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Lorena Smalley

EPark Goes Mobile: Edmonton’s New Era of Parking Convenience

 

As of July 31, 2025, the City of Edmonton has officially transitioned its EPark program to a fully mobile payment system—marking a major shift in how Edmontonians pay for parking across the city. Whether you’re heading downtown for a fun event or enjoying a weekend stroll through the river valley, here’s what you need to know about the new EPark experience.

What Is EPark?

 

EPark is Edmonton’s city-owned paid parking program that manages all curbside parking and City owned and operated parkades. HotSpot has a contract with the City to exclusively operate the mobile payment service through EPark for security and convenience. It’s designed to make urban parking efficient, accessible, and now—entirely digital.

 

Why the Change?

In December 2024, City Council approved several cost-saving initiatives aimed at reducing the 2025 tax increase. One of the most impactful decisions was to remove all physical EPark machines and switch to a mobile-only system. Here’s why:

  • All existing EPark machines would need to be replaced to support chip and PIN payments.
  • Replacing them would have cost $2.8 million in capital expenses, plus ongoing operating costs.
  • Going mobile eliminates these costs while streamlining the parking experience.

How to Pay for Parking Now

 

With the machines gone, EPark offers several convenient digital options:

 

1. HotSpot Parking App

  • Download the HotSpot Parking app and create an account.

  • Manage multiple license plates, find EPark zones, and pay remotely.  Simply add or remove license plate numbers as needed. Pay remotely – parkers can pay remotely from any location, as long as they have the zone number of where they parked.

  • Watch the Youtube setup video for step-by-step guidance.

 

2. Scan the QR Code

Select the camera feature on your mobile phone and position the QR code in the middle of camera screen – the camera will automatically the QR code and a link will appear in the middle of bottom of the screen. Press on link which will take you a parking payment page where you can follow step by step instructions.

  • Look for QR codes on signs in EPark zones and parkades.

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  • Scan and pay—no app or account required.

  • Just enter the zone number from the sign or use the EPark Zone Map. You will be required to enter payment information. After the payment was been processed, the payment will be removed from the system and only the record of the transaction will remain.

 

3. Online Payment – follow step by step

  • Visit htsp.ca/ed to pay directly.

  • No account needed—just the zone number from signage or the EPark map. You will be required to enter payment information. After the payment was been processed, the payment will be removed from the system and only the record of the transaction will remain.

 

4. Pay by Phone – Support is available during EPark operating hours

  • Call 1-855-712-5888 if you have a HotSpot account.

  • Agents will set up your parking session (note: they cannot take payment over the phone). The agent will validate the account and start a parking session on a customers behalf. You must have a HotSpot account already setup  with credit card information on file as agents cannot accept credit card information over the phone.

Accepted Payment Methods

 

All payment data is securely tokenized and protected by the City’s gateway provider—your sensitive information is never shared with vendors.

  • Mastercard

  • Visa

  • American Express

  • Visa Debit / Debit Mastercard

  • Prepaid Mastercard or Visa gift cards (may require registration)

What If You Don’t Have a Cell Phone?

 

  • If a trusted friend or family member is with you, ask them to assist you with the parking app on their device

  • Use free on-street parking or private lots and parkades. See EPark Zone map

  • Explore other options like:

    • Two-hour complimentary EPark parking for accessible placard holders. Vehicles displaying a valid accessible parking placard are provided with 2 hours of free courtesy parking at all on-street EPark zones. Please note this does not apply at parkades or parking lots where accessible parking is readily available. More information here.

    • Accessible parking zones. Designated zones for accessible parking. They are marked with the universal accessibility sign  

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    • Ride-share programs – Ride with friend or family or take Uber

    • Public transit – Bus or DATS 

 

Need Help?

 

  • HotSpot Support: su*****@**sp.ca or 1-855-712-5888

    • Monday to Saturday: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.

    • Sunday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

 

  • City Info Line: Call 311 – 311 telephone hours of operation are from 7am to 7pm, 6 days a week (closed Sundays and statutory holidays)

 

  • Visit the City of Edmonton Parking website