Salem Snow Emergency Parking, Removal Rules For Winter 2022-23

SALEM, MA — While this first big storm of the winter season this week promises to be more wet and windy than white, the city almost surely will see its share of snow in the upcoming months.

With that in mind, the city is reminding residents of rules regarding where residents can and cannot park during a declared snow emergency and possible fines for improper snow removal and disposal.

Vehicles must be removed from most city streets and sidewalks during a declared snow emergency. There are some designated parking garages and municipal locations that offer free and discount parking beginning two hours before a snow emergency, but these vehicles must be removed from these locations soon after the expiration of the snow emergency or the rate will revert to full price.

Garages will revert to regular rates two hours after the expiration of the snow emergency. Vehicles must be moved from all other emergency lots within six hours of expiration or risk ticket and tow.

Vehicles in school locations where parking is allowed are required to be removed no later than 6 a.m. each day, whether or not the parking ban has been lifted, unless otherwise notified.

Downtown district snow emergencies may start later than general city snow emergencies to allow for store and restaurant business. However, once downtown snow emergencies are in effect vehicles parked in those areas will also be ticketed and towed.

Snow emergency parking is not allowed in most Salem Public Schools.

Garages and lots that allow snow emergency parking include:

Museum Place Parking Garage, 1 New Liberty Street, $5 for 24 hours effective two hours before the start of a snow emergency.

MBTA Commuter Rail Garage, 252 Bridge Street, check here for details.

South Harbor Garage, 10 Congress Street, $5 for 24 hours effective two hours before the start of a snow emergency.

Hampton Inn Garage, Dodge Street, $5 for 24 hours effective two hours before the start of a snow emergency.

Forest River Park, 38 Clifton Avenue, free.

Salem Willows Park, 200 Fort Avenue, free.

Universal Steel Parking Lot, 297 Bridge Street, free.

Salem State University's Keefe Center, 225 Canal Street, free with a permit.

Sargent Street (west side only), free.

Lower Gallows Hill Park, 50 Proctor Street, free.

Congress Street, west side only between Harbor and Dow streets, free.

Salem High School, 77 Willson Street, Central Lot, free.

Footprint Lot, 24 Fort Avenue, free with a permit.

Shetland Office Park, 78 Congress Street, free with a permit, vehicles must be removed within a half hour of the parking ban expiration.

Salem Wharf, Blaney Street Lot, free.

Castle Hill Park, 14 Story Road Lot, free.

Jackson Street, spaces adjacent to Collins Middle School, free.

Collins Street (east side only), from Webb Street to Conners Road, free.

Mack Park, 29 Grove Street, free.

Szetela Lane (north side only), along Collins Cove, free.

Bates School Basketball Court (on the court only), 55 Liberty Hill Avenue, free.

Old Senior Center, Broad Street Lot, free.

Salem Street, behind Saltonstall School and Palmer Cove, free.

Broad Street Park, Jackson Street Lot, free.

Lafayette Place parking lot, free.

Redmond Park, Bridge Street Lot, free.

Palmer Cove, Leavitt Street lot, free.

High Street Playground Lot, free for Zone D yellow resident stickers.

Beacon Avenue Lot, free.

Lathrop Street, north side only along the fence, free.

Howard Street Cemetary Lot, perpendicular parking spaces only, free.

Snow removal at snow emergency parking locations will not take place until after snow-clearing operations on city streets are completed.

There are city ordinances requiring property owners to remove snow and ice from their bordering sidewalks within six hours after the snow stops or the city's snow emergency lights are turned off, whichever time is later. If that occurs at night, the ordinance states that snow must be removed from bordering property by the ensuing noon with a fine of $25 for the first offense, $75 for the second offense and $100 for subsequent offenses.

Shoveling or moving snow from private property onto a city street is prohibited with violators subject to a $75 fine for a first offense, $150 for a second offense, and $200 for a subsequent offense.

Street plowing can and will most often result in snow being plowed from city streets into private driveways. Removal of that snow is also the responsibility of the property owner.

Residents are also requested to shovel out nearby catch basins, fire hydrants and non-property adjacent sidewalks the city has not yet serviced.

Winter sand is available for Salem residents at the Department of Public Works Garage located at 5 Jefferson Avenue. The limit is two pails per visit.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)