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How to get an accessible parking permit in Ontario

December 12, 2024   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

If you have a medical condition that makes it difficult to get around, you may be eligible to get an Ontario-accessible parking permit that allows you to park in reversed spots in parking lots.

A permit can be issued to an individual whose mobility is limited because of a permanent or temporary disability, or an Ontario corporation or non-profit organization for use in vehicles they own or lease for the purpose of transporting people with disabilities.

There is no cost to obtain, renew, or replace an accessible parking permit. The permit must be clearly displayed with the permit number and expiry date visible on your vehicle’s sun visor or dashboard to park in an accessible parking space.

If a person uses someone else’s permit fraudulently, they could be fined up to $5,000 and the permit may be seized.

In Ontario, each municipality determines the rules and privileges associated with holding a permit.

To apply for an accessible parking permit, your regulated healthcare practitioner must certify that you have one or more of the following health conditions:

• Not being able to walk without a brace, cane, crutch, lower limb prosthetic device or requires the assistance of a wheelchair or the assistance of another individual.
• Suffers from lung disease to such an extent that his or her forced expiratory volume in one second is less than one litre. Portable oxygen is a medical necessity.
• Suffers from cardiovascular disease to such an extent that the individual’s functional capacity is classified as Class III or Class IV.
• Severely limited in the ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, musculoskeletal, or orthopedic condition.
• Visual acuity is 20/200 or poorer in the better eye with corrective lenses.
• Mobility is severely limited by one or more conditions of functional impairments.

When you apply for a permit, your condition must be certified by a chiropodist, chiropractor, nurse practitioner, occupational therapist, physician, physiotherapist, and podiatrist.

There are five types of permits you may be eligible for:

• A Permanent Permit is for someone with a permanent disability and is valid for five years.
• A Subject to Change Permit is valid for five years. This is for someone who has a disability that is subject to change over time.
• A Temporary Permit is for someone with a temporary disability and is valid for up to 12 months.
• A Traveller’s Permit is for someone travelling outside of Ontario and will allow you to park your car where you depart – for example, an airport or train station.
• If you are a company or organization you can get a Company Permit for every vehicle owned or leased by the company that is used primarily to transport people with disabilities. It is valid for five years.

To apply for an accessible parking permit, you should read the eligible health conditions and get an application by visiting any ServiceOntario centre.

You can also apply online through the Province of Ontario website. 

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