Starting May 15, 2026, property owners in Lacombe County, Alberta, will be able to park for free at two of the region’s busiest lakefront locations. The update applies specifically to the Sandy Point Beach & Boat Launch and the Sunbreaker Cove Boat Launch, where visitors usually have to pay fees to park their vehicles.
To access the free parking, eligible residents must register their vehicle license plates through the HotSpot Parking system at least 24 hours before they arrive. Each tax account is allowed to register up to three different license plates to cover the vehicles owned by the household.
The Lacombe County Council approved the change on February 12, 2026, as a response to feedback from local residents. Reeve John Ireland noted that many people felt they were being charged twice for using public spaces that were already funded through their municipal property taxes.
While property owners benefit from the new rules, the county confirmed that seasonal lot renters are not eligible for free parking. This is because these renters do not pay the municipal property taxes on the land where they stay, which is the requirement for the parking exemption.
