Philadelphia, PA Parking Rules: Snow Removal Parking Rules (2026)

The Streets Commissioner designates the City's heavily traveled thoroughfares as "Snow Emergency Routes" and posts them with signs at intervals not exceeding 1,500 feet reading "Snow Emergency Route" (§ 12-2502(1)-(2)). When forecast or falling snow, sleet, hail, ice or freezing rain will create hazardous highway conditions, the Emergency Coordinator, a City employee designated by the Managing Director, may declare a Snow Emergency, effective no sooner than two hours after the declaration, and must publicize it through local radio, television and news services (§ 12-2501, § 12-2502(3)).

Once the emergency takes effect, no vehicle, trailer, dumpster or other object may be parked or left stalled, disabled or unattended on a Snow Emergency Route (§ 12-2502(4)(a)); the Emergency Coordinator can exempt a route or segment if weather or street conditions warrant, again with public notice. Objects ticketed for this violation may be towed by the Police Department or its designated agent (§ 12-2503(1)). If not taken to an Official Towing Station under § 12-2402, the object is towed to a location off the Snow Emergency Route and a $75 towing fee (or a higher amount the Police Commissioner sets by regulation to cover actual towing and administrative costs) is assessed under § 12-2503(3)(a); the Police Department must mail notice of the tow within 30 days unless the owner already contacted it within 72 hours.

Vehicles in disability parking spaces are exempt from towing, though they may be temporarily relocated to allow plowing and must be returned once the block is cleared; SEPTA and NJ Transit vehicles get a two-hour grace period after notification before towing applies, and authorized emergency vehicles are exempt outright (§ 12-2503(4)).