Responsible Office: Physical Resources
Responsible Officer: Associate Vice-President (Physical Resources)
Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Previous Reviews: See Revision History
Approving Authority: Associate Vice-President (Physical Resources)
A1. Purpose
The purpose of this document is to establish the administrative system, including definitions, principles, and standards, applicable to pedestrian and vehicular traffic and parking activity on University property.
A2. Definitions
The defined terms in the Highway Traffic Act (Ontario) equally apply in this and subsequent guidelines. The defined terms in this guideline apply equally in subsequent guidelines.
account holder: a person intending to use/park in visitor parking on University property and who has registered and setup a parking account on either the University's online parking portal or with one of the University-approved third party mobile parking application, i.e. PayByPhone or HONK;
administratvie system: this Guideline A: Traffic & Parking Administrative System, consisting of definitions, guidelines, procedures, and/or processes, including regulations, appropriate and necessary to effect the requirements of policy;
authority: a person or entity having jurisdictional authority, whether federal, provincial, municipal, or otherwise, to act under and enforce legislation. Where the context allows, the term authority includes any law enforcement agency, police service or special constable authority having jurisdiction at the municipal location of the University property, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Guelph Police Service, and the Campus Safety Office;
business day: any weekday, excluding any holiday recognized and observed by the University;
community member: an employee, student, member of either the Board of Governors or the Board of Trustees, member of other University-established boards or committees, volunteer, contractor, person or group renting or otherwise permitted to use University property, visitor, applicant or invited guest;
establish: when used in the context of an administrative system, to establish, implement, manage, and maintain current;
legislation: any applicable by-law, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, standard, statute or code now or hereafter enacted, amended, re-enacted, supplemented, revised or replaced, in whole or in part, and promulgated by,or any directive or order issued, or any requirement made of, an authority having jurisdiction, whether federal, provincial, municipal or otherwise, relating to (pedestrian and vehicular) traffic and parking and applicable to and enforceable on the University, on activity on University property or at the municipal location of the University property;
parking facilities: a parking space and/or a series of parking spaces within a parking lot, a series of parking lots or other areas designated for parking purposes/uses, including a series of parking spaces adjacent to and along a roadway.
parking lot: a series of parking spaces within an area designated for parking purposes/ uses. Where the context allows, the term parking lot includes the entrance to & exit from such parking lot;
parking space: a space that has been clearly marked, typically between two parallel yellow painted lines, and designated by official signs from time to time as a space for vehicle parking;
parking year: the one-year period from May 1st to the immediately following April 30th inclusive.
permit-holder: a person who has registered and setup a parking account on the University parking portal for permit parking;
policy: this PR Policy 1.2.23: Traffic & Parking including the administrative system and the regulations;
regulations: any rule, prohibition, restriction, permission or other requirement of the University now or hereafter enacted, amended, re-enacted, supplemented, revised or replaced, in whole or in part and promulgated by the University, as Regulations attaching to and forming an integral part of the administrative system of this policy;
University: The University of Guelph. Where the context allows, the term University includes the approving authority, the responsible officer, and any University authority;
University authority: a person or entity having jurisdictional authority to act under this policy, including the regulations. Where the context allows, the term University authority includes the approving authority, the responsible officer, University units with delegated operational responsibilities and authorities, including Campus Parking Services, parking enforcement officers included and the Campus Safety Office, special constables included;
University property: any real property, either owned or leased, used, occupied or otherwise operated by or under the aegis of the University, including any land together with any building, structure and improvement thereon, including any natural environment, landscaped space, and athletic/recreational playing field, any roadway, shoulder, and bike lane, any sidewalk, pathway, and walkway, any parking facilities, as may be altered or added to, subtracted from, or rearranged, in whole or in part, by the University from time to time. When pertaining to any damage to or the destruction of, the term University property includes the furniture, furnishings, equipment, vehicles and other chattels of the University; and
University unit: an academic college or school, research or administrative department or other unit of the University.
A3. Principles
A3.1. Parking Services, No Obligation
While the University has no legal obligation to provide parking, parking is provided in parking facilities on University property for specific, designated purposes/uses and parking services are available to registered community members under license (as a privilege rather than an entitlement or right) in accordance with this policy, including the regulations.
