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Vanderburgh County, IN Parking Rules: Snow Removal Parking Rules (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Governing chapter
Vanderburgh County Code Ch. 12.28
Trigger
Board/Highway Dept. snow emergency declaration
Enforcing agencies
County Highway Dept. and Sheriff's Dept.
Citation penalty
$25.00 to county general fund
Reclaim vehicle
ID, receipt, pay removal + storage costs
Unclaimed after
3 days: notice sent to BMV

Summary

Once the Board of Commissioners or the County Highway Department declares a snow emergency, parking is banned on every street marked as a priority snow route. Vehicles left on those routes can be towed at the owner's expense and a $25 citation penalty applies on top of towing and storage costs.

City-specific rules exist: Evansville has its own snow removal parking rules rules that differ from Vanderburgh County's county-level regulations. If you live in Evansville, check the city-specific page instead.

A. The following streets or portions thereof are designated as priority snow routes. On a declaration by the Board of Commissioners of Vanderburgh County or the County Highway Department that a snow emergency exists due to heavy snowfall in Vanderburgh County, no parking by any vehicle shall be permitted on the priority snow routes listed below. The routes shall be designated as priority snow routes and reasonable insignias shall be placed on them to indicate to the public that they are priority snow routes.

Full Breakdown

28 designates a specific list of roads, including Covert, Pollack, S. Green River Road, Burkhardt, Lynch, Oak Grove Road, N. Green River Road, Oak Hill, Browning, Petersburg, Boonville New Harmony, Baseline, Old State, Old Princeton, Darmstadt, Mt. Pleasant, Kratzville, Mill, Mesker Park Drive, Red Bank, New Harmony, Kasson, Kuebler, St. Wendel, St. George, St. 010. Once the Board of Commissioners or the County Highway Department declares a snow emergency due to heavy snowfall, no vehicle may park on any listed segment, and the county places insignias on those routes to mark them for the public.

020 places the burden on drivers: each person is deemed to know the priority status of their home street and of any street they travel or become stalled on, and must take whatever measures are necessary to clear a stalled vehicle from a snow route. The County Highway Department and the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Department are authorized to remove a vehicle to the nearest garage, another place on a street, or a contracted storage lot whenever it is parked or stalled on a declared snow route during a declared emergency and is interfering, or about to interfere, with snow removal operations.

If contract wreckers are unavailable, the Board of Commissioners can bring in outside wrecker services for the duration of the snow removal period. The enforcing agency must try to notify the registered owner in writing of the removal and how to reclaim the vehicle; if the owner cannot be identified or notice cannot be given, and the vehicle sits unclaimed for three days, the officer must report the removal by mail to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Violations & Fines

To reclaim a towed vehicle, the owner must show identification and proof of right to possession, sign a receipt, and pay the removal cost plus any accrued daily storage charge; unpaid charges become a lien on the vehicle enforceable like a garage keeper's lien. Anyone cited under this chapter also owes a separate $25 penalty, deposited into the county general fund, on top of towing and storage costs. A person who believes the fine was improperly assessed may plead not guilty and get a hearing in the court of appropriate jurisdiction.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Vanderburgh County snow route parking ban take effect?
It takes effect only after the Board of Commissioners or the County Highway Department formally declares a snow emergency due to heavy snowfall. Outside a declared emergency, the priority-route designation itself does not bar parking; the ban applies specifically during the declared emergency period under Section 12.28.010.
Which streets count as priority snow routes in Vanderburgh County?
Section 12.28.010 lists specific roads and segments, including Covert, Burkhardt, Lynch, Oak Hill, Boonville New Harmony, Baseline, Old State, Darmstadt, Kratzville, Mesker Park Drive, Red Bank, New Harmony, and St. Wendel, each tied to a defined portion, such as county line to county line or intersection to intersection.
What happens if my car gets towed from a snow route in Vanderburgh County?
The County Highway Department or Sheriff's Department can tow it to the nearest garage, another street location, or a contracted storage lot. To get it back you present ID and proof of ownership, sign a receipt, and pay the removal cost plus any accrued storage fee; you also owe a separate $25 citation penalty under Section 12.28.020(I).
Can I contest a Vanderburgh County snow route towing penalty?
Yes. Section 12.28.020(J) lets anyone who feels improperly fined enter a plea of not guilty and receive a hearing in the court of appropriate jurisdiction to contest the citation.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Vanderburgh County

All Vanderburgh County rules

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