How Far Do You Have to Park From A Fire Hydrant?

Parking too close to a fire hydrant in Canada can lead to traffic convictions. While most drivers are aware of this fact, you might still not know the exact distance which is safe to park your car from a hydrant. Besides, drivers should know whether parking tickets arising from this issue can affect their car insurance premiums or driving record. 

Established car insurance brokers in Ontario, such as the team at Surex, can help you find the most affordable car insurance quotes and answer any questions you have about your current policy.

So, if you are wondering how far to park from fire hydrant units, we have you covered.

Why is parking too close to a fire hydrant considered illegal?

Parking your car close to a fire hydrant is illegal in Canada due to a potential safety hazard. In case of a fire, the firefighters won’t be able to use the hydrant, which can aggravate the damage. 

Under urgent conditions, firefighters can also break your cars’ windows so they can access the installation. To ensure that the water pressure is maximum, firefighters need to keep the hose in a straight line. Your car would obstruct their work since they need to go over the vehicle or under it.

Besides, if you commit the offence repeatedly, they might also tow your vehicle away. So, knowing how far to park from a fire hydrant in Ontario is crucial.

Know how far to park from a fire hydrant to avoid tickets

You need to check out the municipal norms based on the province you are in.

• The safe distance for parking your car from a fire hydrant is 3 meters in Ontario.
• In certain provinces like Montreal, you can park your vehicle at least 1.5 meters away from the installation.
• In British Columbia, you cannot park within 5 meters of a fire hydrant.

Law enforcement authorities have come up with such norms so that firefighters can see the hydrants clearly. Besides, parking your car at a distance from these installations would enable them to access the hydrants without any obstruction.

Apart from this, be vigilant enough so that you don’t block emergency fire routes. You might come across signs on the roads marking these zones.

Fines, tickets, and demerit points for parking close to a fire hydrant 

Parking close to a fire hydrant in Ontario can lead to a fine of $100. The fines may vary slightly in other provinces. You can pay the fine online or in person by visiting the local city hall.

Illegal parking in various provinces in Canada can lead to your car getting towed. However, parking your vehicle close to a fire hydrant just once or twice wouldn’t amount to such a severe issue. If you have at least three unpaid tickets for undisputed cases, the authorities can tow your car away in case you receive the next ticket within three months of your last traffic conviction. 

However, this can arise due to infractions of any kind. So, even if you don’t commit the offence of wrong parking, you can get the vehicle towed if you have the offence in your driving record recently.

However, you won’t get any demerit points if you park close to a fire hydrant in Canada. The reason is parking tickets don’t fall into the moving violation category. Be it red or yellow, check out for any fire hydrant in the close vicinity when you park your vehicle.

How to avoid parking tickets in Ontario?

Now that you know the answer to the question, “how far do you have to park from a fire hydrant in Ontario?”, here are some tips to help you avoid parking tickets.

• While parking, be vigilant enough to look out for fire hydrants close to buildings or curbs.
• Inspect the surroundings for street signs mentioning ‘fire route’ and ‘no parking’.
• Use the public transportation system to eliminate all the hassles of parking.
• Try not to idle around areas marked with ‘no standing’ and ‘no stopping’ zones.
• Plan your journey in advance so that you can use public parking zones near your destination using GPS.
• Avoid parking close to street intersections or corners.
• Typically, you can park no longer than 2 hours in busy areas, so adhere to this standard.
• Look out for fire hydrants around the place and check the curbs carefully.

Illegal parking in Canada results in fines worth millions of dollars. A report reveals that the city hall in Toronto has collected over $24 million since 2008 from offenders who parked close to fire hydrants. In Toronto, hundreds of car drivers have carelessly parked close to the installation at 393 University Ave over the years. This has resulted in about 3000 tickets, accumulating fines of more than $289,620.

Does parking too close to a fire hydrant affect your insurance premium?

No, getting a parking ticket wouldn’t affect your insurance premium.

Reputed insurance companies scrutinize your driving record to find demerit points. Accumulating too many of these negative marks in your driving history portrays you as an irresponsible driver. Due to this increased risk profile, insurers start increasing your premium since they believe you are more susceptible to accidents.

Interestingly, parking your car close to a fire hydrant won’t fetch you any demerit points since it is a parking ticket. With zero demerit points being added to your driving record, your insurance premium would remain unaltered.

How far to park from fire hydrant? — Endnote

In this article, we have comprehensively discussed how far to park from fire hydrant in Canada. You are also aware of the associated fines, penalties, and tickets. However, you need not worry about a spike in your insurance premium if you accidentally park close to a fire hydrant and get a parking ticket.

However, you might have other traffic convictions pushing up your insurance premiums. Talk to the brokers at your local insurance brokerage, and the professionals will recommend an affordable policy to keep the premiums manageable. Furthermore, the experts can also help you find the most comprehensive insurance package for your car.