Farmington Hills, MI Parking Rules: Snow Removal Parking Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 30-727
- Maximum fine
- $500.00 civil infraction
- Notice lead time
- 2 hours (6 a.m.-11 p.m. announcements)
- Stalled vehicle reporting
- 10 days to Secretary of State if unclaimed
- Ban lift trigger
- Street clear of snow/ice full block length
Summary
When the city manager declares a snow emergency for falling or forecast snow, sleet or freezing rain, parking is banned on the affected streets until the emergency ends. Vehicles left in place can be ticketed, towed and impounded, with owners on the hook for towing and storage costs.
Whenever the city manager finds, on the basis of falling snow, sleet or freezing rain, or on the basis of a forecast by the United States Weather Bureau or other weather service of snow, sleet or freezing rain, that weather conditions will make it necessary for motor vehicle traffic to be expedited and for parking on city streets to be prohibited or restricted for snow plowing and other purposes, the city manager shall put into effect a parking prohibition on parts of or all city streets as necessary... except that any street which has become substantially clear of snow and ice for the entire length and width of the entire block shall automatically be excluded therefrom.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 36).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 30-727, once the city manager finds that snow, sleet or freezing rain (actual or forecast by the National Weather Service) will require streets to be cleared for plowing, the manager declares a parking prohibition on some or all city streets. cannot take effect until at least two hours after the announcement (§ 30-729). A vehicle that stalls on a city street during a declared emergency must be moved off the roadway immediately; leaving it in the roadway is unlawful except for the time needed to walk to a phone or nearby garage for help (§ 30-728).
Police may tow any vehicle parked in violation of the prohibition, or any vehicle interfering with snow removal, to a city-designated storage yard (§ 30-732). Before an owner can reclaim a towed vehicle they must show proof of identity and right of possession, sign a receipt, and pay both the removal cost and any storage charges, which stand as a lien on the vehicle enforceable like a garage keeper's lien. If the vehicle is not identified or reclaimed within ten days, the police department must report the tow to the Michigan Secretary of State.
The city manager can lift the prohibition in whole or in part once conditions clear (§ 30-730), and emergency parking rules override other conflicting traffic provisions while in effect, except rules on accident response, emergency vehicles and police traffic direction (§ 30-731).
Violations & Fines
Parking on a street subject to a declared snow emergency, or abandoning a stalled vehicle in the roadway, is a civil infraction carrying a fine of not more than $500.00 under § 30-735. The registered owner is presumed to be the person who left the vehicle in violation (§ 30-734), and officers may affix a citation to an unattended violating vehicle instead of impounding it (§ 30-733).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know when a snow emergency parking ban is in effect in Farmington Hills?
What happens if my car gets towed during a Farmington Hills snow emergency?
Can I leave my car in the street if it stalls during a snow emergency?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Farmington Hills
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