Toronto is no longer offering free parking on public holidays

Toronto drivers can't park for free on the street for extended periods of time on public holidays.

As parking spaces in the city sell for house prices, one relief for Toronto drivers is the certainty that they can park on the streets for free on statutory holidays.

He is was a break, that is, but everything changes.

Toronto police have announced that starting on Family Day (Feb. 19), they will begin enforcing street parking laws, even on statutory holidays.

According to the Toronto Police Service, the decision was made to meet “the evolving needs of our growing city, where the demand for parking has increased significantly.”

Although on-street parking laws were always in force on statutory holidays, it was standard practice for parking officials to fail to enforce them.

“Historically, this has been the practice of non-compliance,” the release said, “but there are no bylaws that specifically exempt statutory holidays from enforcement, and this change is consistent with existing legislation that allows enforcement on those days.”

So when you're out on Family Day, make sure you bring a few extra dollars for parking or you could be hit with a $75 parking fine.