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Parking facilities need to meet certain standards. And when property managers achieve these standards, they’re able to easily manage and maintain their parking operations while providing a safe setting for their visitors.  

The list below outlines the necessary tools to manage your parking operation successfully:

Signage 

Signage is a powerful tool in any parking facility, guiding vehicles and pedestrians safely to their destinations. Parking signage should feature:

• Parking rates visible at the parking lot entry, exit, and all payment points 

• Clearly identified pay stations throughout the parking lot

• Key facility information such as hours of operations, customer responsibilities and regulations

• Clearly marked parking lot stalls (i.e. accessible, visitors, and client-designated stalls) 

• Height restrictions and all other prohibitions visible at point of entry, exit, and wherever necessary around the facility

• Wayfinding strategically placed around the facility to help guide customers to their destinations

Lighting 

Sufficient lighting makes for a safe parking facility. Lighting should:

• Be positioned safely and appropriately to illuminate the facility and pathways for visitors

• Be maintained by certified electricians

• Ideally be LED for sustainable impacts on the environment

Safety 

Mitigating risk in your parking facility is just as important as it is throughout the rest of your facilities. Parking lot safety includes:

• Regular safety audits to ensure all aspects, including surface conditions, lighting, signage, traffic control and parking equipment maintenance, are frequently inspected and well-maintained

• Vehicle pathways that meet the minimum dimensions of the bylaw standards

• Designated vehicle and pedestrian pathways are clear of any possible obstructions

• Clearly marked designated stalls that adhere to bylaws standards (i.e. disabled parking)

• Emergency assistance stations 

• Surveillance, which connects your parking facility to a live central monitoring centre

Enforcement

Parking enforcement is the eyes and ears required for parking meter operations. Your parking enforcement services should:

• Feature clear signage that displays enforcement and facility regulations, such as rates, hours, prohibited and designated parking spots, and consequences for non-compliance

• Be scheduled regularly 

• Utilize cloud-based enforcement technology for real-time data and accuracy 

• Regularly train enforcement officers on existing bylaws, legislation, rates, and compliance procedures

• Have an established appeal and adjudication handling process that addresses staff and system errors

On-site Parking Attendants

On-site parking attendants are also the eyes and ears of your parking operation. On-site parking attendants should:

• Be trained on and knowledgeable about existing rules, regulations, rates, compliance procedures, and technology and equipment used at the facility

• Use clear and diverse communication methods to be able to service all visitors

• Wear professional uniforms to ensure they can be easily identified 

Ongoing Maintenance

A well-maintained parking facility is key, and can include:

• Regular parking equipment maintenance services, ensuring safe customer interactions

• Sign maintenance to ensure regulations and safety measures are enforced 

• Clear parking space lines for visibility and to ensure maximum capacity

• Seasonal snow removal and de-icing for obstruction-free walkways and parking stalls

• Asphalt repair for safe parking and walking conditions

• Regular cleaning and waste removal to maintain a clean and attractive facility

• Landscaping services (for outdoor facilities) for positive impressions

• Seasonal power washing and sweeping to remove debris build up

• Lighting and surveillance electrical checks, updates, and replacements

Bosco Tse

Client Relations Manager, Precise ParkLink

About Precise ParkLink

CANADA’S PARKING INDUSTRY LEADER FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.

When Precise ParkLink was founded more than 30 years ago, the company was a two-person field operation with a simple aspiration: to make a difference in the world of parking automation.

Since then, Precise ParkLink has grown into a nation-wide managed services and technology firm with more than 700 employees across Canada, a head office in Toronto, and 13 supporting offices across the country. 

But what sets us apart from other parking operators isn’t where we are, it’s what we are: a full-service parking solutions provider. One source for all your parking-related needs.

Precise ParkLink manages thousands of parking lots on behalf of hundreds of property owners. We supply cutting-edge technology and services to thousands of clients in the healthcare, municipal, commercial, institutional, and private sectors. 

Being a vertically integrated company puts us in a unique position. We can provide a level of management and technical integration that is best-in-class. Just ask the hundreds of clients to whom we’ve delivered cost-effective and customer-focused solutions over the years.