FAQs

Standalone surface parking lots are empty lots used for parking that do not have a building on the property. Parking lots located on the same property as the business are not included in the classification for standalone surface parking lots.

A vacant lot is an empty property that is not used for parking and may be available for redevelopment. These lots may have previously had a building that was torn down. A standalone surface parking lot is used regularly for parking, which may or may not include a charge for renting the space. Standalone parking lots do not have buildings on the property.

These lots are already paying tax; but this would be a different structure. Regina’s City Centre is a key focus area for commercial and residential development that supports growth. This area has a substantial number of empty lots and the City is considering how to make better use of that land to encourage a mix of commercial and residential development. The subclass is one strategy being considered to promote new investment and development to make more effective use of these spaces. The new tax structure would increase taxes on these types of lots but lower them on commercial lots to be revenue neutral.  

No, it is revenue neutral. The policy would have no impact on residential tax rates. A property tax subclass for standalone parking lots also does not change the total amount of tax collected by the City. It is intended to change how the share of taxes is divided on the commercial side. A subclass would increase the share of commercial taxes paid by standalone surface parking lots as an incentive to redevelop these spaces. If a subclass is approved, commercial tax rates for properties with buildings would be reduced to balance the total tax revenue in the City budget.

The City recognizes the need for parking spaces to support businesses. However, there is a desire to consider how to balance the number of empty lots while supporting community needs and promoting a vibrant and thriving commercial and cultural hub in the City Centre. The City's Transportation Master Plan also aims to encourage alternatives to driving vehicles- such as transit, cycling, walking or carpooling.

Many Canadian cities (e.g., Saskatoon, Calgary, Winnipeg) have policies to restrict new surface parking in their downtowns or city cores, or have policies to encourage redevelopment of surface parking. There are cities that have implemented different tax measures on surface parking, including Montreal, Vancouver and Gatineau.