Snow Parking Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. When snowfall exceeds two inches, the Village of Oak Park's snow emergency parking regulations go into effect. The rules prohibit parking on major thoroughfares designated as snow routes (see map below) and initiates specific parking rules for other streets in the community.

Under Village Ordinance, the enforcement officer determines if snow has accumulated two or more inches. But as a service to the community, the Public Works Department typically announces when the snow emergency parking rules are necessary to allow for plowing activities.

The snow emergency parking rules may be activated for daytime or nighttime. During the day, the rules will go into effect at 8 a.m. At night, the rules begin at 10 p.m.

The Village will post whether the snow emergency parking rules are in effect at www.oak-park.us/snow.

Residents can sign up to be notified when the snow parking rules go in effect by text, email and/or voice message at www.oak-park.us/notifyme.

Efforts also are made to announce the implementation of the rules on Facebook, Twitter and the Village website.

If you usually park on a designated snow route, you must move your car to a side street. If you park on a street that is not a posted snow route, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. you must park on the even numbered address side of the street on even number days (east and north sides of street) and on the odd numbered address side of the street on odd number days (west and south sides of street).

Snow parking regulations do not apply from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. on residential side streets. However, parking continues to be prohibited on all posted snow routes.

The snow parking rules override all other daytime restrictions on residential streets outside commercial districts. This includes timed restrictions such as the following:

• 2 hour parking from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• No Parking 8 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday
• Weekly street cleaning restrictions

No. All snow routes must be completely cleared of parked cars, on both sides of the streets, anytime the snow emergency parking rules are in effect.

When the snow emergency parking rules are in effect, all Village streets except snow routes where all parking is prohibited follow the odd/even street parking regulations. The odd/even rule is in effect from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on side streets in residential areas. The odd/even street parking regulation is in effect from midnight to 8 a.m. in commercial districts designated by signs.

The commercial districts that follow the odd-even parking rule from midnight to 8 a.m. include the West side of Maple Avenue from Garfield to Lexington; Marion Street from Lake to Ontario; Marion Street from South Boulevard to Pleasant) the West side of Marion Street from Superior to Chicago; North Boulevard from Euclid to Kenilworth; Pleasant Street from Marion to Maple; South Boulevard from Euclid to Kenilworth; South Boulevard from Forest to Maple; the north side of Westgate Street Harlem to 1126 Westgate); and the north side of Harrison Street from Oak Park to Grove. Signs are posted on theses streets

Yes. When the snow emergency parking rules are in effect, they apply even if it is a weekend or a holiday.

When snow is predicted, the Public Works Department will announce by 7 p.m. whether or not the snow emergency parking rules will go into effect for that night starting at 10 p.m. Visit www.oak-park.us/snow to determine where to park your car for the night.

When the snow emergency parking rules are in effect for the night and you have a valid on-street overnight zone parking permit you must move your vehicle from the snow route. You then may park on either side of available side streets from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., even if the street you park on is not designed as a part of your zone.  Be sure to follow safety restrictions such as “No Parking Here to Corner” and do not block fire hydrants or driveways.

No. When the snow emergency parking rules are in effect for the night and you have a valid on-street overnight parking zone permit you may park on either side of any street not designated a snow route from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., even if the street you park on is not part of your zone. However, be sure not to park on a designated snow route, follow safety restrictions such as “No Parking Here to Corner” and do not block fire hydrants or driveways.

Whether you work days or nights, when snow is predicted, you can determine if the snow emergency parking rules have been implemented by visiting www.oak-park.us/snow. Remember, the snow parking rules are implemented for the day or night by 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. respectively, and are in effect during the day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. in residential areas, overnight from midnight to 8 a.m. in commercial districts and around the clock on snow routes. Use this information to plan accordingly about where to park while at work. If you work a non-standard schedule that is not compatible with the day/night snow parking regulations, you may want to consider private parking or off-street parking in a Village permit lot or garage.

When you come home, you must comply with the daytime restrictions if the snow parking rules are in effect – which you can verify by visiting www.oak-park.us/snow. It is possible that the snow parking rules were activated at 8 a.m. that day and later lifted if all snow plowing activity was completed for the day. If the snow parking rules were not lifted by the time to return home, then you need to follow the odd/even street parking restrictions until 10 p.m. You should also check the snow hotline after 7 p.m. to determine if the snow parking rules will continue to be in effect overnight starting at 10 p.m. If the rules are not in effect overnight, permit holders must park within their designated zone for the night.

The snow emergency parking rules are not enforced after 10 p.m. in residential areas. However, if the rules are still in effect after 10 p.m. you may not park on a designated snow route anytime or in a commercial district overnight. Visit www.oak-park.us/snow to find if the snow parking rules are effect. If the rules are in effect, and you park in a residential area, be sure to move your car to the proper side of the street by 8 a.m.

Cars in violation of a snow emergency parking rules may be ticketed and towed.  Consider parking in a Village-owned garage while traveling in the winter.

If you believe your car was towed, call the Police Department at 708.386.3800 for information on how to find your car.

Guests staying in Oak Park must follow the same snow parking regulations as residents.

Village-operated permit parking lots and metered lots are cleared routinely as part of the snow removal plan. Crews will work around vehicles as conditions permit. If a lot needs to be closed for plowing, signs announcing the times will be posted a day in advance. If your lot is closed during the day, you need to find another legal parking spot on a side street. If your lot will be closed overnight, you will likely be instructed to request an overnight parking pass through an online process. Quarterly permit holders who choose to leave their cars parked and not moved during multiple snow events are responsible for clearing snow that may have piled up around their car since the removal equipment is too large to clear snow between parked cars.