The City of Hamilton expands its smart parking initiative to City Hall Car Park from Monday, 13 April 2026, replacing physical tickets with automated licence plate recognition technology
The City of Hamilton has announced that City Hall Car Park will transition to a Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) system on Monday, 13 April 2026, marking the fourth phase of the city’s broader smart parking rollout.
The upgrade follows the deployment of the same system at Number 1 Car Park in February 2026, Par-la-Ville Car Park in 2025, and Number 5 Car Park in 2024.
The LPR system, developed by Mobile Smart City, uses cameras at entry and exit points to scan vehicle licence plates, automatically calculate parking duration, and request payment — eliminating the need for paper tickets. The system is cashless; payment is made by swiping or tapping a credit or debit card at the exit screen. Stays of under 10 minutes will not incur a charge.
Drivers may also use the free Pango Parking app as an alternative payment method. Users scan an individual QR code at the entry and exit barriers, with payment processed automatically through the app.
Parking is free on Sundays and public holidays. Users must still select a payment option upon entry, but no fee will be charged on exit.
Monthly, annual, and commercial permit holders will benefit from seamless automatic access, with the system recognising registered licence plates without requiring any interaction with the machine. Vehicles on pre-approved access lists — including emergency services and Corporation of Hamilton vehicles — will also receive automatic entry.
Bike parking at City Hall Car Park is not affected by the transition.
Traffic Manager Fred Richardson said: “Switching to digital is a big step toward smarter parking in Hamilton. No paper, fewer headaches, and a much quicker process for drivers. We’re committed to creating a car park system that feels modern, reliable, and efficient for all.”
The City said the LPR platform allows for flexible updates and future technology integrations as part of its wider Smart City programme.
Drivers requiring assistance with the new system can contact the City’s Parking Management team on 531-5254.
Media release and image supplied by the City of Hamilton.
