Complaints

 How to submit 
By-law receives in excess of 6,000 By-law complaints a year. For this reason, among others, we do not accept anonymous complaints. All complaints, including emails, must contain the complainant's name, address and phone number prior to a complaint being generated.

Complaints can be filed with the Town by:

Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS)

 What is an Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMP System)?
An AMP System is a municipally administered program that replaces the current Court system with a faster, more flexible and customer focused adjudication process for Municipal offences. One of the main objectives of an AMP System is to create a simple, accessible, fair and cost-effective system for dealing with violations.

Why is Ajax moving to an AMP System?

Over the last decade the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Office has been asking that local municipalities create an AMP System within their local jurisdictions to remove the traditional Provincial Offences Act (POA) offences such as Provincial Offence Tickets and Parking Infractions away from the Courts. This will lessen the strain on an already overburdened and backlogged court system.

In September 2023, the Town’s Council resolved to implement an AMP System for parking enforcement. In March 2024, the Town moved away from the traditional Provincial Offences Act based parking enforcement system to one that is governed by the Municipal Act, 2001 and established an internal AMP System.

What are some advantages of an AMP System?

Enhanced Customer Benefits

The proposed AMP System would provide an increased level of customer service to the residents and visitors to the Town in dealing with parking violations.

  • Screening review requests will be submitted via an online request form, further enhancing customer service, as the request can be submitted at any time, at the convenience of the accused.
  • The Hearings Officers will be located at Ajax Town Hall which provides residents with access to administrative penalty disputes within their own municipality rather than having to travel to a court.
  • Hearing appointments will be conducted days, afternoons, and evenings.
  • Residents/Visitors would be able to have their reviews scheduled within a few weeks compared to months or potentially years with disputes under the POA.
  • Hearings offers the public a resident-friendly dispute resolution process compared to the traditional process held in a POA court which can be intimidating and confusing for many.

How does Ajax ensure fairness of the AMP System?

Several Council and Senior Management policies and measures have been put in place to ensure the Town’s new AMP process is fair and objective for all. As the traditional judicial review is being moved from the standard court structure to an internal Town governed system, the Ajax Town Council must ensure that the safeguards typically afforded to the courts through appropriate legislation preventing political interference and/or influence or which identifies conflict of interests have been put in place to ensure the same high ethical standards in our internal system. Some of the policies include the AMPS Conflict of Interest Policy, AMPS Prevention of Political Interference Policy, and AMPS Financial Hardship Policy.
 Do the AMP penalty notices cost more than traditional parking tickets?
No. The penalty notice costs approved by Council are the same set fines as the previous POA parking tickets except for parking during inclement weather and parking while interfering with snow removal.

Any inaction towards a penalty notice will result in additional fees that will be added to the original cost as it ages through the process. This is no different than the process for a traditional parking ticket that aged through the POA system where by the time the parking ticket reached the Ministry of Transportation for plate denial, the cost to the vehicle owner was significantly higher than the original ticket fine.

AMP System FAQs

 What is a penalty notice?
Under the AMP System, a penalty notice is the new name of a “parking ticket”. The penalty notice is issued within the Town of Ajax by a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer, a Police Officer, or an authorized and appointed individual. The Town issues two (2) types of a Penalty Notice; an electronic one that has a white background with the Town crest that is 17.5 cm by 7.5 cm and a handwritten one that is yellow coloured with the Town crest that is 11 cm by 21.5 cm.
 How do I know if a have a Parking Ticket (POA) or a Penalty Notice (AMPS)?
Parking Ticket – it was issued on or before before July 21, 2024

Penalty Notice - it was issued on or after July 22, 2024
 I received a Penalty Notice – what are my options to pay it?
Your options are listed on the back of the Penalty Notice. The 4 options include:


1.  ONLINE: Using Visa or Mastercard
ajax.ca/payticket

2. BY MAIL: Send cheque or money order to:

Town of Ajax
65 Harwood Ave South
Ajax, ON
L1S 2H9


3. 24 HOUR DROP BOX

Deposit cheque or money order in the drop box at the main entrance (the east side of the building) at Ajax Town Hall at 65 Harwood Ave South.


4. IN PERSON

Pay by debit, credit card, cheque, money order or cash at the Ajax Town Hall located at 65 Harwood Ave. South, during regular business hours – Monday to Friday (excluding holidays) 8:30am-4:30 pm

Please Note:
- Cheques and money orders must be made out to the Town of Ajax
- Include the penalty notice number on the cheque or money order
- Do not send cash by mail or drop box
- All payments must be received by the penalty due date to avoid additional fees
- Dishonoured cheques will be subject to additional fees
 How do I contest the Penalty Notice?
The process to contest a Penalty Notice is called a Screening. You can submit a request to have your Penalty Notice screened online at ajax.ca/screening. The Screening Officer’s decision will be emailed to you at the email address provided.
Are the individuals who issue penalty notices also Screening Officers?

