The short version
- Since February 1, 2017, Windsor tickets vehicles parked on a front yard, a side yard or a boulevard.
- A paved front yard parking space is possible on some lots, with a driveway permit and Building Department approval.
- One space has to be at least 5.5 m long and 2.5 m wide (18 by 8 ft).
- It generally isn't allowed on a lot next to a paved alley.
- A driveway's width is capped by the size of your garage, and by half of your lot frontage.
This is a plain-language summary of the City of Windsor's Front Yard Parking page and its engineering best practices BP2.2.1 and BP2.2.2. Rules change, so confirm with the City before you start.
What the City tickets
Tickets cover cars, trailers, boats and RVs parked on a front or side yard, and on City boulevards. The rule is about parking on the lawn, as opposed to the hard surfaces allowed under Zoning By-law 8600.
The boulevard is any part of the road allowance that isn't the road, shoulder, sidewalk or driveway. It often looks like part of your front lawn, but it's City land.
The City also warns that driving over the lawn can damage things you can't see, like water shut-offs and sewer clean-outs, which can lead to basement backups.
Who can get a front yard parking space?
Front yard parking means one paved parking space in the front yard of an existing home. Under the City's best practice:
- It's permitted where the side yards are less than 2.5 m (8 ft) wide.
- It needs Building Department approval, and it has to comply with the zoning by-law.
- It isn't permitted on a lot next to a paved alley. Lots on an unpaved alley, including grass or gravel, may be eligible.
- Ward 4 has a two-year pilot, approved in 2025, that allows it with paved alley access. The Walkerville Heritage Area isn't included.
Size and surfacing rules
- One space: at least 5.5 m long and 2.5 m wide (18 by 8 ft).
- The driveway to it: no more than 4.5 m (15 ft) at the curb cut or edge of pavement.
- If there isn't enough room on your property, the space can extend into the right-of-way, as long as it starts at the front face of the house and doesn't block the sidewalk.
- At the Building Department's discretion, keep 1.7 m (5 ft 6 in) clear of doorways, porch steps and landings.
- The space and driveway have to be hard surfaced within 12 months of the driveway permit.
How wide can a driveway be in Windsor?
| Garage | Maximum curb cut or pavement edge |
|---|---|
| Single car garage or carport | 4.5 m (15 ft) |
| Two car garage | 7.0 m (23 ft) |
| Three car garage or more | 9.0 m (30 ft) |
In every case, the driveway can't be wider than 50% of your lot frontage. A garage counts as a two car garage if the door width is 5 m (16 ft) or more. The City allows one driveway approach per lot frontage, and corner lots and cul-de-sacs have their own rules.
Can you widen your driveway?
Up to those limits, usually. The width is measured at the curb cut or edge of pavement, and work that crosses the boulevard or changes the curb needs a permit first. Flares at the road are a separate thing: on arterial roads the City Engineer may allow them, but the driveway can't be widened later to match.
Do you need a permit to replace a driveway?
Yes. Under the City's best practice, an existing driveway being rebuilt needs a permit and has to meet the current policy. The existing curb cut can stay if the City Engineer considers it proper: for example, if there's a permit for it, if the City built it, or if there's no evidence in the City's 2010 aerial records that it was altered without permission.
Do you need a driveway permit in Windsor? →
Corner lots, walkways and shared driveways
- Corner lots: a new driveway goes on the side of the house farthest from the intersection, at least 11 m (36 ft) from the curb of the intersecting street.
- Walkways beside a driveway: a concrete lead walk up to 1.2 m (4 ft) wide can sit beside the driveway with no curb cut of its own, as long as the two together stay within 50% of the frontage. It can't be built for parking.
- Shared driveways: an existing one can be rebuilt at its current size, with a permit for each property. If it's redone in concrete, a saw cut has to run along the property line.
What a parking pad costs
A single space of 18 by 8 ft is 144 sq ft. As a rough guide, a broom-finish concrete driveway runs $8–$12 per sq ft before HST, but small jobs can cost more per square foot because the setup is the same. City fees are extra: as of March 1, 2026, a driveway permit is $298, plus an indemnity fee of at least $1,000.
What a concrete driveway costs in Windsor →
Planning more parking?
We pour concrete driveways and walkways across Windsor-Essex. We'll look at your frontage, side yards and alley at the free estimate, go over what the City's rules say, and give you a written quote the same day.
Read the rules yourself
The City's Front Yard Parking page →
The City's front yard parking best practice (PDF) →
The City's driveway requirements best practice (PDF) →
Need more parking?
Free on-site estimate anywhere in Windsor-Essex, with a written quote the same day. One-year warranty, fully insured and WSIB covered. Call or text 519-567-4724.
