Howard County, MD Parking Rules: Snow Removal Parking Rules (2026)

307 gives the Director of Public Works authority to designate any county highway as a snow emergency route, with signs posted along the route to mark the designation. That designation only becomes active when a snow emergency is declared under the Maryland Vehicle Law covering Howard County; the emergency, once declared, stays in effect on those routes until the Director affirmatively declares it over, regardless of whether snow is still falling. 307(e) makes it illegal to park a vehicle anywhere on a designated and posted snow emergency route, full stop, and the Howard County Police Department is authorized to impound any vehicle left parked there in violation.

307(d), a motor vehicle can't be driven or attempted to be driven on a posted snow emergency route during a declared emergency unless it carries snow tires, or chains, on at least one wheel at each end of a driving axle. The code defines qualifying snow tires broadly, covering tires normally marketed as snow tires by their manufacturer, tires the Motor Vehicle Administration approves as meeting that same effectiveness standard, and tires with anti-skid tread patterns specifically cut to grip snow or ice. Because the parking ban and the tire/chain requirement are both tied to an active declared emergency rather than a fixed calendar season, drivers need to check whether an emergency is currently in effect, not just whether a route is signed, before assuming either rule applies.