An effective snow removal program can only be accomplished with the help of our citizens.

Residents can help get the roads plowed faster and more effectively during the winter by moving parked vehicles off the street whenever three inches or more of snow is predicted to fall.

Snow Emergencies: Avoid tickets, get parked vehicles off the street during snow emergencies so roads can be plowed

Parked vehicles by law must be removed from roads when the City of Dearborn declares a snow emergency.

Parked vehicles left on the street will be ticketed. Police do not issue warnings. Tickets are $80.

Snow emergencies are generally declared when three inches of snow or more are predicted within a short period of time, or when other weather conditions will make the roads hazardous.

Sometimes a snow emergency is announced many hours before a snow storm to give residents plenty of warning to move their parked vehicles so they won’t get ticketed once the snow emergency is in effect. This often happens if an early morning storm is predicted.

Outdoor sirens always announce snow emergency

Outdoor early warning sirens will be activated to signal the beginning of a snow emergency and the requirement that residents move their parked vehicles off the street.

Residents can also check to see if a snow emergency is in effect via:

• Text or email messages from the public safety information system known as Nixle. Residents can sign up to receive alerts at Nixle.com
• Snow emergency hotline at 313-943-2444
• City website: cityofdearborn.org
• Social media: @dearborngov on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook 

TV and radio maybe used for notification, but not always

In addition, snow emergencies may be, but will not always be, announced on local TV and radio stations.  CDTV, the government cable access channel, may be, but will not always be, used as well. This is channel 12 on Comcast, channel 10 on WOW, and channel 99 on AT&T.

Tickets can be given even after the snow emergency ends

Even after a snow emergency ends, police are permitted to ticket parked vehicles if they appear as if they were not moved during the emergency, for example, if the vehicle is covered in snow.

Driveways may be covered during snowplowing

Please take into consideration that driveway aprons will be covered with snow from street plowing operations. It is an inconvenience, but necessary so that roads can remain safe for drivers. Do not put snow from your driveway or sidewalk back into the cleared street.

Crews also salt the roads, even if they are not plowing

It is also a good idea to remove parked vehicles when City crews are salting roads, to allow for better coverage.

Alternative parking in snow emergencies available for those without driveways  

The City recognizes that some residents do not have driveways and during snow, emergencies cannot easily remove their vehicles from the streets, especially in northeast and southeast Dearborn.

Across Dearborn, residents can use parking lots at the City parks, especially Levagood, Crowley, and Ford Field parks during a snow situation.  Vehicles will need to be removed again within 24 hours after the end of the snowfall so that the park lots can be cleared.

In the northeast and southeast Dearborn, where the lack of driveways is more common, the City has designated specific streets that residents can use temporarily during a snow emergency. Note these streets are not the streets that people live on, and no one can park their vehicles in front of their own homes in a snow emergency.

The special snow emergency streets in which parking is allowed marked with signs.

Southeast Dearborn:

• Eagle, from Amazon to Salina
• Lapeer, from Ferney to Amazon
• Lowrey, from Holly to Saulino Court
• Westlawn, from Vernor to Burley
• Tuxedo, from Ferney to Riverside Drive
• Whittington, from Canterbury to Riverside Drive
• Berkshire, from Industrial to Canterbury
• Morningside, from Industrial to Wyoming
• Riverside Drive, from Industrial to Vernor

Northeast Dearborn:

• Blesser, from Maple to Oakman
• Henson, from Maple to Oakman
• Henn, from Chase to Williamson
• Haggerty, from Maple to Calhoun
• Paul, from Chase to Horger between Schaefer and Hartwell
• Hemlock, from Chase to Oakman
• Donald, from Chase to Calhoun and between Reuter and Oakman
• Alber, from Reuter to Oakman
• Coulter, from Lonyo East to alley for part of the block
• Graham, from Lonyo East for part of the block
• Whitlock, from Lonyo East to alley
• Shaddick, from Lonyo East to alley
• Gary, from Lonyo East to alley

Vehicles must be moved from the streets listed above within 24 hours of parking or they will be ticketed. 

View maps of the streets here:

Download the Southeast Dearborn Snow Emergency Temporary Parking Map

Download the Northeast Dearborn Snow Emergency Temporary Parking Map

Be a good neighbor, follow the law: Clear snow, ice

Dearborn residents and property owners are reminded that they are required to keep their sidewalks and ramps to crosswalks clear of snow and ice so they are safe for pedestrian travel.

City ordinance considers sidewalks and ramps unsafe if snow accumulates to three inches or more, or any amount of ice is present.

Ordinance provides property owners 24 hours (after the snowfall has ended) to remove snow and ice accumulations from public sidewalks and ramps leading to crosswalks.

For corner lots, this includes sidewalks along the front and side or the property. Snow thrown onto the sidewalk and corner cross ramps as a result of plowing is a responsibility of adjacent property owners and must be removed.

Snow should be deposited on your own lawn and/or easement. However, it may be deposited on a neighboring property to necessitate reasonable removal. Deposited snow must not obstruct windows, vents, driveways, or walkways.

Snow may never be deposited in the street. Applying salt, cat litter, or other chloride-based ice removal agents are common treatments for preventing and treating icy sidewalks.

Fines for not clearing snow and ice

If properties fail to keep their sidewalks clear and safe, the City may take action to remove the snow and ice. Property owners will then receive a bill from the City for the abatement plus a minimum $75 additional fee. Fees increase for those properties repeatedly abated by the City.

Snow removal enforcement is prioritized in areas heavily traveled by pedestrians, such as those near businesses or schools, and on walking routes to those areas. However, all properties with public sidewalks are required to remove snow and ice and are subject to enforcement.

For ordinance information, visit this link:

Snow Removal Ordinance Information for Property Owners

Driving in it? Check the road and traffic conditions in and around Dearborn with the Wayne County Compass.