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The City of Guelph Administrative Penalty System (APS) gives registered vehicle owners a simpler, quicker way to pay a parking penalty notice (parking ticket), pay a red light camera penalty order (red light camera ticket), request a review, or resolve a dispute online or in person.
What to do if You’ve Received an Administrative Penalty Notice
Pay a Penalty
If you received a penalty notice for a parking violation (parking ticket) or a red light camera violation (red light camera ticket), you can pay the penalty or dispute it through APS. Follow the instructions on your notice and act within the required timelines. You can pay a penalty notice online or in person at ServiceGuelph or court counters.
Parking Penalties
Red Light Camera Penalties
Dispute a Penalty
If you believe your penalty notice was issued in error, you may request a screening dispute. You can request to dispute a penalty online or in person at ServiceGuelph or Court Services.
Parking Penalties
Red Light Camera Penalties
How the APS Process Works
Screening Review
A Screening Officer will review your penalty notice and any information you provide. After the review, the officer may:
- confirm the penalty
- reduce the penalty
- cancel the penalty
- extend time to pay the penalty
You will receive the decision in writing.
Hearing Review
If you disagree with the Screening Officer’s decision, you may request a Hearing Review. A Hearing Officer will conduct a final review. The Hearing Officer’s decision is final.
Accessibility and Accommodations
If you require accommodation, please contact:
Information and Access Coordinator
519-822-1260 ext. 2349
[email protected]
If Your Ticket Does Not Qualify for APS
Some older tickets or specific offences may still follow the Provincial Offences Act. If your notice includes an infraction number instead of a penalty notice number, use the traditional payment system.
To pay a non‑APS parking ticket:
- Enter your parking ticket infraction number
- Select your payment method
- Submit your payment
- You will receive a confirmation email once payment is processed
For questions about non‑APS tickets or trial requests:
Related Forms
Tickets Issued Before May 1, 2025
- To pay your parking ticket issued before May 1, 2025, please pay your parking ticket online. Fill out the information (please enter your parking ticket infraction number instead of penalty notice number), select your method of payment and submit. You will be sent a confirmation email after payment is accepted.
- For questions or concerns related to trial requests, please call 519-826-0762 or email [email protected].
Additional Resources
Related Bylaws and Policies
- Parking Penalties Bylaw
- Screening and Hearing Officer By-law
- Amending By-law Designating for APS
- APS extension
- APS Policy – Appointment Screening and Hearing Officers
- APS Policy – Conflict of Interest and Code of Conduct
- APS Policy – Financial Management and Reporting
- APS Policy – Preventing Political Interference
- APS Policy – Undue Hardship
- APS Policy – Public Complaints
- APS Guide – Hearing Officer Adjudication Guide
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of the APS by-law?
The purpose of the APS by-law is to establish an Administrative Penalties System (APS) for parking and red light camera violations in the City of Guelph. This system aims to promote compliance with the City’s by-laws by imposing administrative penalties for contraventions.
What are Administrative Penalties?
Similar to fines, Administrative Penalties are financial penalties imposed by the City for non-compliance with designated by-laws and camera-based enforcement. These penalties are not punitive in nature but are intended to encourage compliance with the City’s by-laws and applicable sections of the Highway Traffic Act.
Which laws or by-laws are covered under APS?
City Council has designated parking offences under municipal by-laws to be covered under this system. Parking offences transitioned to the APS program on May 1, 2025. Council has also designated red light camera offences under the Highway Traffic Act to be covered by this system. Red Light Camera contraventions will be administered through Guelph’s APS program commencing May 1, 2026.
Council’s authority to designate parking offences and red light camera contraventions comes from the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Highway Traffic Act, and specific regulations under each of those Acts.
How are penalties issued?
Similar to a ticket, penalties are issued by an officer who has reason to believe that a person has contravened a designated by-law or red light camera. The officer will issue a Penalty Notice to the person as soon as reasonably practical once a contravention has been confirmed. For parking by-law infractions, a Penalty Notice will be issued [in person, placement on the vehicle, or by mail]. For red light camera enforcement, penalties will be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle’s last known address at MTO.
What information is included in a Penalty Notice?
A Penalty Notice/Order includes:
- the person’s name,
- the date of the contravention,
- the penalty notice/order number,
- the name and signature of the issuing officer,
- the short form wording for the by-law or red light contravention,
- the location of the contravention,
- the amount of the Administrative Penalty (and associated MTO or Victim Component Fees),
- the due date for payment,
- payment options, and
- information on how to request a review of the penalty.
What happens if a penalty is not paid on time?
If a penalty is not paid within 30 days of the date of service of the Penalty Notice, the penalty and any applicable administrative fees are deemed to be affirmed and payable. Late payments will be subject to a late payment fee or a default fee.
