Resources for St. Catharines

St. Catharines, Ontario: library cards and borrowing. Find local rules, practical steps, useful answers and official service links.

St. Catharines, Ontario: garbage, recycling and collection. Find local rules, practical steps, useful answers and official service links.

St. Catharines meters charge $2 per hour from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a three-hour maximum at on-street and hourly metered spaces. All-day parking is available at three facilities named in the city overview.

The published 2026 paid beach-parking season ended September 30. Its rules cover Lakeside Park and Sunset Beach; Jones Beach has free on-site parking. Use these 2026 prices as dated planning information until the next season is confirmed.

St. Catharines operates two leash-free dog parks, open dawn to dusk. Leash dogs when entering and leaving, and do not bring a puppy under four months, a sick dog or an aggressive dog.

St. Catharines maintains three Lake Ontario beaches with free beach access. Seasonal beach hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Parking fees at two beaches are separate from entering the beach.

St. Catharines prohibits ordinary backyard recreational wood fires, firepits and yard-waste burning. A cooking fire outside a barbecue or smoker has a narrow set of conditions and must end when cooking ends.

A St. Catharines short-term rental must remain the operator’s primary home, with rental use secondary to that residence. Operators need a two-year licence and cannot treat ordinary street parking as bedroom parking supply.

St. Catharines Emergency FLAP offers eligible homeowners 90% of approved flood-protection costs, up to $5,000. Apply before the work and use a licensed plumber with a city Plumbing-Only permit.

St. Catharines accepts water payments through banks, Paymentus, mail and City Hall. The five-digit water account number is needed for online banking. Allow processing time rather than paying at the last moment.

Do not trim or remove a tree on St. Catharines city property yourself. Report health or public-safety concerns to Citizens First at 905-688-5600, including low branches over a sidewalk or road.

St. Catharines FAIR gives eligible low-income residents 50% assistance on several city programs, individual swim passes and Older Adult Centre membership. Apply with residence and household income records before relying on the discount.

Follow St. Catharines pool and splash-pad conduct rules before entering the water. Splash-pad children need active supervision, day lockers are cleared nightly, and photography requires staff permission.

Reserve St. Catharines public skating through ActiveSTC to secure space. Children 12 or younger need adult supervision on and off the ice. Skates are mandatory, and hockey sticks, pucks and carrying children are not allowed.

St. Catharines sends a letter when a meter is due for an automated-reader upgrade. Then call 905-688-5600 to book. Arrange an adult 18 or older to provide access and sign off on the work.

St. Catharines can commission certain affidavits and declarations but does not provide public notary service or certify true copies. Bring the correct completed form, unsigned, and original matching photo ID.

St. Catharines issues marriage licences without an appointment, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Complete the online application, print it, and obtain both applicants’ original signatures before visiting the Clerk.

St. Catharines, Ontario: parks and recreation services. Find local rules, practical steps, useful answers and official service links.

Find St. Catharines, Ontario parks and open spaces, with individual descriptions, recorded facilities, photos where verified and Google Maps.