parking regulations. Bylaw enforcement officers also inform motorists on how to park legally.

What to remember when parking

  • Vehicles must be at least 3 metres from an intersection or 5 metres from a crosswalk for visibility;
  • Vehicles must not obstruct driveways, private roads or parking lots;
  • Vehicles must be at least 5 metres from a fire hydrant;
  • Vehicles must not park adjacent to a curb painted yellow;
  • Vehicles must be parked facing the same direction of the traffic flow;
  • Vehicles must leave at least 1 metre between itself and any other vehicle when parallel parking;
  • Vehicles must be at least 15 metres from a railway crossing; and
  • Vehicles parked on the sidewalk or overhanging the sidewalk are a risk to pedestrian safety. A pedestrian may have to enter onto the roadway to pass.

How do I report illegal parking?

To make a complaint about parking issues in your neighbourhood, please email Bylaw Services at bylawservices@fernie.ca or call 250.423.2244 or go online at Report Problem/Request Service.

Parking related complaints must include:

  • Address of occurrence;
  • License plate number;
  • Make, model and color of vehicle;
  • The nature of the problem; and

  • If you are reporting an abandoned vehicle, please indicate how long the vehicle has been parked in that location.

Parking Tickets and Car Impounds

Parking tickets are issued to registered owners of vehicles in violation and any ticketed vehicle may be impounded.

While public safety and protection of property are the most important reasons for towing, reasons also include: 

  • Failure to adhere to winter parking regulations - i.e., alternate parking infractions;
  • To facilitate snow removal;
  • Demand for the location, such as emergency vehicles;
  • Inconvenience to others (vehicle is obstructing a driveway, private road, garage or parking lot.

Vehicles towed by the City of Fernie may be claimed 1402 Railway Avenue. Contact the City of Fernie at 250.423.2244 to confirm that your vehicle has been towed by the City.  Prior to getting a vehicle released, you will need to visit City Hall, Monday - Friday between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm to pay all fines and towing and impound fees.

Ticket Responsibility

Parking and commercial vehicle enforcement in Fernie applies to City roads, in commercial, industrial or residential areas. The registered owner of the vehicle is responsible for their vehicle at all times. A parking ticket is the responsibility of the registered owner, regardless of who was driving the vehicle when the ticket was issued.

Paying or Disputing Parking Tickets

Parking tickets can be paid at City Hall during regular office hours of 8:00am to 4:00pm Monday to Friday. You may pay with cash, cheque, or debit card. Cheques are payable to the City of Fernie. Please enclose the parking ticket with your payment, or write the parking ticket number or license plate number on the cheque before it is mailed.

Disputing a parking ticket

Once you pay your parking ticket, you can no longer dispute it.

All disputes must be in writing and must be received within 14 days of the issuance of the ticket. Complete theNotice of Dispute form and submit it:

  • By email to: bylawservices@fernie.ca
  • By fax: 250.423.3034
  • By mail: Fernie City Hall, Bylaw Services, PO Box 190, Fernie, BC V0B 1M0
  • In person: 501-3rd Ave, Bylaw Services

Once received, the form is reviewed by the Director of Bylaw Services. This process may take up to 30 days. The ticket may be cancelled at that time due to a technical error or extraordinary circumstances. If the ticket is not cancelled, the disputant has the option of paying the ticket in full or attending Court.

For more information on parking in the City, please view the Streets and Traffic Bylaw.