Bellingham, WA Parking Rules: Snow Removal Parking Rules (2026)

Bellingham's winter snow framework differs from cities east of the Cascades because heavy snow events are occasional rather than seasonal. The City of Bellingham Public Works Department operates a tiered snow-and-ice control program: during snow events, crews focus on spreading a salt/sand mixture on the roadway or plowing when warranted, with priority on arterials and bus routes; residential streets are sanded as time and conditions permit. The city does not provide snow and ice control for driveways or public sidewalks - snow and ice control for these areas is the sole responsibility of the abutting property owner or tenant. The city recommends that residents clear sidewalks near their homes during winter weather. Property owners should be aware that pushing or placing shoveled snow onto a public street or right-of-way is prohibited because it creates a hazard and interferes with plow operations; property owners are also responsible for the actions of any snow-removal contractor they hire, which may bring liability if an accident occurs. On the parking side, RCW 46.61.570 (Stopping, standing, or parking prohibited in specified places) continues to apply during snow events: no parking within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant, twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, in any intersection, on a sidewalk, in front of a public or private driveway, or in any space where official signs prohibit stopping. BMC 11.33.060 also continues to apply, including the seventy-two-hour continuous-parking limit. To report a missed plow route or significant ice hazard, contact Bellingham Public Works; to report a vehicle blocking a plow or hydrant, call Parking Services at (360) 778-7780.