Paid Parking Program

• Download the HotSpot Parking application from the Play Store or Apple Store.
• Log in / create a HotSpot Parking account (either via hotspotparking.com/users/usersignup or through the mobile application).

• Download the HotSpot Parking application from the Play Store or Apple Store.
• Click ‘Get Started’
• Click ‘Canada’
• Click ‘Alberta’
• Click ‘Drumheller’
• Click ‘Permit’
• Enter your email address
  • Once your email address is entered, check your inbox to confirm your email address.
• Click ‘Accept Terms and Service’ and ‘Privacy Policy’
• Click the three lines in the top left corner of the screen
• Click ‘Manage My Vehicles’
• Click ‘Add Vehicle’
• Input your vehicle information, which includes:
  • License plate number (you do not need to put a space in between your license plate number)
  • Province of registration
• Once your vehicle(s) are added, go to ‘Permits’ at the bottom right of the screen
• Click ‘Apply for Permit’ under the ‘Special Permits’ heading
• Input your information as required, including:
  • Town of residence
  • Address
  • Postal code
  • License plate number
• There will be a prompt before you upload proof of residency and proof of address.
• Have your two pieces of identification, one proof of residency and one proof of address ready This can include (you will need two of these at the end of the application):
  • Utility bills (power, water, etc.)
  • Lease agreement
  • Driver’s license
  • Vehicle registration
  • Property assessment or tax notice
  • Driver’s license
  • Employer pay stub if you don’t live in Drumheller permanently.
• Upload the files for your proof of residency and proof of address and/or take the photos and confirm each one after you take them. The first photo will be for the proof of residency and the second photo will be for the proof of address. Once you hit ‘Yes’ after the second photo is uploaded, your application to apply for a Residential Parking Permit will be submitted.

• Head to https://hotspotparking.com/users/login
• Click ‘New User? Click Here’
• Select your location
• Enter your email address
  • Once your email address is entered, check your inbox to confirm your email address.
• Create a password
• Confirm your password
• Go to ‘Permits’ on the side menu.
• Go to ‘Special Permits’.
• Have your two pieces of identification, one proof of residency and one proof of address ready This can include:
  • Utility bills (power, water, etc.)
  • Lease agreement
  • Driver’s license
  • Vehicle registration
  • Property assessment or tax notice
  • Driver’s license
  • Employer pay stub if you don’t live in Drumheller permanently.
• Upload the files for your proof of residency and proof of address. The first file will be for proof of residency and the second file will be for the proof of address.
• Input your information as required, including:
  • Municipality
  • Address
  • Postal code
  • License plate number (optional license plate number can be added).
• Click the box
• Hit ‘Continue’
• Once you hit ‘Continue’ after the second file is uploaded, your application to apply for a Residential Parking Permit will be submitted.

This can be repeated for up to four permits at one address. For more information, or additional help for Residential Permits, contact HotSpot Parking Customer Support at 1-855-712-5888. 

When activating your recreation membership, non-residents will be asked for the following to receive paid parking:

• Type of recreation membership
• Member information (first name, last name, address, town/county)
• Vehicle information
• Signature and understanding that once the membership is cancelled, the parking exemption becomes null and void

Town of Drumheller residents who have registered their vehicle(s) with a Residential Parking Permit can park in paid parking zones free of charge. Without a Residential Parking Permit, residents will not be recognized by the HotSpot Parking systems and will have to follow the steps above or risk receiving a parking violation ticket if parking in designated paid parking areas. 

 Still have questions? Read the HotSpot Technical FAQs

Drumheller is a tourism community, which has a large impact on the local economy and quality of life for residents. The tourism sector throughout Canada is uniquely inclusive, and through the draw of unique landscapes and dinosaurs, the Town of Drumheller is a hub for growth and opportunities associated with the tourism industry. Tourism offers a wide range of benefits, including providing jobs, creating opportunities for recreation and entertainment and increasing the economy.  

Though there are many positives associated with the tourism industry, its impact on existing and newly constructed infrastructure is a factor that cannot be overlooked. With a yearly increase in tourism, the Town infrastructure has faced a great amount of strain and requires repairs – which are paid for, currently, by the taxpayers of the Town of Drumheller. 

