Ann Arbor Snow Parking; Same As It Ever Was, Only Better

Ann Arbor Snow Parking; Same As It Ever Was, Only Better  

By Milton Dohoney Jr, City Administrator 

Ann Arbor has long suffered when narrow streets, on-street parking and a strong winter storm combine to lock down movement and services. Ordinance changes made by City Council this past winter, along with resource/ operational changes by city staff and improved cooperation from residents, may finally break us from this frustrating cycle.  

The City of Ann Arbor has always had the power to declare a snow parking ban. This process had been governed by confusing language about timing and odd/even streets, making it difficult to understand, follow and enforce. In fact, the last time Ann Arbor declared an on-street snow parking ban it was such a failure that one hasn’t been called in more than two decades, despite the city experiencing one of the snowiest winters on record in 2013/14.  

Over the last few years, despite some very mild winters, consensus has grown for the community to do things differently, so our next big snowstorm won’t end with the same chaotic results.  

To make progress, as a community, we must agree on what the goal is.  

Our goal is not to completely clear all snow from all streets. That’s unreasonable with the resources available to us. 

Our goal can be that when snow is heaviest, cars won’t become an obstacle for plows to make way for emergency services and city vehicles to do their job and help get our streets back to normal as quickly as possible.   

What is the city doing and what is needed for those who currently take advantage of on-street parking to meet this goal? 

In 2024/25, the city secured contractors to help provide additional support to city staff to treat and plow residential streets. These residential streets don’t serve as main arteries for travelers and experience far less and much slower traffic, meaning the physics isn’t there to melt snow as quickly, hence they need a bit more help.  Public works is also using new software to manage plow routes more efficiently, which is easy to follow thanks to the city’s improved online plowing map. 

An on-street parking ban, one part of our response toolbox, has been made easier to understand due to recent ordinance changes However, the city understands that both staff and the community haven’t exercised this parking muscle in a very long time, so we are committed to spending the next few years talking about the why, what, when and how of a possible on-street snow parking ban.  

We know what residents expect of the city when it comes to clearing snow. It’s also critical residents, students and commuters know what the city expects of them, especially with an on-street snow parking ban.

Those who take advantage of on-street parking need to plan before a winter snowstorm hits.  

This means thinking about where you could move your car and if you need to talk to your neighbors or friends about possibly using their excess driveway space. It means thinking about travel plans during winter and coordinating with others to move your car.  

Second, it means voluntarily moving your car from the street so the city can plow more effectively, making streets more accessible and safer, which benefits everyone!  

While the city has the authority to ticket or tow vehicles that don’t abide an on-street snow parking ban, the best outcome would be neither takes place. 

Finally, a vital part of parking on Ann Arbor streets is ensuring you are signed up for Everbridge alerts, which will be the primary way the city alerts drivers and residents of a snow parking ban. It would also help to pay attention to the city’s website and social media channels before, during and after winter storms.  

To learn more about how the city plans to implement an on-street snow parking ban, how to stay informed and sign up for alerts, which streets are exempted, as well as how to apply for a street exemption, please visit a2gov.org/snowparking.