Thornton, CO Parking Rules: Snow Removal Parking Rules (2026)

Section 70-107 makes it 'unlawful to park any vehicle whatsoever on any designated snow route, when restrictions are in effect,' including the shoulder of Interstate 25 within the city, while snow removal operations are underway. Section 70-109 gives the director authority to designate or change snow routes on recommendation of the street operations manager or traffic engineer, based on which streets need to stay clear to move traffic or allow plowing; the traffic engineer must post signs on curbside-parking streets so designated, though subsection (b) makes clear that a missing or hard-to-see sign 'shall not excuse the owner or operator of any vehicle from complying.'

The manager triggers the restriction by declaring a snowstorm alert (Section 70-110) or, for heavier storms, a severe snowstorm alert (Section 70-111), announced through area radio and television stations and posted at Thornton Civic Center, 9500 Civic Center Drive, per Section 70-115. Once either alert is declared, Section 70-112(b) makes it unlawful 'to stand or park any vehicle on any portion of a snow route or leave, abandon or permit to remain stalled any vehicle' there; emergency vehicles are exempted. Subsection (c) offers an affirmative defense if the operator of a stalled vehicle was actively seeking help to move it at the time of citation, though that defense doesn't block towing.

Section 70-113 requires officers to first order a present owner or operator to move the vehicle before citing them, but allows immediate towing 'to the nearest place' that clears the route if no one is present, with all removal costs charged to the vehicle's owner or operator.