WISCONSIN — Across the Badger State, many cities have implemented street parking rules for the winter to help keep the streets clear.
While some major cities have specific rules for parking during the winter, others just issue restrictions by snow emergencies.
Green Bay is one of the cities that go by snow emergencies. When one is issued, the following restrictions are enforced:
- No vehicle should be parked on any street until the snow emergency has expired, including metered parking areas
- Overnight on-street parking will not be granted during the snow emergency
- Vehicles found parking on-street during the snow emergency will be tagged, ticketed and towed at the owner's expense
Madison goes by a different set of rules, known as the alternate-side parking rules.
This means between 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. until March 15, drivers must park on the odd-numbered address side of the street on odd-numbered days (Dec. 1, 3, 5 and so on). Then on the even-numbered days, drivers must park on the even-numbered address side of the street.
There is an exception to this requirement. In the city's Snow Emergency Zone, which covers the Isthmus, along with parts of the near east and near west sides, the alternate side parking restrictions are only in affect when it has snowed and the city declared a snow emergency.
Winter parking regulations run from Dec. 1 to March 1 in Milwaukee. Here are what residents should be aware of:
- Posted signs take precedence — read the street signs for winter parking instructions before parking
- No parking is allowed on through highways and bus routes from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. — a map of these routes can be found here.
- Any time a snow emergency is declared, all vehicles must follow posted signs and use the alternate side parking rules between 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- During snow emergencies, parking is prohibited on the through highways and bus routes during these same hours during 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Fines range from $50 to $150 per citation along with the potential the vehicle is towed
Sheboygan also goes by alternate side parking regulations between Dec. 1 to April 30. The alternate parking regulations are in effect between midnight to 6 a.m.
Vehicles should park only on the even-numbered side of the streets on even-numbered days between midnight to 6 a.m.
Vehicles should park only on the odd-numbered side of the streets on odd-numbered days between midnight to 6 a.m.
A snow emergency can be declared between Nov. 1 to April 30. Parking is prohibited in these areas during a snow emergency: Designated snow emergency routes, boulevards, cul-de-sacs and dead-end streets.
When a snow emergency is issued in La Crosse, alternate side parking rules take effect for 48 hours; however, it can be extended depending on the severity of the snow. When the snow emergency ends, drivers can park on either side of the street.
For general parking regulations, click here.
Wausau allows overnight, alternate side parking from 2:30 to 6 a.m. However, alternate parking is not enforced on streets with "no parking" on one side only; drivers can park on the side that is not prohibited, regardless of the day — unless there has been a snow emergency.
Overnight parking is not allowed during snow emergencies.
Until March 15, parking is restricted to the following:
- On even-numbered days starting at 8 p.m., parking is restricted to the even side of the street only, until 8 a.m.
- The same applies for odd-numbered days
- No permits are required
- Metered parking is restricted to 60 minutes between the hours of 2 to 6 a.m. (This policy overrides all other on-street parking restrictions in place on any street where parking is allowed)
Until May 1, the City of Eau Claire is also implementing the alternate parking policy between midnight and 7 a.m.