No. Screening Officers and Hearing Officers are not permitted to enforce Ajax By-laws to ensure the integrity of the entire system process.

An Appointed Screening Officer is responsible to screen or “review” any Parking Penalty Notice that has been moved forward by someone who either is the owner of the vehicle or has the authority of the owner of the vehicle to select a screening as an option. If an individual does not agree with the decision of the Screening Officer they have the option to appeal the matter to a Hearing Officer.

Additionally, the Town’s Screening Officers and contract Hearing Officers complete their job functions outside political or Ajax staff interference. Please see section above titled: How does Ajax ensure fairness of the AMP System?
 What if I missed the deadline to schedule a screening review?
A request to extend the deadline for submitting a Screening can be submitted up to 30 days after the date the Penalty Notice was issued at ajax.ca/screeningextension.

Once received, the Screening Officer will determine if the grounds for the extension of time are approved. You will receive an email response within 5 days advising you of the outcome of your request.   
 What if I would like to contest the Screening Officer’s decision?
If the matter is still in dispute following the review by the Screening Officer, you can request a review by a Hearing Officer before the payment due date listed on your screening decision notice. Hearings are in person at Ajax Town Hall and are prebooked. A Hearing Officer presides at the quasi-judicial Hearing. The Hearing Officer’s decision is final. Instructions on how to book a Hearing are included in the Screening Officer’s Decision. A Hearing cannot be booked unless a Screening has already occurred. 
 Can someone else act on my behalf during a screening review or hearing review appointment?
 Yes. As long as the person that is representing you is doing so with your knowledge and consent.
 What if I do not attend the Hearing appointment?
If you do not attend your scheduled Hearing appointment, the penalty notice will be confirmed, and the vehicle’s registered owner will be required to pay a fee for failing to attend the appointment. The fee for failure to appear at a scheduled Hearing appointment is contained in the Town’s Fees & Charges By-law.
 What will happen if I ignore the penalty notice?
If you do not dispute the ticket by requesting a screening or paying the penalty within 15 days, you will be sent a Late Notice and will be required to pay additional administrative fees. Furthermore, if the penalty notice and administrative fees remain unpaid, a Final Notice will be sent, including additional fees. If the amount owing in the Final Notice is still not paid by the due date, a notice of default will be sent to the Ministry of Transportation which will result in your Ontario Vehicle Permit renewal being denied, and additional fees will be incurred.

Parking Enforcement / Towing

General Parking Provisions - Town Wide
Parking Penalty Notices are issued by Town of Ajax Municipal Law Enforcement Officers, Durham Regional Police Officers and appointed private property agents. When operating a vehicle it is your responsibility to be aware of where and how you park, and to be aware of the applicable by-laws pertaining to the area.

Common parking rules in Ajax:

  • All streets in the Town are subject to parking no longer than 3 hours, unless otherwise posted
  • Do not park overnight between 1 – 5 a.m.
  • Do not park over a sidewalk or footpath
  • Do not park a commercial vehicle or tow truck on a residential street
  • Do not park in front of or within 1.25m of a driveway
  • Do not park within 3m of a fire hydrant
  • Do not park within 15m of an intersection

For more parking rules and parking ticket information, please refer to the Town's Parking Brochure. Please note, parking by-laws are proactively enforced.
Pay or Dispute a Parking Penalty Notice

The process to contest a Penalty Notice is called a Screening. You can submit a request to have your Penalty Notice screened online at ajax.ca/screening. The Screening Officer’s decision will be emailed to you at the email address provided.

Payments can be made online through our Online Payment Service using your:

  • VISA
  • VISA Debit
  • MasterCard
  • MasterCard Debit

A convenience fee of $2.00 will apply to all payments.  

Pay a Parking Penalty
Notice online here.

You can also pay by:

 

MAIL: Send cheque or money (include Parking Penalty Notice #) to:

Town of Ajax
65 Harwood Ave South
Ajax, ON
L1S 2H9


24 HOUR DROP BOX: Deposit cheque or money order (include Parking Penalty Notice #) in the drop box at the main entrance (the east side of the building) at Ajax Town Hall at 65 Harwood Ave South.


