‘Snowzilla’ Led to Eight Days of Parking Restrictions in 2016
While snowfall like last year’s “Snowzilla” storm – which dumped nearly 30 inches of snow on Rockville – is rare, community members should remember that significant, deep snow could lead the city manager to declare a snow emergency.
The snow emergency that was in effect Jan. 21-29, 2016, in response to the blizzard, was the city’s third snow emergency in two winters. The other two were from Feb. 16-17, 2015 and March 4-6, 2015.
Once a snow emergency is declared, pay special attention to the city’s website, email notices, Facebook and Twitter for updates. Learn how to connect through social media and email updates at www.rockvillemd.gov/connections.
The city’s snow emergency ordinance states:
- The city manager may invoke snow emergency parking restrictions.
- The city may remove or impound cars improperly parked.
- Residents with driveways must park all vehicles there.
- Residents without driveways, or who have more vehicles than will fit in the driveway, may park on the even-numbered side of the street only.
- In courts or cul-de-sacs, where house numbers are not even on one side of the street and odd on the other, parking is allowed only on the left side of the streets as one enters the cul-de-sac or court.
- No parking is allowed in the bulb of the cul-de-sac or court.
- A $100 fine may be incurred for a snow emergency parking violation.
When snow leads to cancellations of city programs and/or facility closures, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/weather for the latest information.
City crews treat and plow roads in the following priority order:
- Primary roads that consist of major arterial roads, emergency routes, central business districts and primary residential roads near schools.
- Secondary roads that consist of the remainder of neighborhood streets, alleyways and cul-de-sacs.
To check whether an address is within the city limits, visit the Address and Residency Check Map at www.rockvillemd.gov/maps.
Learn more about how Rockville responds to winter weather at www.rockvillemd.gov/winterweather.
For more information, call 240-314-8500.