Can penalties be reviewed or appealed?
Yes, a person who has been issued a Penalty Notice can request a review of the penalty by a Screening Officer. If the person believes and wants to establish there was an error with the decision of the Screening Officer, they can request a hearing with a Hearing Officer. Decisions made by the Hearing Officer are final and binding.
How are penalties enforced?
As with fines, Parking Administrative Penalties constitute a debt to the City and may be added to the tax roll of a property located in the City if not paid within 30 days. The City may also initiate other proceedings or seek other remedies permitted by law to collect fees and to prevent the continuation or repetition of the contravention. For parking and red light camera Administrative Penalties, the City will forward unpaid penalties to MTO through Defaulted Fine Control Centre which will result in the contravener not being able to renew their license plate until all penalties are paid in full
What is the process for requesting a Screening Review?
A person who has been issued a Penalty Notice can request a Screening Review by submitting a request online. The request must be made within 30 days of the date of service of the Penalty Notice.
What happens during a Screening Review
During a Screening Review, the Screening Officer will review the Penalty Notice and any submissions made by the person who received the notice. The Screening Officer may confirm, cancel, or reduce the amount of the Administrative Penalty and will provide their decision via email. The role and authority of the Screening Officer are established by Council-approved by-law. Screening Officers are also required to comply with applicable policies in the performance of their duties.
What is the role of a Hearing Officer?
A Hearing Officer conducts hearings to review the decisions made by Screening Officers. The Hearing Officer has the authority to confirm, cancel, or reduce the amount of the Administrative Penalty. The role and authority of the Hearing Officer are established by Council-approved by-law. Hearing Officers are also required to comply with applicable policies in the performance of their duties.
How are hearings conducted?
Hearings can be conducted by ZOOM, or by other electronic means that allow participants to hear one another.
What happens if a person fails to appear for a hearing?
If a person fails to appear for a hearing, they may be charged a Hearing Non-Appearance Fee as per the by-law. The Hearing Officer may proceed with the hearing in the person’s absence and make a decision based on the available information.
What are the consequences of not paying an Administrative Penalty?
If an Administrative Penalty is not paid within 30 days of the date of service of the Penalty Notice, the penalty and any applicable administrative fees are deemed to be affirmed and payable. The person will also be liable to pay a late payment fee.
Can an Administrative Penalty be added to the tax roll?
Yes, if an Administrative Penalty is not paid within 30 days, it may be added to the tax roll of a property located in the City. This means that the penalty will become a debt to the City and can be collected in the same manner as property taxes.
I’m outside the 30 days to request a Screening Review. What can I do?
If you were unable to request a Screening Review within 30 days from the issue date, you may complete and submit an Extension of Time to Request Screening Review form by email to the Screening Officer for consideration. The form must explain why the Screening Review was not requested within the allotted 30 days, as directed on the penalty notice, along with the reason for the Screening Review. The Screening Officer will consider the request for extension and only make a decision on the Screening Review if the extension of time request is approved, subject to the Administrative Penalty By-laws and Policies. Extension of time requests will not be accepted after 60 days from the issue date.
Extension of Time to Request Screening Review Form is available at Guelph.ca/aps and are submitted by email to: [email protected]
Can I ask for an extension to request a Hearing?
Yes, if you were unable to request a Hearing Review within 30 days from the date of your Screening Review decision, you may complete and submit an Extension of Time to Request Hearing Review form by email to the Screening Officer for consideration. The form must explain why the Hearing Review was not requested within the allotted 30 days, as directed in the Screening Officer’s decision. Extension of time requests will not be accepted after 60 days from the screening decision date. Extension of Time to Request Hearing Review Form is available at Guelph.ca/aps and are submitted by email to: [email protected]
What are “extenuating circumstances”?
“Extenuating Circumstances” means situations that do not provide an excuse or justify the infraction, but which in fairness and mercy may be considered as reducing the degree of responsibility. These are very special circumstances, and if proven that the existence of such special circumstances warrants an extension of time to review, the Screening/Hearing Officer may take this into consideration when adjudicating the matter. The Person claiming mitigating or extenuating circumstances shall provide proof of their claim in writing with evidence and shall require showing documented proof, if available.
Contact Information
All Inquiries Concerning the Receiving of This Penalty Notice Should Be Made To:
Corporate and Community Safety Division
1 Carden Street, Guelph ON
519-822-1260 ext. 2423
guelph.ca/parking
For Information About Parking Enforcement:
ServiceGuelph
519-822-1260 press 0
[email protected]
For General Information of APS Process:
Court Services and Administrative Penalties
59 Carden Street, Guelph ON N1H 2Z9
[email protected]
519-826-0762