A3.2. Parking Principles
The following parking principles are considered in the application of this policy, particularly at the University’s main campus in Guelph, Ontario:
- parking on University property is limited in availability at an approximate rate of one parking space for every seven or more community members;
- the University believes maintaining green space among campus development forms a necessary and an integral part of the University’s campus environment for the enjoyment of community members;
- all available University property either is in current use or has been reserved for contemplated use for academic, research, ancillary or other administrative purpose, which significantly limits opportunities for future parking expansion;
- the University places a priority on offering parking privileges to regular full-time employees, full-time commuter students, who travel daily to campus from outside of the Guelph area, community members with physical disabilities requiring accessible parking, and full-time students who have exceptional circumstances;
- students and employees are encouraged to use public transit for transportation to and from University property. Significantly discounted Guelph Transit bus passes have been negotiated for full-time students, the cost of which is included in student fees, and for full-time employees, which may be purchased through Campus Parking Services.
- Campus Parking Services operates parking services as a financially self-reliant ancillary operation offering community members reasonable access to visitor and permit parking facilities. Campus Parking Services is required to provide to the University a reasonable contribution in the form of rent for the long-term use of University property on which parking facilities are situated;
- Parking fees are established to reflect recovery of costs, including, but not limited to, costs of administration, management, safety, security, enforcement, operations, development, and maintenance. Parking fee rates may be viewed online; and
- Any fines/fees arising from violation notices issued in the enforcement of legislation are received and collected by the applicable authority having jurisdiction, while any fines/fees arising from violation notices issued in the enforcement of University policy, including this policy, the regulations included, are received and collected by Campus Parking Services in support of/to offset the cost of offering community members reasonable access to parking services. For greater certainty, the Campus Safety Office receives no financial contribution nor any (direct or indirect) monetary benefit from the collection of any fines/ fees arising from any violation notices issued in the enforcement of legislation or University policy, including this policy, the regulations included.
A4. Standards
A4.1. Governing Legislation
Unless otherwise specified, any applicable prohibition, restriction, permission or other requirement under legislation is, respectively, a prohibition, restriction, permission or other requirement on University property. The University has the right to and may supplement applicable legislation with further prohibitions, restrictions or other requirements considered advisable by the University
A4.2. Scope
Every person on University property and every vehicle entering, on or exiting University property observes and complies with legislation and University policy, including this policy, the regulations included.
By purchasing parking, parking a vehicle in a parking space or otherwise using parking, the person purchasing, parking or otherwise using parking is deemed to have entered into a parking license with the University to park the vehicle on University property, such license being a privilege (rather than an entitlement or a right) granted by the University to the person, subject always to the person observing the requirements of this policy, the regulations included.
Where a person is alleged to have contravened legislation or University policy, including this policy, the regulations included, that person will be processed according to applicable sanction(s), including:
- if a student, University policy: XIV General Information: Policy on Non-Academic Misconduct & Students Rights & Responsibilities and this policy, the regulations included;
- if an employee, any applicable policy, collective agreement or other terms and conditions of employment;
- if an external member of either the Board of Governors of the Board of Trustees while involved in a Board activity, Board Policy B.1: Good Governance Policy for the Board of Governors; or
- if any other person, this policy, the regulations included.
A4.3. University Rights
University property is the private property of the University of Guelph and, therefore for any reason considered advisable by the University (including emergency, maintenance, repair, construction, special event, prevention or misuse), the University has the right to and may:
- maintain full jurisdiction and control over University property and all activities thereon;
- plan, design, develop or redevelop, and maintain University property, including any building, structure and improvement thereon, including any natural environment, landscaped space, and athletic/ recreational playing field, any roadway, shoulder, and bike lane, any sidewalk, pathway, and walkway, and any parking facilities;
- use or permit the use of University property for any purpose whatsoever, and for greater clarity, impose any requirement that prohibits, restricts or otherwise controls activities on or in the use of University property;
- establish an administrative system to operationalize and effect this policy;
- enact regulations summarizing, in whole or in part, any prohibition, restriction, permission or other requirement applicable under legislation or imposing any further supplementary prohibition, restriction, permission or other requirements of the University;
- enforce, when and as necessary, and take action against any person and/ or vehicle contravening legislation or University policy, including this policy, the regulations included;
- obstruct or close access to University property, in whole or in part, including parking facilities, lots or spaces, and control or restrict pedestrians or vehicular traffic entering onto, circulating or operating within and exiting from University property, and for vehicles parking on University property;
- prohibit or restrict any person or vehicle from accessing or being on University property, or restrict or otherwise terminate, temporarily or permanently, parking privileges to any person or vehicle;
- make any adjustment, temporarily or permanently, on or to University property or to parking facilities, lots, and spaces and/ or parking services, including the types or designated purposes/ uses of parking, parking fees, hours of operation, number, size, orientation, configuration, or location of parking facilities, lots or spaces; and
- reassign or relocate, temporarily or permanently, parking facilities, lots, and/ or spaces, and reassign or relocate, temporarily or permanently, the parking facility, lot or space of a permit-holder(s) within the same, to a similar or relocated parking facility, lot or space. Where the reassignment or relocation is considered to be temporary, the University will, without any obligation whatsoever and compensation therefor, make every reasonable effort to provide advance notice.
