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Parking

Downtown Nanaimo has many parking spaces at affordable hourly, daily and monthly rates. Underground and parkade parking is available at multiple locations around downtown to keep your car safe, secure and off of the road. Follow signs to ensure that you are properly parked for the length of your stay.

Free Parking During Snow

When road conditions do not allow for on-street parking during adverse snow conditions the City of Nanaimo will allow vehicles to park on Level P-2 of the Vancouver Island Conference Centre Parkade free of charge. This level is not heavily used and can accommodate vehicles that would regularly park on the street.

Allowing free parking in the parkade will give Engineering and Public Works the opportunity to clear snow from the streets and will provide customer parking for downtown businesses. If snow conditions merit, citizens will be advised of the availablity of free parking through the City's web page (www.nanaimo.ca), by radio advertising, temporary signage, and emails from the DNBIA.

Quick parking tips:

For the Old City Quarter on-street parking is available on most streets. Watch for 2 hour time limits in the areas closest to Wesley and Selby Streets. Remember that the Bastion Street Parkade is just a short walk across the bridge and there are pay parking lots available on Wentworth, Prideaux and Dunsmuir Streets as well.

For Arts District parking use the Bastion Street Parkade and the VICC Parkade accessible off of Gordon Street for long term parking. On street parking is metered or two hour maximum in most places and the parking lot off of Terminal Avenue is coin only. Also don't forget that there is free two hour parking available on Shaw Lane near the China Steps and metered parking on Wallace and Chapel Streets.

For the Harbourfront area, you'll find plenty of parking in the Port of Nanaimo Parkade accessible from Anchor Way or Wharf Street. Remember that Port Place Mall parking is three hour maximum and is for mall and Great Canadian Casino patrons only.

Downloads:

City of Nanaimo Parking Strategy, June 2010 (PDF)

http://www.nanaimo.ca/assets/Departments/Permits~Bylaw~and~Properties/Bylaw~Services/Parking/PARKING.pdft