Saint Paul Snow Emergency Parking Rules

During winter weather events, Saint Paul Public Works does plowing and anti-icing efforts to keep more than 1,800 lane miles of streets and bridges safe and passable. As an urban city, on-street parking is a necessity for our residents and businesses. There are times that the city will need to declare a Snow Emergency, which requires residents and visitors to move their cars off the streets to allow city plow crews to clear the streets of snow and ice.

There are three phases of a Snow Emergency with special on-street parking restrictions: night plow routes, day plow routes, and clean up.

Snow Emergencies begin with NIGHT PLOW ROUTES at 9 p.m.

Beginning at 9 p.m. the day a Snow Emergency has been declared, parking is not allowed on streets marked with signs that say "NIGHT PLOW ROUTE" or "NIGHT PLOW ROUTE THIS SIDE OF STREET."
All of downtown Saint Paul is no parking at night during a Snow Emergency even though it is not signed.
Parking is allowed on Day Plow Routes (streets/sides of streets that DO NOT have Night Plow Route signs).
Night Plow Routes are plowed from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Remember: See the sign, move it by 9 p.m.
Always follow all posted signs. Do not park where signs say "No Parking."

Look for these signs:

NIGHT PLOW ROUTES are typically both sides of all arterials (main streets), all of downtown, and one side of north-south residential streets. Parking is typically allowed on one side of north-south residential streets and both sides of east-west residential streets.

Snow Emergencies continue with DAY PLOW ROUTES at 8 a.m.

Starting at 8 a.m. the day after a Snow Emergency has been declared, parking is not allowed on Day Plow Routes (streets or sides of streets with NO Night Plow Route signs) until the street is plowed to the curb.
Day Plow Routes do NOT have signs.
Day Plow Routes are plowed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Always follow all posted signs. Do not park where signs say "No Parking."

DAY PLOW ROUTES are typically both sides of east-west residential streets and one side of north-south residential streets. Parking is typically allowed on one side of north-south residential streets and both sides of arterials (main streets) and downtown.

CLEAN UP PHASE - After Night and Day Plow Routes are completed

Up to 96 hours after a Snow Emergency has gone into effect, crews are doing clean up efforts, which may include salting and "push backs" (plowing snow where parked cars have since moved). To avoid a ticket and tow, do not park in areas that have not been plowed to the curb.

Snow Emergency Guidelines Video

Snow Emergency Parking Map

Use this map to find out when and where you can move your car during a Snow Emergency.

Use these easy instructions to create a map icon on your device.

Snow Emergency Parking Map

View from a snow plow looking at a residential street before doing "pushbacks" and plowing efforts to clean up extra snow and ice.

Plowing our Saint Paul Streets

During a Snow Emergency, Saint Paul Public Works uses up to 80 pieces of equipment in two phases (Night and Day Plow Routes) to plow more than 1,800 lane miles - the entire city - in approximately 24 hours. Our first focus with snow plowing is always to provide safe and passable main streets, including high traffic and public transit areas throughout Saint Paul. We often begin pre-treating, plowing and salting main streets before and during any snow event that could have accumulation on the streets.

During non-snow emergencies, our efforts are concentrated on main roads, and high volume traffic areas. It is not the city's standard practice to plow and or salt residential streets during non-snow emergency snow events due to costs, time constraints, and environmental concerns. The city does not plow alleys.

When a Snow Emergency is declared, it begins at 9 p.m. and lasts 96 hours. Special parking rules go into effect. We encourage everyone to sign up for Snow Emergency emails and text alerts.

We plow residential streets only when a Snow Emergency goes into effect - starting at 9 p.m. the day it is declared. One of the reasons residential streets are only plowed during a Snow Emergency is because plowing is only effective when everyone moves their vehicles off the streets for the plows to get the full width of the road, and we understand this is an inconvenience for residents and businesses who need enough time and notice (typically at least 6 hours) to move vehicles off the streets. We strive to be good stewards of the City’s resources and tax dollars. That’s why we make sure much of the snow has fallen before we declare a Snow Emergency.