A4.4. Official Signs
Official signs and devices may be erected on University property to facilitate the safe and orderly movement of pedestrian and vehicular traffic and the appropriate use of University property, including parking facilities, lots, and spaces, and every person shall observe and comply with the directions of such signs and devices.
A4.5. Responsibilities for Conduct, Acts and Omissions
The driver of a vehicle is responsible to the University for the driver’s conduct, acts and omissions and for the conduct, acts and omissions of passengers in the driver’s vehicle.
The passenger of a vehicle is responsible to the University for the passenger’s conduct, acts and omissions.
The owner of a vehicle is responsible to the University for the owner’s conduct, acts and omissions and for the conduct, acts and omissions of the permit-holder, driver and passengers in the owner’s vehicle.
The permit-holder/ account-holder is responsible to the University for the conduct, acts and omissions of the permit-holder/ account-holder and for the conduct, acts and omissions of the owner of, driver and passengers in the registered vehicle of the account-holder/ permit-holder.
A4.6. Driver Liability for Injury/ Death to Persons and Damage to Property
The driver of a vehicle is responsible for and assumes all liability for injury to and death of any person and for damage to or destruction of property, including University property, arising from the driver’s driving or operation of a vehicle.
A4.7. Permit-Holder/ Account-Holder, Driver and Owner Jointly and Severally Responsible
The permit-holder/ account-holder, driver and owner of a vehicle are held jointly and severally responsible for violations involving the vehicle, including any violation that occurs when the vehicle is being driven or operated without the owner’s consent.
The University does not assume any responsibility or liability whatsoever for:
- damage, destruction to or any theft or loss of any property, including any vehicle or the contents of any vehicle, or for any injury to or any death of any person, however caused; and
- reassignment or relocation of or any disruption, restriction, termination or other cancellation, whether temporary or permanent, or any loss suffered as a result therefrom, of any parking privileges to any person, permit-holders/ account-holders included, or vehicle, however caused.
A4.9. Legislation Supersedes
In the event of conflict between applicable legislation and this policy, the applicable legislation shall govern and this policy is deemed to be amended hereby to the extent necessary to eliminate the conflict.
A4.10. Privacy Statement
Personal information is collected by the University pursuant to the University of Guelph Act (1964). Personal information is collected and used to verify eligibility of persons to park on-campus, to maintain current information on persons and motor vehicles parking on campus, to process payments, to enforce and issue sanctions against violators of legislation or University policy, including this policy, the regulations included, to process reviews that may arise from violations, and to maintain a history of violations on campus. This information remains within the University unless required to pursue overdue accounts, in which case such information is disclosed to an outside agency. At all times collected information will be protected in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FIPPA).
Questions about the use and disclosure of personal information may be referred to Campus Parking Services.
A4.11. Notices/Violations
Any notice required to be given by the University under this policy may be given by email to the person concerned and/ or by placing the required notice on the windshield of the vehicle concerned, in which case the notice shall be deemed to have been received on the date of being given, or by sending the required notice by courier to the last known address of the person concerned from the University’s perspective, in which case the notice shall be deemed to have been received three business days after the date of sending.
A5. Violations
A5.1. University Sanction
In the event a person violates legislation or University policy, including this policy, the regulations included, or is in serious or repeated violation of legislation or University policy, including this policy, the regulations included, the University, in addition and without prejudice to any other right or remedy the University may have at law or under University policy, has the right to and may invoke any or all of the following sanctions, as may be appropriate and applicable in the circumstance:
- issue a violation notice and levy monetary fines. A schedule of certain violations and respective fines may be viewed online;
- tow, impound, and store and/ or authorize the towing, impoundment, and storage of a violator’s vehicle or an offending vehicle at the owner’s sole risk, expense and liability;
- issue a trespass to property notice banning the violator, the violator’s vehicle(s) or any offending vehicle from University property;
- revoke any permission to or prohibit any person, group or entity from conducting any activity that may be otherwise permitted under University policy or impose any requirement that prohibits, restricts or otherwise controls the activities of such person, group or entity while on University property, including the suspension, cancellation, revocation or otherwise termination of the violator's driving and parking privileges on University property. If the violator is a permit-holder/account-holder, such amount representing the University's liquidated damages and acceleration of charges against the permit-holder/account-holder;
- if the violation involves:
- a student, levy sanctions against the violator under University of Guelph, Students Rights and Responsibilities policy;
- an employee, levy sanctions against the violator under any applicable collective agreement or other terms and conditions of employment; or
- an external member of either the Board of Governors or the Board of Trustees while involved in a Board activity, process the violation under Board Policy B.1: Good Governance Policy for the Board of Governors;
- invoke other remedial or disciplinary action outlined in any terms and conditions applicable to the violator; and
- initiate criminal charges or civil legal proceedings against the violator.
