Starting June 1, visitors to downtown Whitby can enjoy up to four hours of free parking in two municipal lots, as part of a summer pilot approved by the town. The free parking runs through September 30, 2026, in Municipal Lot #5 at Colborne and Green streets and Municipal Lot #6 on Perry Street. The move aims to make it easier for customers to support local shops and restaurants facing ongoing economic challenges.
The pilot passed unanimously at Whitby’s Committee of the Whole on May 11 before receiving full Council approval. A staff report notes that downtown businesses “continue to face economic pressures in a challenging climate and benefit from measures that improve accessibility and customer convenience.” The Downtowzn Whitby Business Improvement Area, which represents over 300 businesses, has long pushed for ways to bring more people into the core.
The selected lots have not been used as heavily as other downtown parking areas, the town says. Normally, parking in Whitby’s municipal lots costs $1.10 per hour. Free parking in municipal lots across town is already offered after 6 p.m. on weekdays and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. This pilot extends free daytime parking at these two lots throughout the busy summer months, including the popular Home Sweet Home Festival returning July 25, which attracted 40,000 people in 2025.
Town staff will monitor how many people use the free parking, gather feedback from businesses, residents, and visitors, and look at any costs or operational issues. A report with recommendations on whether to keep the program is due to council by the end of 2026. According to the Whitby Council Highlights – May 2026, the results will help decide if the pilot should continue beyond September.
Whitby has six municipal lots in the downtown core and one in Brooklin with 90 spaces. A 2017 petition that gathered 214 signatures called for lower parking rates, citing affordability concerns for workers and customers. With the town expected to grow from about 140,000 to nearly 190,000 by 2031, parking demand will only increase. For now, shoppers and diners can park for free in Lots #5 and #6 all summer long.
