Newmarket Prepares for Winter Parking Rules and November Infrastructure Closures

This report by Farshad Fazaeli is based on information published by Town of Newmarket and Government of Ontario.

As late autumn arrives, Newmarket residents face several changes to their daily travel routines. The municipality is introducing seasonal overnight street parking restrictions, while planned regional and municipal maintenance projects will affect local drivers, transit riders, and trail visitors through November.

Winter Parking Restrictions and Off-Street Permits

Starting November 1, 2026, Newmarket's winter parking rules come into effect and remain active until April 15, 2027. Under these longstanding rules, vehicles are prohibited from parking on town streets overnight between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. According to municipal officials, this seasonal ban ensures streets remain clear of parked vehicles to improve visibility, assist overnight snowplow operations, and ensure emergency vehicles can navigate neighborhoods safely. The past two winters brought high volumes of snow events across the area, underlining the need to keep roadways unobstructed.

Enforcement continues every night regardless of whether it snows. Violators face a $100 fine. Other year-round parking regulations remain in effect across the community.

To help residents host guests or manage vehicle storage, the Town provides the Off-Street Parking Program. First introduced in 2020, the initiative allows drivers to apply for a free digital permit at parking.newmarket.ca by entering their vehicle details. Hard copies do not need to be printed or displayed on vehicle dashboards.

Vehicles with valid permits can park in designated spaces overnight between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. the following morning at seven municipal sites:

• Municipal Offices (395 Mulock Drive)
• Magna Centre (800 Mulock Drive)
• Ray Twinney Recreation Complex (100 Eagle Street)
• Downtown Newmarket P3 Parking Lot (Doug Duncan Drive)
• Bonshaw Park (130 Bonshaw Avenue)
• George Richardson Park (395 Bayview Parkway)
• Armstrong Family Park (860 Joe Persechini Drive)

Drivers must vacate these parking stalls by 7 a.m. each morning so spaces can be cleared of snow and made available for regular daytime visitors. Anyone with questions regarding permits can reach Newmarket Customer Service at info@newmarket.ca or by calling 905-895-5193.

Rail Maintenance Prompts Davis Drive Closure

Later in November, regional infrastructure maintenance will temporarily sever a primary east-west arterial corridor. Metrolinx is undertaking a state of good repair project to rehabilitate the railway crossing on Davis Drive.

Davis Drive will be closed to through traffic between Main Street and Prospect Street starting at 9 p.m. on Friday, November 13, weather permitting. Westbound traffic on Davis Drive will only be permitted as far as The Tannery Mall, the Newmarket GO Station at 465 Davis Drive, and the Newmarket Seniors' Meeting Place at 474 Davis Drive. Eastbound traffic will be maintained up to Superior Street.

Property access within the closure boundaries will remain open, but no vehicles will be permitted across the railway tracks. Detour signs will guide motorists and pedestrians around the construction area. Metrolinx notes that GO Transit schedules may be disrupted, and travellers should verify trip times at gotransit.com/schedules before departure. York Region Transit bus routes will detour around the crossing, with updated schedules posted on yrt.ca. Questions regarding the rail work can be sent to Metrolinx York Region at YorkRegion@metrolinx.com.

Bridge Upgrades on the Tom Taylor Trail

Pedestrians and cyclists will also encounter localized closures earlier in the month. The Town of Newmarket is scheduled to perform maintenance on the pedestrian bridge over Fairy Lake along the Tom Taylor Trail from November 2 to 6, 2026, weather permitting.

The maintenance project involves replacing the bridge's steel stringers to extend the structure's service lifespan. During the closure, a section of the trail near the boardwalk will be shut down to keep the public safe during work. Detour signs will direct users around the construction area. Cyclists entering the trail network from the Municipal Offices are instructed to use only the west side and must refrain from riding along the boardwalk. Project updates are available online at heynewmarket.ca/fairylakebridge.

Ongoing Municipal Utility Performance

Alongside upcoming roadway and trail work, Newmarket recently confirmed high operational standards within its municipal utilities. On October 23, in conjunction with provincial Water and Waste Water and Stormwater Operators Appreciation Day, the Town announced it received a 100 percent inspection rating from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for the sixth straight year. The provincial score confirms Newmarket meets all standards required under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002. Mayor John Taylor credited local operators, noting that staff work through all seasons and weather conditions to ensure reliable drinking water, manage stormwater, and protect against local flooding.

Sources

• Town of Newmarket: Newmarket switches to winter parking program starting November 1
• Town of Newmarket: November 13 to 18: Davis Drive road closure – Metrolinx
• Town of Newmarket: November 2 to 6 - Fairy Lake Bridge Construction
• Town of Newmarket: Town of Newmarket meets the highest standard for drinking water inspection for the sixth consecutive year
• Government of Ontario: Winter driving | ontario.ca