Winter maintenance season kicks off with all subzones inactive

The Winter Maintenance Zone (WMZ) program officially starts today with all subzones inactive until further notice. This means on-street parking restrictions are not in effect.

While our streets remain free of snow, for now, there are still things you can do to help prepare for this winter season:

• Sign up for WMZ email alerts.
• Use the Find Your Zone tool to find out your subzone and designated maintenance day to prepare for future on-street parking restrictions.
• Remove personal items, such as basketball/hockey nets and curb mats, from the curb or overhanging the street to help prevent future delays and damage.

WMZ 101

Winter maintenance zones operate on an every-other-week schedule. Each subzone is active once every two weeks, meaning residents only need to move their vehicle twice a month.

When your subzone is active, on-street parking restrictions are in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on your designated maintenance day.

When your subzone is inactive, parking restrictions are not in effect, and vehicles can remain parked on the street.

Vehicles left in active subzones and where temporary no-parking signs will be ticketed and may be towed to the nearest lawful location, such as a nearby street without parking restrictions in place.

The parking fine is $400, and tickets paid within seven days will be reduced to $240.

If you’re not sure where to park, check out your WMZ map to find the nearest available Priority Two or Priority Three street.  

Priority Routes

Priority routes – or the busier streets not included in the WMZ program – receive maintenance more frequently. If you live on a Priority One, Priority Two, or Priority Three route, you can park on your street when it is being plowed as the street is big enough for the plow to go around parked vehicles.

When crews are preparing to remove snow from priority routes, temporary no-parking signs will be placed 24 hours in advance.

Parking restrictions take effect 24 hours after signs are placed and end once maintenance is complete. Parked vehicles must be removed from the street until the no-parking signs are removed.  

If you're not sure if your street is part of the WMZ program or a Priority One, Two, or Three route, use the Find Your Zone tool and enter your street address.

Learn more about changes to winter maintenance

On Oct. 6, Council approved updates to the Urban Snow and Ice Control Program Policy that will help crews clear streets faster, improve public information, and reduce delays caused by illegally parked vehicles.

Learn more about what's changed.