Winter Parking Rules Now In Effect Across Western New York

Now that we finally have certified proof that winter has come back to the Buffalo area, municipalities all the 716 are starting to do something they had initially delayed doing for several weeks.

With multiple winter weather watches issued by the National Weather Service and New York Governor Kathy Hochul declaring a State of Emergency in Western New York, places like the City of Buffalo and the Town of Tonawanda have started enforcing their winter parking rules and regulations.

Most communities in New York State implement their winter parking rules in early autumn, typically in mid-to-late October annually. However, the extremely mild temperatures caused them to push the changeover back a few weeks. Now that winter parking rules are going back into effect around the region, there are some things that you have to remember when parking your car on the street around town.

• These rules will be in effect until at least April 1st, 2024,
• Overnight parking on bus routes is prohibited during overnight hours, typically from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m.,
• Side and residential streets with daytime alternate parking rules between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. go into effect.

If your vehicle is parked in a way that doesn't follow these rules, the police or parking enforcement will likely issue a hefty ticket.

Every year during a snowstorm, we hear stories about city and town plows being unable to clear the streets because cars are stuck on them. Following these rules will help road crews have better access to clear the streets when snow has fallen and impacts conditions.

The NFTA produces a list of every street that will be impacted by these parking rule changes, which you can find on the city's website.