Disputing a parking ticket

Receive a parking ticket you don’t agree with?

You can appeal a parking ticket within 14 days of it being issued by requesting an administrative review for a number of violations.

How do I dispute my parking ticket?

If you wish to appeal a parking ticket, complete a Ticket Review Form[PDF] and submit it to Parking Enforcement for review.  Allow 7–14 business days for Parking Enforcement to advise you of the outcome. 

By email: parktick@halifax.ca

By mail:
Parking Enforcement
PO Box 1749
Halifax NS 
B3J 3A5                                                     

By Fax: 902.490.6970

In Person:
Drop it off at any Municipal Customer Service Centre.

What kind of ticket can I dispute?

The parking charges listed below are the most common violations you can appeal.  The following types of parking tickets can be disputed, but you’ll need to provide supporting documentation (as indicated) to prove. 

01–No Parking (s.143(1))
You can dispute a ticket for parking in a no-parking zone in the following circumstances:

If the vehicle is a delivery or service vehicle. Please submit as proof: a receipt, invoice, or work order, including date, time and location or civic address.

If your vehicle was broken down. Please submit as proof: a receipt for repairs or for towing.

05–Parking during Winter Ban (4a)
You can ask to have a parking  ticket during winter ban ticket dismissed if: 

  • You are a physician or surgeon parked reasonably near their office or residence and immediately available for professional calls, or parked reasonably near where they are engaged in professional duties.
  • You are Police Officer, a member of the Police of Canadian Forces, or as a member of the Halifax Regional Fire Service actively engaged in duties. Please submit proof on letterhead advising that you were actively engaged in duties.       
  • If your vehicle was stopped in this zone so you could actively engage in loading or unloading something. 
  • If the vehicle is a taxi and parked at a taxi stand 
  • If the vehicle belongs to a public utility company or corporation parked reasonably near the residence of an operator and immediately available for emergency calls. Please submit proof on utility company letterhead.

13–Private Property (s.149(1))
Please submit as proof documentation on letterhead requesting cancellation from the property owner or authorized representative. (For example, you are a resident in a building and the superintendent accidentally asked for your car to be ticketed.) 

20–Accessible Zone Private Property (s.145(4))
Please submit as proof documentation on letterhead requesting cancellation along with confirmation of the valid accessible permit (permit number) from the property owner or authorized representative.

27–Accessible Parking Zone (s. 145(3))
Please submit as proof a copy of your permit number from a valid accessible permit.

28–Fire Lane (s. 150(2))

If you are ticketed for parking in a fire lane that has not been approved by the municipality, you can request a letter from the property owner to show you were allowed to park there. You can never park in an  approved fire lane.

42–Meter Violation (13)
In the following situations you can request that your meter violation ticket is dismissed:

  • If the vehicle is Department of National Defence marked or vehicles rented by DND displaying pass with red stripe.
  • If the vehicles is a deliveries or service vehicle. Please submit as proof a receipt, invoice, or work order including date, time, and location or civic address. 
  • If the vehicle was stopped in this zone and actively engaged in loading or unloading from the vehicle (no longer than 30 minutes).
  • If there was no meter number on the ticket.

What are my other options?

If you have already disputed it and your ticket has been found valid by the municipality and you still don’t agree, you can plead not guilty. You can also choose to plead not guilty instead of disputing your ticket.

You will receive a Summons by mail. This Summons will indictate the date, time and place to appear in court, this is your arraignment.

Your first appearance will be to enter a plea only.

 If the registered owner cannot attend on the arraignment date, a friend or relative may enter a plea on your behalf and a date/time for the trial will be set. 

What happens if I do nothing? 

If you do not dispute the ticket or make a plea, after the due date of the ticket you will be automatically found guilty.