Visitor parking: writing the bylaw and enforcing it without a fight

Bylaw or rule?

Parking on common property can be governed by a bylaw (three-quarter vote, filed at the Land Title Office) or by a rule made by council under s.125 for the use, safety and condition of common property. Rules must be ratified by majority vote at the next general meeting to continue, and a rule's fine cap is lower than a bylaw's. Anything you intend to fine seriously belongs in a bylaw.

What a good visitor parking bylaw says

• Who may use visitor stalls: guests of residents only, never residents' own vehicles.
• How a visitor is registered: a pass with the plate and the host unit.
• Limits: maximum nights per week or month per unit, and a maximum consecutive stay.
• Exceptions: trades, caregivers, medical, with the office's approval.
• Consequences: fines under the bylaw, and the authority to tow after notice, with the signage the Motor Vehicle Act and municipal bylaws require.

Enforcing consistently

1. 1.Keep a vehicle registry so a resident's plate in a visitor stall is detectable.
2. 2.Record visitor passes with plate, host unit and expiry.
3. 3.Have security walk the parkade nightly and photograph exceptions.
4. 4.Count each unit's visitor nights against the bylaw's weekly limit automatically.
5. 5.When the pattern repeats, open a bylaw file with the register attached and follow the s.135 steps.

Towing is a decision, not an automation: the Act's notice requirements, the municipality's signage rules and the tow company's obligations all apply. AryaPM's Parkade Watch produces the nightly register and the bylaw report; the decision to tow stays with the office and council.