Revenue from paid parking will come from the following streams:

• Paid parking fees in designated paid parking lots, located at: 
  • Badlands Community Facility parking lot 
  • Hoodoos parking lot 
  • Rotary Park (World’s Largest Dinosaur) parking lot 
  • Street parking along Riverside Drive E 
  • Suspension Bridge parking lot 
  • Town-owned parking lot on 1 Street E 
  • Town-owned parking lot on 2 Avenue W 
  • Town-owned parking lot on the corner of 2 Street W and Riverside 
• Fines for parking violations 

The revenue streams listed above provide the Town of Drumheller with funds collected and then allocated to improvement projects throughout the Drumheller Valley. 

Designated paid parking areas were chosen in various areas that are frequently impacted by increased tourism, with the intention of exploring the revenue stream from ever-growing tourism industry. Though finding open parking spots may seem free, the cost of the land, pavement, street cleaning and other services associated with the maintenance and improvement of infrastructure is borne by tax dollars.  

Paid parking is best used in areas where there are short stays, which increases the turnover of existing parking stalls and makes parking spaces more frequently available. The revenue collected will be reinvested back into the community in several ways, including: 

• Parking improvements: Supports operational costs associated with developing and upgrading parking programs, services and facilities. 
• Maintaining and upgrading current roads: Some of the revenue will be allocated to the improvement and maintenance of the current roads.  This could include paving, mending potholes, painting lines and other operational costs. For example, an approximate amount of $600,000 is necessary to repave the Badlands Community Facility parking lot. The revenue generated from the paid parking program will be put toward costs such as these. 
• General expenses: Some covers general expenses for the Town of Drumheller, such as staffing and necessary equipment costs. 
• Creating a more secure Drumheller: A portion of the extra parking revenue is factored into the Town’s budget at the time of budget calculations, which is then considered when deliberating and determining property taxes. 

HotSpot Parking is a digital parking solution created by a Canadian company, which allows drivers to pay for parking with a mobile device using their license plate number and credit or visa card.

There are no fees to register for HotSpot Parking and to apply for a Registered Parking Permit through the Town of Drumheller. 

No, there is not a fee. Registering for a Residential Parking Permit is free for Drumheller residents. 

Registering for a Residential Parking Permit is done through the HotSpot Parking website or app. The steps are as follows:

1. Head to the HotSpot Parking website to log in, or download the app.
2. Go to Vehicles > Manage My Vehicles and upload your vehicle details. This can be repeated for up to four vehicles per household. Parking enforcement will be based on license plate numbers, and vehicles must be registered and added to the account to be recognized.
3. Go to Permits > My Permits and select a vehicle to be active on that permit. 
4. To add more permits, or if your permit does not show up, add another by going to Permits > Special Permits OR Apply for Permit. Select Drumheller as your municipality. Upload proof of residency (driver's license, insurance, utility bill, etc.). Fill out the rest of the form and submit. 

For more information, or additional help for Residential Parking Permits, contact HotSpot Parking Customer Support at 1-855-712-5888.

For any additional questions, please contact Town of Drumheller Emergency and Protective Services by calling 403-823-1363 or emailing protectiveservices@drumheller.ca. 

The information required to register for a Residential Parking Permit is as follows.

• License plate number
• Location
• Proof of residence (utility bill, rent payment, etc.)

Optional information to provide is as follows:

• Vehicle year
• Vehicle make and model
• Nickname (applicable for homes with more than one registered vehicle)

A maximum of four vehicles can be registered per Town of Drumheller home. This number can be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 

You can register outside vehicles as long as proof of residence is provided. If the license plate is registered with an existing account, there will be no charge. 

Residential Parking Permits are available to residents who live in the Drumheller Valley and allow for registered vehicles to park for free in designated paid parking zones. Residential Parking Permits help communities manage non-resident vehicles and ensure there is residential parking available in neighbourhoods that may be impacted by tourist attractions. 

General paid parking is required by non-registered residents and visitors in designated paid parking areas during the months of May to October from 9:00am until 9:00pm daily. These payments can be made in instalments of per hour or per day.

No. If you live outside Drumheller and work in the Town, all that is required to be exempt is a letter from your employer and a license plate number. This information can be uploaded in the HotSpot Parking app. 