IN PERSON: Pay by debit, credit card, cheque, money order or cash at the Ajax Town Hall located at 65 Harwood Ave. South, during regular business hours – Monday to Friday (excluding holidays) 8:30am-4:30 pm

Please Note:
- Cheques and money orders must be made out to the Town of Ajax
- Include the penalty notice number on the cheque or money order
- Do not send cash by mail or drop box
- All payments must be received by the penalty due date to avoid additional fees
- Dishonoured cheques will be subject to additional fees

The process to contest a Penalty Notice is called a Screening. You can submit a request to have your Penalty Notice screened online at ajax.ca/screening. The Screening Officer’s decision will be emailed to you at the email address provided.
 Towing Information

By-law Services will be utilizing the services of Classic Towing & Storage for the authorized towing of vehicles found in contravention of the Town's Traffic By-law from both private property and municipal roads.

Please view the 2024 Towing & Storage Fee Schedule, which includes the address, hours of operations, and payment options for Classic Towing & Storage. 

Parking Permits

 Waterfront Parking - Registration and Fees 
From May 15 to September 15, each year, a parking management plan will be in effect in the Ajax Waterfront area to manage increased parking on weekends (Saturday & Sunday) and public holidays. The plan includes paid parking for non-residents and designated parking areas.

 

 Waterfront Parking Maps
 Ajax Resident Waterfront Parking Permit - Free upon Registration
Ajax residents can park for free at designated parking areas - parking lots and signed streets - at the Ajax Waterfront by registering their license plates online. View resident parking bulletin.

How to register your plates:

  • Register now with our online parking portal
  • Only valid once approved by By-law Services. Residents must provide vehicle registration and proof of address (for example, a driver's license, a current tax, or a current utility bill, etc.) Email confirmation sent once approved
    Note, when approved or denied all proof documents are deleted within 24 hours
  • Print and display not required, plate is registered electronically
  • No limit to number of vehicles registered per household
  • Please note, residents must register annually to confirm address
  • Waterfront Resident Guest Parking Permits - Each household living within the parking controlled restricted streets located in the Rotary Park Area or Central Ajax Area  are entitled to 10 free Waterfront Resident Guest Parking Permits (10 per season, per household). These permits are automatically contained within your parking account.
Paradise Beach Residents Parking Permit - Free upon Registration
Only residents living in the Paradise Beach area can park their vehicles on streets signed “No Parking – Registered Local Residents Parking Only” by registering their license plates online.

How to register your plates:

  • Register now with our online parking portal
  • Limit of 1 vehicle per household
  • Only valid once approved by By-law Services. Residents must provide vehicle registration and proof of address (for example, a driver's license, a current tax bill, or a current utility bill, etc.) Email confirmation sent once approved
    Note, when approved or denied all proof documents are deleted within 24 hours
  • Park free in designated paid parking areas for waterfront season
  • Proof of residency and vehicle registration is required on an annual basis
Visitors Paid Parking (Non-resident)  

Visitors (non-residents) must pay to park at designated parking areas - parking lots and signed streets - at the Ajax Waterfront. View visitor parking bulletin. 

How visitor paid parking works:

  • Pay at ajax.ca/parkandpay
  • $20 per visit (valid until 9 p.m. the same day) or $10 for 3 hours
  • Park in designated paid parking areas
  • $60 parking ticket for violations 
 Waterfront Parking FAQ
 Please see below for frequently asked questions and more information.  
General
What is the Ajax Waterfront Parking Plan?

To manage visitor parking along the Ajax waterfront, the Town is introducing a new weekend parking management plan. The plan includes designated areas for visitor paid parking, designated no parking, and designated local resident-only parking in three waterfront zones – Rotary Park, Central Waterfront, and Paradise Beach.

Why is this being implemented now?

The Ajax waterfront has become such a popular destination (once a passive unknown gem). One problem of this success year after year is the lack of safe, accessible parking. We are flooded with complaints every summer about the parking challenges - taking away resources from other parts of Town. Further, emergency vehicles have difficulty maneuvering in the area. Finally, we don’t want to pave over existing green space to accommodate more parking.

When does the plan come in to effect?

The plan is in effect every Saturday and Sunday and on public holidays from May 15 to September 15, annually.

Who do I contact with questions regarding the waterfront parking plan and paid parking?

Please contact By-Law Services by phoning 905-619-2529, ext. 3370, faxing 905-683-1061 or emailing bylawservices@ajax.ca. Please include your name, address and phone number with your questions.
Resident
Do Ajax residents have to pay to park at Ajax Waterfront?

