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

Alpine County is the highest, snowiest county in California, and Chapter 10.12 (Parking, Standing and Loading in Snow Conditions) is its core winter ordinance. Section 10.12.020 prohibits parking or standing any vehicle within five feet of the pavement edge on any county road during snow or snow-clearing conditions, which are deemed ongoing whenever snow is present on a county-road right-of-way. Section 10.12.030 prohibits parking on Montgomery Street in Markleeville, from Highway 89 (Main Street) to Laramie Street, on Tuesdays and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Section 10.12.050 sets extensive one-way circulation, time limits, alternating-day no-parking windows (generally 9:00 a.m. to noon on Mondays/Thursdays or Tuesdays/Fridays depending on area), and parking-lot restrictions throughout Bear Valley; the county may post a semaphore to signal a snow-removal day, and if none is shown the chapter still applies (subsection (G)). A separate Chapter 10.08 (Winter Road Use Restrictions) prohibits driving, standing, or parking non-oversnow vehicles on roads such as Alpine Mine Road, Blue Lakes Road, and Burnside Road, punishable as a misdemeanor/infraction by a fine up to $500 or up to six months in jail. Under Section 10.12.070, CHP officers, sheriff's deputies, or the snow control officer may tow or relocate any vehicle blocking snow operations, and towing/storage charges set by the Board of Supervisors are charged to the owner.