The City of Minneapolis has officially declared a Snow Emergency starting from March 5th at 9:30 p.m. to ensure that city streets can be plowed and remain navigable in the wake of heavy snowfall. According to the city’s announcement, the Snow Emergency will activate parking rules designed to aid plowing efforts and maintain access for emergency vehicles and typical traffic. Residents are urged to comply with these regulations to avoid the inconvenience of tickets and potential towing.
To effectively clear more than 1,000 miles of city streets, the Snow Emergency parking rules will require residents "to help us by following snow emergency parking rules," as stated in the city’s notification. The restrictions, which span three days, are put in place to give plows the space needed to quickly and thoroughly clear the snow. Vehicles parked on streets need to move so that plows can operate efficiently and residents can ultimately benefit from wider, cleared streets.
Starting at 9 p.m. on the day of the declaration, parking is prohibited on both sides of Snow Emergency routes until 8 a.m. the following morning or until these routes are fully plowed. The subsequent days follow a systematic approach to clearing, with day two focusing on the even-numbered side of non-Snow Emergency routes and all parkways, and day three addressing the odd-numbered side of non-Snow Emergency streets. Citizens can refer to a map on the city website to clarify street classifications.
The city has also emphasized the importance of maintaining clear sidewalks for pedestrian access. Property owners are reminded of their legal responsibility to remove snow from sidewalks within 24 hours following the end of a snowfall. Minneapolis has made sand available, free of charge, at various locations to assist residents in providing traction on cleared walkways. Comprehensive information about sidewalk clearing rules and sand distribution sites can be found on the City of Minneapolis website.
For those looking to stay informed throughout the winter season, there are multiple ways to receive updates on Snow Emergencies and the associated parking rules. Options range from signing up for text alerts by texting MPLSAlerts to 77295 to creating a Smart911 profile, checking social media pages, or tuning into local TV and radio stations. Additionally, residents can utilize a dedicated snow emergency app or call the city's automated hotline at 612-348-SNOW.
