El Dorado County, CA Parking Rules: Snow Removal Parking Rules (2026)

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors approved updated winter parking restrictions for the Tahoe Basin portion of the unincorporated County effective for the 2025-2026 winter season and going forward. The restrictions cover county-owned public roads, highways, and rights-of-way from Strawberry east to Tahoma and Meyers - the South Lake Tahoe-adjacent unincorporated area. Under the prior rule, parking on these roads was prohibited only 'when snow removal conditions exist,' which led to enforcement uncertainty and vehicles parking on the road when the sun was out or it wasn't actively snowing but plows were running. The Board removed the 'when snow removal conditions exist' qualifier and aligned El Dorado County's rule with the Tahoma / West Shore / Placer County approach, which imposes a flat no-parking restriction throughout the winter window. The current restrictions run from November 1 to May 1 annually. Parked vehicles that interfere with snow removal can be cited and towed by the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office and CHP under Title 10 of the County Code and California Vehicle Code Section 22651(b) (vehicle blocking ordinary movement of traffic) and Section 22651(p) (parking in violation of posted signs). Cleared parking is generally available at designated SNO-Park lots operated by Eldorado National Forest with a state SNO-Park permit. Within the City of South Lake Tahoe (which is incorporated), separate municipal parking restrictions apply. Note: outside the Tahoe Basin, El Dorado County roads in the foothills and lower elevations do not have a winter blanket no-parking rule, but snow events and CalTrans chain control may still affect parking and travel on State Routes 50, 49, and 88.