A5.2. Failure to Pay Fines
In the event a violator fails to pay a fine levied by the University under this policy, the University, in addition and without prejudice to any other right or remedy the University may have at law or under University policy, has the right to either, or both, of the following sanctions, as may be applicable:
- refer the violator’s outstanding account to the Office of the Registrar for withholding of the violator’s student records, including grades, degrees, diplomas or certificates, or transcripts, and any refundable fees owing to the violator, until the violator’s outstanding account is settled; and
- refer the violator’s outstanding account to Financial Services for recovery by a collection agency.
A5.3. Violation Notice May be Subject to Review; Cannot Otherwise be Withdrawn or Cancelled
A violation notice that has been issued cannot be withdrawn or cancelled except through the prescribed review process of either:
- the University, in instances where such violation notice relating to a contravention of this policy, the regulations included, has been issued by Campus Parking Services; or
- the applicable authority having jurisdiction, in instances where such violation notice relating to a contravention of legislation has been issued by either the Campus Safety Office or another authority.
A5.4. Rates Subject to Change without Notice
Rates for fines for violations are subject to change without notice.
A5.5. MTO Search for Owner
In the event that the identity of a violator cannot be determined, the owner of the offending vehicle is deemed responsible for any related fines assessed. Under such circumstances, the University has the right to use the licence plate of the offending vehicle in a search of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation database to trace and identify the owner. Unless the identity of the violator can be verified, fines, together with any charges levied by the Ministry for such search and all other penalties and charges, will be applied against the account of the owner. The permit-holder, the driver, a passenger and the owner of an offending vehicle may be held jointly and severally responsible for any fines assessed pursuant to a violation notice.
A5.6. Towing
The University retains a third-party towing service to serve as the University’s approved towing company. The University has the right to and may authorize the University-approved towing company to tow or impound and store a violator’s vehicle or an offending vehicle, such actions are at the owner’s sole risk, expense, and liability. The University does not at any time, by virtue of either towing or impounding and storing a vehicle, or authorizing a vehicle to be towed or impounded and stored, become a bailor of towed or impounded vehicles.
The University does not assume any responsibility or liability whatsoever for any damage, destruction, theft or loss of any property, including a vehicle or the contents of a vehicle, or for injury to or death of a person, however caused from the towing, impoundment or storage of a vehicle.
A5.7. Payment of Fines
Fines for violations are applied against the violator’s account and become due and payable within ten business days after the date of issuance of a violation notice.
Payment to accounts may be made online using any of the following accepted payment methods: AMEX, Visa Debit, Visa, or MasterCard
If a violator’s payment is rejected for non-sufficient funds, the University may charge the violator an administrative fee for each occurrence. Administrative fees, together with all other outstanding fines, become immediately due and payable by the violator to the University.
A6. General Information and Assistance
A6.1. Campus Emergencies
For any University emergency, dial extension 52000 or 519-824-4120 ext 52000. The University emergency line is staffed 24 hours per day, 365 days per year by the Campus Safety Office.
A6.2. Parking Information Available Online
Parking locations, type of parking or designated purposes/ uses of parking, i.e. visitor parking, permit parking and other parking, hours of operation, and parking rates may be viewed online.
A6.3. Reporting Collisions, Other Problems
Motor vehicle collisions, missing or lost property, including a vehicle and/ or the contents therein, or vehicle breakdowns on University property should be reported to the Campus Safety Office. The Campus Safety Office may elect to further investigate any such incident or refer the matter to the Guelph Police Service.
A person who believes the person’s vehicle has been impounded should contact Campus Parking Services during office hours or the Campus Safety Office at any other time for further information or assistance.
A message left on a parked or abandoned vehicle will not prevent ticketing and/ or towing.
A6.4. Office Hours and Contact Information
| Campus Parking Services | Campus Safety Office |
|---|---|
| Staffed Hours 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. weekdays, except holidays |
Service Hours 24 hours per day, 365 days per year |
| www.parking.uoguelph.ca | www.cso.uoguelph.ca/ |
| 519-824-4120 ext 52118 | 519-824-4120 ext 52000 (Emergencies only) 519-824-4120 ext 52245 (non-emergency) |
| Trent Building, 32 Trent Lane PVT | Trent Building, 32 Trent Lane PVT |
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For information relating to parking, including:
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For information relating to enforcement, including:
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