Private Parking Enforcement Officer

Apply to become a licensed Private Parking Enforcement Officer (PPEO) in Waterloo.

PPEOs enforce parking rules on private property such as apartments, hospitals or businesses.

On this page

1. Private Parking Enforcement Officers (PPEOs)
2. Who can hire PPEOs
3. Apply for a PPEO licence
4. Renew your PPEO licence
5. Contact us

Private Parking Enforcement Officers (PPEOs)

A business or residential property can use PPEOs to make sure parking spaces are only used by customers, members, employees or tenants.

A PPEO is:

• licensed by the City of Waterloo
• authorized by a property owner to issue parking tickets on private property

PPEOs can enforce:

• parking on private property such as clubs, hospitals or apartment buildings
• fire routes
• disabled parking spaces

PPEO responsibilities include:

• taking detailed notes and evidence
• submitting all tickets to Municipal Enforcement Services within 3 business days of issue
• following the City of Waterloo’s code of conduct policy (PDF) at all times

Property owners must post clear signs to notify drivers of parking rules. Read the Sign Bylaw.

Who can hire PPEOs

Individual property or business owners, partnerships or corporations can hire PPEOs to enforce parking rules on their property. 

If a property owner wants more than one PPEO, they may need a Private Parking Enforcement Contractor licence. 

Apply for a PPEO licence

Follow these steps to apply for a PPEO licence. 

Step 1: Get your documents ready

You will need:

• a completed certificate of insurance form (PDF) signed by your insurer or insurance broker
• proof of the property owner’s consent – not needed if you work for a licensed Private Parking Enforcement Contractor
• one of the following for your background check:
  • criminal record check from the past 6 months from a Canadian police service
  • valid Ontario security guard licence
  • valid Ontario private investigator licence

Step 2: Apply and pay online

Apply and pay through our online portal. You will need to create or sign in to an account.

The application fee is $40.98 (includes HST).

Contact us if you need another way to apply.

Apply to be a PPEO

Step 3: Complete the training

Once your application is approved, we will send you a link to a short online training video. The training covers:

• relevant bylaws
• enforcement and ticketing procedures
• how to report tickets to the city’s municipal enforcement counter

Step 4: Pass the PPEO test

After training, you must complete a short online multiple-choice test. You can take the test as many times as needed, but you must score 100% to pass.

Renew your PPEO licence

You must renew your PPEO licence every year by January 31:

• renew through the online portal
• renewal costs $40.98 and includes HST

Renew your PPEO licence