Evanston’s snow parking rules went back into effect for the season on Sunday.
The rules restrict parking on city streets from now through March 31 whenever officials declare a snow route parking ban or snow emergency..
Snow route parking ban
A parking ban on major streets signed as snow routes can be declared after two or more inches of snow falls. The ban bars parking between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. The city’s emergency sirens will sound at 8:15 p.m. on snow route parking ban nights. A map showing the snow routes is available online.
Violating the ban can result in a $55 fine plus towing and storage charges.
Snow emergency
A snow emergency applies to streets not posted as snow routes and can be declared after four or more inches of snow falls.
These streets are plowed over a two-day period. The city’s emergency sirens will sound at 7:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. on snow emergency days.
During a snow emergency residents should not park on the even-numbered side of streets on even-numbered days or on the odd side on odd-numbered days between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on most residential streets, but check the signs to be sure.
If a street is not plowed during a snow emergency, call 311 or visit the 311 website to report it. Requests for missed snow removal received by 4 p.m. will be cleared the same day by 6 p.m.
Fines for snow emergency parking violations have increased from $40 to $55 this year and the snow relocation fine has increased from $105 to $150.
Towed cars will be relocated within a one block radius of where they were towed from.
Snow removal on residential streets will occur following the odd-even date pattern even if a snow emergency is not in effect, so residents are asked to abide by the even/odd parking protocol whenever there is new snow.
Curbs, driveways and alleys
The city does not plow alleys and city officials ask residents to clear snow to give sanitation crews access to their refuse and recycling containers.
Officials say mounds of snow left along the curb by city plows are unavoidable and crews can’t stop to clear the mouth of driveways.
Sidewalks and parking lots
Homeowners and businesses are responsible for clearing sidewalks adjacent to their property within 24 hours after any snowfall.
If snow is packed and difficult to remove, please use salt or sand to make sidewalks passable.
Landlords are responsible for keeping sidewalks, parking lots and all common areas, including open stairwells, free from all hazardous conditions at all times.
Sidewalks should be completely cleared to allow everyone, including people with disabilities and the elderly, to travel freely using the sidewalks instead of the street.
Removal of snow and ice from the sidewalks, curb cuts and parking lots can help to prevent needless accidents and injuries. Also be aware of elderly or disabled neighbors that cannot shovel their own walks and offer to help.
To find out if parking restrictions are in effect …
Check Evanston Now or the city website or call 847-864-SNOW.