Portland, ME Parking Rules: Snow Removal Parking Rules (2026)

Portland Code of Ordinances Sec. 28-97 gives the city manager, or a designee, authority to declare an emergency parking ban to allow plowing or removal of accumulated snow or ice, or for other good cause stated in the declaration. The ban can cover all city streets or only certain streets or a defined perimeter, and the declaration must be reduced to writing as soon as practicable, stating the reasons. Critically, the declaration must be made no less than six hours before the ban takes effect and must be communicated to media representatives as the city manager directs.

The ban doesn't apply to a location that is already free of snow and ice from curb to curb for an entire block. Sec. 28-96 separately makes it an offense to park in a way that interferes with or hinders city snow removal by plowing, loading or hauling, including parking in violation of a posted no-parking sign placed because of plowing operations; the chief of police or a designee can also have such a vehicle removed regardless of any fine imposed. Sec. 28-98 then makes it unlawful for a vehicle to remain parked on any street, including an unaccepted street, during the effective period of a declared emergency ban under Sec.

28-97. Snow-related tows fall under the Article IV towing-fee schedule at Sec. 28-122, which sets $150 for a non-accident tow and adds a shoveling fee, $25 if the vehicle isn't hooked when city crews determine shoveling was reasonably necessary to hook it up, when a tow operator has to dig a vehicle out during a snow ban or city-conducted snow removal.