On most Burlington streets, you cannot simply leave a vehicle parked overnight. Outside downtown, the city generally prohibits on-street parking between 1 and 6 a.m. and applies a five-hour limit during the rest of the day and evening.
If you only need an occasional night on the street, the city offers a parking exemption. If you need street parking regularly, Burlington now has a separate paid residential permit.
For an occasional overnight stay
A parking exemption is meant for short-term situations such as driveway work or out-of-town guests. Each licence plate can receive exemptions for up to 15 days per calendar year. They are booked one 24-hour period at a time and can be requested up to three days in advance.
The exemption does not erase every parking rule. It is not valid during snow removal or road maintenance, and it cannot be used to cancel a ticket that was already issued.
For regular overnight parking
The Citywide On-Street Residential Parking Permit allows a resident to park on their local residential street during the day and overnight. It costs $30 per month or $350 per year.
The permit is tied to a licence plate and does not reserve a space. A vehicle also has to move after 48 hours in the same location. Other parking restrictions still apply.
The city says the program was approved in 2025 as more households needed long-duration street parking, including multi-generational homes, people receiving overnight care and properties adding extra residential units.
Which one should you use?
If a guest needs one night on the street, request an exemption. If a household vehicle needs overnight parking week after week, the citywide permit is the better fit.
Residents in older neighbourhood parking programs, including some parts of Alton, Orchard, Uptown and Sheldon Creek, may still be in a transition period. The city recommends checking the permit page for the current rule at your address before paying for a new permit.