Permis PrêtWhere is parking prohibited in Quebec? The distances to know
Fire hydrants, intersections, crosswalks: numbers that come up often on the knowledge test.
Short answer: unless it is necessary, you may not stop a vehicle within 3 m of a fire hydrant, or in an intersection, on a pedestrian or bicycle crossing or a railway crossing, or within 5 m of them. Near a police or fire station, it is 5 m on the same side and 8 m on the opposite side. Once parked, the vehicle must be no more than 30 cm from the curb, facing the direction of traffic.
“Stopping”, not just “parking”
Section 386 of the Code de la sécurité routière (Quebec’s Highway Safety Code) does not only cover parking: it prohibits stopping (“immobiliser”) the vehicle at the places it lists, except in case of necessity or where another rule of the Code allows it. A stop of a few minutes with the engine running is therefore also covered. The Code also prohibits any stop that makes a sign ineffective, obstructs traffic or road work, or blocks access to a property (s. 382).
The minimum distances
| Place | No stopping |
|---|---|
| Fire hydrant | Within 3 m |
| Police or fire station | Within 5 m; within 8 m if you are on the opposite side of the road |
| Intersection | In it, and within 5 m |
| Signed pedestrian or bicycle crossing | On it, and within 5 m |
| Railway crossing | On it, and within 5 m |
Source: Highway Safety Code, s. 386, paras. 2 to 4; Guide de la route, ch. 4, “Interdictions”.
Other places where stopping is prohibited
Section 386 also prohibits stopping:
- on a sidewalk or a median;
- in a roundabout;
- in a loading zone or a zone reserved for public transit buses;
- on an elevated road, a bridge, an overpass or in a tunnel;
- on a highway (limited-access road), its entrance and exit ramps and its interchange ramps;
- in a lane reserved for certain vehicles;
- in front of a curb ramp built for people with disabilities;
- anywhere a sign prohibits parking.
Stopping on the roadway is also prohibited where the speed limit is 70 km/h or more, unless it is necessary or a sign allows it (s. 384). A space reserved for people with disabilities requires the permit tag provided for in the Code (s. 388).
Exception: to let a person with a disability get in or out, you may stop at one of the places listed in s. 386 if it is safe (s. 387).
Parking correctly
- 30 cm maximum from the nearest curb, facing the same direction as traffic (s. 383).
- On a slope: parking brake applied and front wheels turned so that the front of the vehicle would move toward the curb if it rolled (s. 383).
- Before leaving the vehicle: remove the key and lock the doors (s. 381). Never leave a child under 7 alone in the vehicle (s. 380).
- Forced stop on the roadway at night: parking lights or hazard lights on, or lamps, reflectors or flares visible from at least 150 m (s. 385).
A peace officer may have a vehicle stopped in breach of these rules towed and stored at the owner’s expense (s. 390).
Fines set by the Code
- Stopping at a place prohibited by s. 386, paras. 1 to 8 (hydrant, intersection, crosswalk, bridge, etc.): $100 to $200 (s. 509).
- Wrong position (s. 383), stopping on a road at 70 km/h or more (s. 384), key left in or doors unlocked (s. 381): $60 to $120 (s. 506).
Key points for the test
- Fire hydrant: 3 m.
- Intersection, crosswalk, railway crossing: 5 m.
- Police or fire station: 5 m, or 8 m on the opposite side.
- 30 cm from the curb, facing the direction of traffic.
Original questions with explanations and sources, “Highway Safety Code” section.
Practise for free
See also
Official sources
- Code de la sécurité routière (Highway Safety Code, CQLR c. C-24.2), ss. 380 to 388, 390, 506 and 509
- SAAQ, Guide de la route (4th ed., 2024, French), ch. 4, “Immobilisation et stationnement des véhicules” (“Obligations” and “Interdictions”)
General information page, current as of 2026-10-28. If in doubt, the official text prevails. Rules can change: check saaq.gouv.qc.ca and legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca.