Parking Lot Tax Subclass

In January 2025, Regina City Council passed a motion to explore new property tax subclass options for standalone surface parking lots, particularly in the Downtown, Warehouse and Centre Square areas. Those areas have many standalone surface parking lots that could be redeveloped to support residential and economic growth.

The motion was originally put forward in July 2024 and was aimed at addressing underutilized land, such as standalone surface parking lots, through a tax subclass tool. The motion also directed Administration to review City-owned standalone surface parking lots within the study area. A property tax subclass for standalone parking lots does not change the total amount of tax collected by the City, it is intended to change how taxes are divided. Many cities in Canada have policies in place for parking lots in core business areas.

The City will engage with interest groups, parking lot property owners and parking lot operators. The goal is to uncover if there could be a policy that may encourage new development on underutilized land, such as standalone surface parking lots.


Why Your Input Matters

The City recognizes the need for parking spaces downtown and around the City Centre to support businesses. The purpose here is to rethink downtown parking to support community needs, while also promoting a vibrant and thriving commercial and cultural hub for the City Centre.

Public feedback from this engagement will be included in the report to Regina City Council on June 17, 2026. Any decision on changes to policy will be subject to the full Council approval process.

In January 2025, Regina City Council passed a motion to explore new property tax subclass options for standalone surface parking lots, particularly in the Downtown, Warehouse and Centre Square areas. Those areas have many standalone surface parking lots that could be redeveloped to support residential and economic growth.

The motion was originally put forward in July 2024 and was aimed at addressing underutilized land, such as standalone surface parking lots, through a tax subclass tool. The motion also directed Administration to review City-owned standalone surface parking lots within the study area. A property tax subclass for standalone parking lots does not change the total amount of tax collected by the City, it is intended to change how taxes are divided. Many cities in Canada have policies in place for parking lots in core business areas.

The City will engage with interest groups, parking lot property owners and parking lot operators. The goal is to uncover if there could be a policy that may encourage new development on underutilized land, such as standalone surface parking lots.


Why Your Input Matters

The City recognizes the need for parking spaces downtown and around the City Centre to support businesses. The purpose here is to rethink downtown parking to support community needs, while also promoting a vibrant and thriving commercial and cultural hub for the City Centre.

Public feedback from this engagement will be included in the report to Regina City Council on June 17, 2026. Any decision on changes to policy will be subject to the full Council approval process.

  • Have your say on the future of parking lots in Regina's City Centre

    The City of Regina is seeking your feedback about parking in Downtown, the Centre Square neighbourhood south of downtown and the Warehouse District. An option being considered is a new tax subclass for standalone parking lots that do not have a building on the property. These lots often operate as commercial businesses that charge for parking. The lot owners typically pay lower commercial taxes because there is no structure on the land.

    A tax subclass would not change the overall amount of tax collected; it would redistribute taxes to increase the rate for standalone parking lots and at the same time lower the commercial tax rate to offset it. It would have no impact on residential taxes.

    The goal is to encourage property owners to redevelop some of the lots in key areas. This is just one option being considered. The City is also considering how to redevelop City-owned lots for residential and commercial spaces. Your feedback will be included in a report to Regina City Council in June 2026.

Page last updated: 02 Mar 2026, 01:50 PM