Lassen County, CA Parking Rules: Snow Removal Parking Rules (2026)

Lassen County is a high-elevation Northeastern California county where Susanville, Janesville and Westwood receive heavy winter snow, but the county's vehicle and traffic code does not contain a dedicated winter on-street parking ban or snow-emergency towing ordinance like the City of Susanville's separate snow rules. Snow removal on county-maintained roads is handled operationally by the Lassen County Public Works/Roads Department, whose road and bridge program maintains the county system; consistent with standard California county practice, county crews do not plow private or non-county-maintained roads. State highways through the county - such as routes 36, 44, 89 and 395 - are maintained by Caltrans, which imposes chain controls (Requirement R-1, R-2 or R-3) during storms and may close roads; chains or traction devices are required on designated routes under those controls. A vehicle that blocks a snowplow or is left on a county road can be removed under the California Vehicle Code (CVC 22651 authorizes towing vehicles that obstruct work or are left 72+ hours). Because no county ordinance sets a snow-day parking ban for unincorporated areas, residents should keep vehicles clear of plowed roadways, follow Caltrans chain requirements on highways, and check current conditions before traveling.