Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott says ‘space saving’ after snow shoveling is not allowed on streets

City warns against reserving parking spots with chairs, cones or other objects during winter cleanup

Baltimore officials are reiterating that residents may not claim or “reserve” on-street parking spaces after shoveling snow, a practice that typically involves placing chairs, cones, trash cans or other objects in cleared curbside spaces. The city’s position is that public parking remains available to all drivers, even after a space has been cleared by a nearby resident.

The reminder comes as Baltimore continues winter storm operations under an active local emergency posture in late January 2026. City leaders have emphasized that snow and ice response depends on keeping streets and curb lines clear for plowing, salting and emergency access.

Snow operations prioritize major routes; illegal parking can trigger towing

Baltimore’s snow operations are structured around prioritizing arterial and collector streets and key routes to hospitals and schools, with secondary streets often taking longer to clear. During declared snow emergencies, parking restrictions apply on designated snow emergency routes to allow curb-to-curb plowing and salting.

Under city rules, vehicles parked on snow emergency routes during an active snow emergency can be subject to ticketing and removal. The city has also expanded enforcement capacity in recent years, including a move to 24-hour parking enforcement operations intended to improve compliance and enable overnight response, including towing resources.

How residents can report obstructions and parking issues

Objects used to hold parking spaces can become roadway obstructions, particularly when plows are working close to the curb or when melt-and-refreeze cycles create narrow travel lanes. City systems allow residents to report street issues and parking-related concerns through 311, which is also used for winter-weather service requests such as icy roadway reports.

• Report hazardous street conditions and winter-weather concerns through 311 during storms.
• Use 311 to report parking-related issues and request enforcement attention where appropriate.

City launches volunteer “Snow Corps” for sidewalk assistance

Alongside enforcement reminders, the city has launched a pilot neighbor-to-neighbor initiative, Baltimore Snow Corps, designed to connect residents who need help clearing snow and ice from sidewalks—particularly seniors and people with disabilities—with volunteers willing to assist. Requests and volunteer sign-ups are routed through the same 311 system used for other city service needs.

Public works and transportation operations depend on unobstructed streets and curb access during snow events, with enforcement and 311 reporting serving as primary tools to keep routes clear.

City officials are urging residents to focus on safe snow removal around homes and businesses, comply with posted parking restrictions during emergency declarations, and avoid placing objects in the street that could interfere with plowing or create hazards for drivers and pedestrians.