If you are a resident of Drumheller and you have registered with HotSpot Parking, you do not have to pay. 

If you are a resident of Drumheller and you have registered with HotSpot Parking, you do not have to pay for parking. If you are not a resident of Drumheller, you will be required to pay for parking every day. 

If you are a resident of Drumheller and you have registered with HotSpot Parking, you do not have to pay for parking. Those hosting events at the Badlands Community Facility are also eligible for free parking for the event's duration.   

 For those interested in applying for free parking with their recreation memberships or events, it is encouraged that they speak to the front desk staff at the recreation facilities.  

Designated handicap accessible stalls are exempt from paid parking for those with a valid disabled parking placard. If parking in spaces not marked as handicap accessible stalls, payment will be required. 

No, payment will only be required for one parking spot. 

One purpose of implementing a paid parking program is to improve parking availability at popular destinations throughout the Drumheller Valley. Limited time for street parking in these areas ensures that parking becomes available at a more consistent pace. 

Resources needed for the program are being assessed by Administration. 

The Town of Drumheller appreciates and acknowledges the contributions of residents from the surrounding counties and communities. In the latter months of 2023, our Emergency and Protective Services Department administered a survey to ask about the paid parking program's concerns. Within this survey, it was brought up that many residents from surrounding areas utilize the Town of Drumheller recreation facilities with memberships and by hosting events. 

With that in mind, and to accommodate those who are not residents in the Drumheller Valley, but who hold memberships at the Badlands Community Facility or Aquaplex facilities, it was determined that active membership holders will be eligible to submit their vehicle information to be exempted from the paid parking program for the duration of their recreation membership. If the recreation membership is cancelled, the free parking will become null and void. 

Those hosting events at the Badlands Community Facility are also eligible for free parking for the event's duration.   

For those interested in applying for free parking with their recreation memberships or events, it is encouraged that they speak to the front desk staff at the recreation facilities.  

Free parking is only available for residents. If visitors intend to park in designated paid parking areas, payment is necessary regardless of their accommodation. 

Physical parking violation tickets will be printed and left on the windshield of the vehicle or given to patrons on site. 

Under the Town of Drumheller Traffic Bylaw 10.22, the fine for a parking violation is $50.00. 

The recipient of the parking violation ticket will need to go to the HotSpot app and follow the prompts to pay for the ticket. 

1. Open the HotSpot Parking app.
2. Press Resolve a Parking Ticket.
3. Press Add Ticket.
4. Upload a picture of the violation ticket. 
5. Enter the ticket number. 
6. You will be asked if you'd like to enter comments. This is useful if you plan on disputing the ticket. 
7. Press Submit Ticket. Your ticket will now be listed on the Parking Tickets screen of the app. At this point, you can proceed to pay the ticket or dispute it. If you want to dispute the ticket, don't take further action in the app.  
8. Open the ticket. 
9. Press Pay Ticket. 
10. Enter the dollar amount of the violation ticket and press Okay.

The parking violation ticket recipient will need to go to the HotSpot app and follow the prompts to dispute.

1. Open the HotSpot Parking app. 
2. Press Resolve a Parking Ticket. 
3. Press Add Ticket. 
4. Upload a picture of the parking violation ticket. 
5. Enter the parking violation ticket number. 
6. You will be asked if you'd like to enter comments. This is useful if you plan on disputing. Please provide as much information as you can. 
7. Press Submit Ticket. Your parking violation ticket will now be listed on the Parking Tickets screen of the app. At this point, if you are disputing your ticket, don't take any further action in the app. The ticket will be reviewed by HotSpot Support and our Emergency and Protective Services team. You will be notified of the resolution in approximately one to two weeks.  

If you have a HotSpot account, but don’t remember your password, there's no need to worry! It’s easy to reset your password so that you can log in and purchase your parking permit.

If you use the HotSpot mobile app:

1. Open the app.
2. On the Log In screen, press Forgot Your Password?
3. Enter your email address and click Next.

A link will be set to reset your password!

If you use the dashboard on the HotSpot website:

1. Open a browser window.
2. Go to htsp.ca.
3. Click Log In at the top right corner of the webpage.
4. Click Forgot Your Password.
5. Enter your email address and click Reset.

A link will be sent to reset your password!