Winter Parking

For information on current SNOW and ICE EMERGENCIES
call the Snow Emergency Hotline: (413) 586-6969

What are the Winter Parking Rules?

Northampton does not currently have a general street parking ban during the winter months. When weather conditions warrant, an official Snow Emergency is called. For the duration of a snow emergency, parking on all City streets and City parking lots is prohibited, per City Ordinance, between 12:01 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., except for downtown Main Street, where parking is prohibited between 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Snow Emergencies remain in effect until officially lifted.

If you park overnight on a City street, or in a non-exempt City parking lot during a Snow Emergency, your vehicle will be ticketed and towed. This is an unpleasant and expensive experience.

Snow removal often continues after a Snow Emergency is lifted. Areas of restricted overnight parking will be physically posted, or a public Snow Removal Notification will be issued, detailing which streets are affected. Check our Snow Emergency Hotline if you have any question about a parking ban.

What public parking lots are exempt during a parking ban?

During a snow emergency free overnight parking is available in the City parking lot on Armory Street (near the Parking Garage) except from 8:00 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to allow plowing there.

Overnight parking is available in the John E. Gare parking garage at all hours, on a space-available basis. There is, however, a fee for overnight parking in the garage.

How do I know if there's a parking ban?

The City of Northampton provides this information to the local press (Gazette, Union News, WHMP, Channels 22, 40, 57, etc.) It is also available 24 hours a day on the Snow Emergency Hotline at 586-6969. You can also subscribe to our email alert system. It is your responsibility to find out if there is a parking ban in effect. Email is not 100% reliable, so stay aware of weather conditions and listen to the local media.

What do I do if my car was towed?

If you believe your car was towed, please don't call the DPW or Police. Call Northampton Dispatch at 587-1100. They will let you know where your car is and whom to call to get it back. The towing companies set their own fees, usually around $100, payable to that company. The City does not receive any part of the towing fees.

My street was already plowed. Why was my car towed?

Snow clearing and removal is a multi-step process. The DPW plows the streets and parking lots of the City during a winter storm, focusing on major roads. Depending on conditions, sanding and salting might also be necessary. On the second day, they focus on clean-up of the major roads and move onto the secondary roads. Snow removal there may begin on the third or fourth day. Excess snow must also be removed from the roadsides (the parking zone) to facilitate emergency traffic. To be sure a parking ban has been lifted, call the Snow Emergency Hotline 586-6969, even if your street looks clear.