2017-18 Milwaukee Winter and Snow Emergency Parking Rules

MILWAUKEE, WI — December is right around the corner, and Milwaukee has updated its winter parking rules, including scrapping it's longtime "4-inch rule," which prohibited parking on certain city streets whenever the snowfall was four inches or more.

The city's Department of Public Works is sending out notices when Department of Public Works snow-clearing operations or snow emergencies are declared. Officials are urging residents to go to milwaukee.gov/mpw to sign up for Snow Mobile winter text and email alerts.

Snow Emergency Parking

A "Snow Emergency" is declared to exist whenever snow falls during any period of 24 hours or less to a depth which is determined and declared by the Commissioner of Public Works to constitute a serious public hazard impairing transportation, the movement of food and fuel supplies, medical care, fire, health, and police protection, and other vital facilities of the City.

An emergency is declared to continue for a period of 72 hours or until such earlier times as snow plowing operations have been declared completed by the Commissioner of Public Works.

In case of a "Snow Emergency" prior to December 1 or after March 1, no overnight parking is allowed on through highways and mass transit (bus) routes. These streets are not posted. For a list of these streets please go to the Winter Parking Regulations page. Vehicles must be moved to a side street and must be legally parked in conformity with all other regulations on the proper side of the street.

In case of a "Snow Emergency" residents must move their vehicles, between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., to the even-numbered side of the street on even numbered days, and to the odd-numbered side of the street on odd-numbered days, unless otherwise posted.

The alternate side requirement will remain in place until the Snow Emergency has ended.

Milwaukee Public Schools makes some of its playgrounds and parking lots available for overnight parking during declared snow emergencies and clean-up periods. Take a look at Snow Emergency, Off-Street Parking on School Playgrounds List. Call the City Call Center at (414) 286-2489 during regular business hours for the location of a playground nearest your home.

"Temporary No Parking Tow Away" signs may be posted by the City to assist in clean-up after major snowfalls. Vehicles parked in violation of "Snow Route Tow-Away Zone" and "Temporary No Parking Tow Away" signs or obstructing traffic during a "Snow Emergency" will be towed away at owner's expense. There are no exceptions.

Overnight Parking

No overnight parking is allowed on highways and mass transit (bus) routes from December 1 to March 1. For a list of these streets please go to the Winter Parking Regulations page. In case of a "Snow Emergency" prior to December 1 or after March 1, vehicles must be moved to a side street and must be legally parked in conformity with all other regulations on the proper side of the street.

Specific-Side Parking

Certain residential streets are restricted to parking on a specific side of the street during the winter months. These streets are posted with signs reading "No Parking" on one side of the street, either for the entire December 1 to March 1 period, or with a monthly alternation of the prohibited side. To determine whether this regulation applies to a specific street go to Street Parking Regulations.

48-Hour Exception Streets

48 hour exception area streets where alternate side night parking is required from December 1 to March 1. For a list of these streets please go to the Winter Parking Regulations page. Overnight parking is allowed on both sides of the street for up to 48 hours except December 1 to March 1.

Image Via Patch.com