PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — Drivers in Prince Albert will soon have more ways to pay for parking as the city moves to modernize its downtown meters and municipal lots with online payment options and a new mobile parking app expected to launch in early 2026.
The City of Prince Albert says residents and visitors will be able to pay for hourly, weekly or monthly parking online at meters and lots across the city, providing an alternative to traditional payment methods such as coins, meter cards and hard-copy permits. While the new options are aimed at improving convenience, the city says existing payment methods will remain available for those who prefer them.
The initiative is part of a broader push by municipalities across Canada to expand cashless payment systems and improve customer experience in high-traffic areas, particularly downtown cores and transportation hubs where parking demand can fluctuate throughout the day.
Prince Albert has partnered with PayByPhone, a global parking payment provider, to support the rollout. The company will introduce an online app and install new kiosks at key City-owned parking locations, including downtown Prince Albert, 10 Avenue East near Saskatchewan Polytechnic, and the Prince Albert Airport.
Under the planned system, drivers will be able to pay through the mobile app using a credit card or digital wallet options such as Apple Pay, Google Pay or PayPal. The city says users will also be able to track receipts and payment history through an online account, a feature that can be useful for frequent parkers, students, commuters and business travellers who need documentation for reimbursement or record-keeping.
The mobile app is also expected to offer a practical advantage for short-term downtown parking: the ability to extend parking time remotely without returning to the meter. That function is designed to reduce the risk of expired parking sessions, particularly during shopping trips, meetings or community events.
City officials say the goal is to add flexibility for drivers while maintaining the current parking system for those who continue to rely on in-person payments and permit purchases.
“Offering mobile payment options makes it easier for drivers to work, study, travel, and enjoy events and activities in Prince Albert,” said Anna Dinsdale, Community Safety and Well-Being Manager with the City of Prince Albert. “As our community continues to grow, so has the need for enhanced parking and payment options, and we are excited to soon be able to offer mobile payment processing as an additional service for those who want to pay online for parking.”
The change comes alongside an update to parking rates for 2026. The city says rates have been adjusted for inflation and will include a 25-cent increase per hour at parking meters. The hourly meter rate will rise to $1.50, marking the first increase since 2017.
Despite the adjustment, the city says its new rate remains among the lowest in Saskatchewan, positioning Prince Albert as comparatively affordable for downtown parking as other municipalities face rising operating costs and infrastructure maintenance needs.
For local businesses and downtown organizations, parking policies and payment convenience can play an important role in how people access retail areas and services. Easier payment options may encourage more visitors to park downtown without worrying about carrying coins or managing physical permits, while digital receipts and remote extensions can reduce friction for customers.
The city’s decision to maintain existing payment options alongside new digital tools suggests a gradual transition rather than a full replacement of legacy systems. Coins, meter cards and in-person permit purchases at City Hall will still be accepted, ensuring that residents without access to smartphones, credit cards or online accounts are not excluded from municipal parking.
The mobile parking app is expected to go live in the first quarter of 2026, with kiosks introduced at the identified city-owned lots. While the city has not released a full implementation schedule for all meter locations, officials say the broader goal is to provide more online payment access across Prince Albert.
Public feedback is also part of the city’s plan. An online survey will be circulated later in 2026 to gather input from residents and visitors on parking options, including how the new payment methods are working and what improvements may be needed.
PayByPhone’s involvement brings an established provider into the city’s parking network. The company operates in more than 1,300 cities worldwide, including markets in Canada, the United States and Europe. In Saskatchewan, PayByPhone also works with the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Regina and the City of Regina, suggesting a growing footprint in the province’s public-sector parking systems.
For Prince Albert, the move reflects a shift toward digital service delivery in municipal operations, combining technology upgrades with incremental pricing changes. With a planned launch in early 2026, drivers can expect new payment options in the coming months as the city prepares to expand parking access and modernize how users pay, track and manage their time at meters and municipal lots.
