Drivers in Grande Prairie, Alberta, can now park their cars back on main roads and bus routes after the city lifted its seasonal parking ban on Thursday afternoon. The City of Grande Prairie officially ended the restrictions at 3:30 p.m. on January 22, 2026, as major snow clearing is now finished for these areas.
The ban had been in effect since December 8, 2025, to give plows enough space to work on busy streets like 100 Street, 84 Avenue, and 68 Avenue. During this time, local news reported that the Grande Prairie Police Service (GPPS) recorded 499 tickets between Dec. 8 and Jan. 12 for parking violations during snow removal operations. The City’s Traffic Bylaw C-1166 says vehicles left on marked snow routes when a ban is declared are subject to a fine and/or removal; Schedule 1 of that bylaw lists a range of parking-related fines (for example, $25 for improper use of a metered space, $35 for overtime parking, $78 for unspecified offences, and higher amounts for other offences such as illegally parking in a disabled space). The bylaw does not list a $68 starting fine.
While the ban is over, officials say drivers must still be careful not to park next to large snow piles, known as windrows, left on the side of the road. These piles can make the street too narrow for other cars or emergency vehicles to pass safely. According to the city’s Winter Parking Bans policy, parking in a way that blocks traffic can still result in a ticket or a tow.
Now that the main corridors are clear, the city is shifting its focus to smaller residential streets. People living in those areas should check the local clearing schedule to see if their neighbourhood is next on the list for snow removal.
