MILWAUKEE — Parking in the City of Milwaukee can be stressful but it gets a whole lot more confusing Friday.
Winter parking regulations take effect starting Dec. 1 and will remain until March 1, whether snow is on the ground or not.
"Is there a storm coming?" Ahmed Yusef of Milwaukee said. "It's just because? I did not know that."
Starting Dec. 1, drivers can not park on "through highways and bus routes between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m." according to the City's Department of Public Works. Then, when a snow emergency is declared, those same rules are in effect, plus alternate side parking between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
"There are a lot of roads that aren't really marked," George Nill of Whitefish Bay said.
Nill says he's had his fair share of parking tickets over the years.
"I think I had a roll of tickets, literally," Nill said. "I paid for the tires on those jeeps."
Those tickets largely came during the winter, he says.
Take Water Street for instance. On Nov. 30, people can park on the street overnight with a valid permit. As of Dec. 1, that changes. Above all, DPW says, posted signage takes precedence.
When there is snow on the ground, it's worth an extra look. During a two day snow emergency last winter, DPW issued 5,340 citations.
"That's actually really confusing," Yusef said. "I thought it was only with winter storms. In Minnesota, that rule is only in effect when there's a snow storm. So every other day basically."
Tickets during wintertime are pretty common, so we have gathered all of the necessary information for your convenience.
When does winter parking take effect in Milwaukee?
Winter parking regulations begin on Dec. 1, 2023, and end on March 1, 2024.
What rules go into effect during winter parking?
Unless you have an overnight parking permit or a temporary night parking permit, you cannot park on city streets from 2 a.m. through 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Winter parking rules can be found on parking signs along the street. Read the street signs for winter parking instructions before you park.
When a snow emergency is in effect, alternate side parking is required unless otherwise posted.
During a snow emergency, that alternate side parking goes into effect at 10 p.m. and is in effect until 6 a.m.
If your street does not have signs about winter parking, you can search your address online for the rules of your street.
What fines do I face if I am parking incorrectly during winter parking?
If you are parked incorrectly during a snow emergency, you can face a ticket fine ranging from $50 to $150 per citation. Your vehicle is also at risk of being towed.
You can find other parking citations and their fines here.
Where can't I park?
No parking is allowed through highways and bus routes from 2 a.m. until 6 a.m. A map of the streets where parking is not allowed can be found here.
What if I can't find parking during a snow emergency?
Milwaukee Public Schools opens some of its parking lots during snow emergencies so everyone can find a place to park. A full list of the lots open during snow emergencies can be found here.
Where can I go to stay informed on winter parking regulations?
For the latest information on parking in Milwaukee, you can sign up for parking text alerts online. You can also sign up for email notifications. The Department of Public Works also posts regular updates on its social media. Follow them on both Facebook and X at @milwaukeedpw.
For more information, you can click the link here to directly take you to the City of Milwaukee's website which includes an interactive map detailing what roads are impacted by the winter rules.
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