No, paid parking only applies to visitors from outside of Ajax. Ajax residents can park for free in the designated parking lots and zones by providing proof of residency and registering their license plates online at ajax.ca/Register. Permits are issued electronically and are automatically attached to the license plate – no printed display is required. Permits are only valid once approved by By-law, a confirmation email will be sent within 24 hours. Registration must be done annually. 

How do resident waterfront parking permits work?

Resident waterfront parking permits allow registered Ajax resident vehicle(s) to park within any street area signed as “Waterfront Permit Parking ONLY” and/or within any of the six Town of Ajax waterfront parking lots for the identified days and times free of charge.

View Central waterfront area map View Rotary waterfront area map

How do Paradise Beach resident parking permits work?

A: Paradise Resident Parking Permits allow local paradise community residents to park vehicles within any street area signed as a “No Parking – Registered Local Residents Parking Only” for the identified days and times without being ticketed. 

View Paradise Beach area map

How long is a resident parking permits valid?

Resident parking permits are valid from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on any Saturday, Sunday or public holiday from May 15 to September 15 of the year of issuance.

Does the parking plan include the accessibility parking spots?

The accessibility permit allows for specific parking spots. An Ajax resident with an accessible permit would still need to register their plate for free parking. All non-residents would be required to pay. 

How do I know my personal information is secure?

The third party contractor hired by the Town to host the parking permit portal has all the required security protocols in place. This was part of the tendering process. They purge all attachments (vehicle registrations, drivers licenses, tax bills, etc) supplied by the applicant 24 hours after the permit has been approved.
Visitor
How does visitor paid parking work?

Visitors can park in paid parking zones and lots at the Ajax Waterfront. Payment signs will be installed for visitors with a QR code and web address (ajax.ca/parkandpay) to pay for parking online via mobile device. To reduce paper transactions, parking can only be paid for online.

As a non-resident, how much does it cost to park and how long is the permit valid?

Visitor parking permits cost $20 per day, or $10 for 3 hours, and are valid from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. the same day of purchase, available on any Saturday, Sunday or public holiday from May 15 to September 15 of each year.

What happens if visitors don’t purchase a parking pass?

$60 parking infraction tickets are in effect for violation.

How do I pay a parking ticket?

Payments can be made online through our Online Payment Service using your VISA, VISA Debit, MasterCard, MasterCard Debit or American Express. A convenience fee of $2.00 will apply to all payments.

Payments can also be done in person at 65 Harwood Avenue South using cash, debit or cheque, you can mail your cheque to 65 Harwood Avenue South, Ajax, ON., L1S 2H9 or drop it off in our overnight drop box. Be sure to include your Infraction Number on your memo section of the Cheque. Please note that the Town does not accept postdated cheques.

Pursuant to the Provincial Offences Act, all “Trial Requests” must be made in person and you must complete a “Notice of Intention to Appear” form at 65 Harwood Avenue South, Ajax.

Please note, remaining parking provisions within the Traffic By-law remain in effect. The Town's Parking Brochure lists parking prohibitions and enforcement procedures and practices.

For questions or assistance, contact bylawservices@ajax.ca or call 905-619-2529, ext. 3370.
 Occasional Use Parking Permit (OUPP) - Town Wide
This permit allows all visitors and residents to apply for, and receive, a parking exemption for the prohibitions of parking longer than 3 hours and for parking between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

How it Works

  • 17 OUPPs available per year, per license plate (first 5 permits are free, and the following 12 are $12 per permit plus tax). Please note effective January 1, 2025, there is a temporary increase in the number of parking permits available through the OUPP system, until the Town’s Parking Master Plan is complete, to 28 OUPPs available per year, per license plate (first 10 permits are free, and the following 18 are $12 per permit plus tax).
  • Permits are valid for 24 hours.
  • Permits are available 24/7 online.
  • Permits are issued electronically and are automatically attached to the license plate - no print and display required.

Apply for permit here.

Restrictions

  • Permits will not be valid or issued during active snow events, which would include the day(s) before, during, or after a major event, when plowing or salting are taking place.
  • Permits will not be valid if attached to a commercial vehicle greater than 7m in length or to a tow truck.
  • All vehicles must have valid licence plates belonging to the vehicle it is attached to.
  • It is the vehicle owner’s responsibility to park legally as all other provisions of the By-law will apply, (15m from an intersection, 3m from a fire hydrant, 1.25m from a driveways, etc. will still be in force).
  • Permits will be revoked during an active snow event.
  • Permits will not be issued during an active snow event.
  • By-law parking officers investigate parking complaints based on the time of day, type of complaint, location, etc. Parking enforcement is not staffed or designed to respond to immediate parking concerns.

Forms and Applications 

Complete and apply  

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