Know Before You Park: Winter Parking Rules Across Dakota County
Published: December 1, 2025
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA – As winter settles in across Dakota County, overnight parking bans and snow-emergency rules are back in effect in many communities. Knowing the local rules can be the difference between a clear driveway and street, a costly ticket, or a towed vehicle.
Rules vary by city, but they generally fall into two buckets:
Season-long overnight parking bans.
Restrictions that kick in during or after a certain amount of snowfall.
Below is a breakdown of current winter parking rules for Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Lakeville, Rosemount, Farmington, West St. Paul, South St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Hastings, and Inver Grove Heights, based on city ordinances and winter-reminder pages as of December 1, 2025. Drivers should still follow posted signs and check city websites for updates.
Apple Valley
Overnight parking:
Apple Valley generally prohibits parking on city streets from 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. year-round, with only limited exemptions (for example, when a driveway is under construction or completely full).
During snow events:
The city’s snow and ice control policy states that on-street parking is prohibited anytime snowplowing or snow removal operations are in progress.
Residents must clear public sidewalks within 48 hours and are not allowed to push or blow snow back into the street, as this could pose a public safety hazard.
Bottom line: Don’t park on the street overnight, and move your vehicle off the street as soon as plows start working.
Property or sod damage from snow removal operations: If you received damage from snow removal operations, you can contact the City’s Public Works Department to repair and replace the damage. These reports need to be in by May 1st of that current year.
Public Works Number: 952-953-2400
Email: pubworks@applevalleymn.gov
Burnsville
Overnight parking:
Burnsville does not allow on-street parking from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. on any public street, year-round.
During snow events:
City code also prohibits parking that interferes with snow removal operations at any time, meaning a vehicle left in the street during plowing can be cited and/or towed.
Bottom line: Expect strict enforcement, no overnight street parking, and keep cars off the road any time crews are plowing.
Property or sod damage from snow removal operations: If you received damage from snow removal operations, you can contact the City’s Public Works Department to repair and replace the damage. Burnsville does not publicly list a date by which the report must be made.
Public Works Number: 952-895-4550
Eagan
Eagan uses an odd/even winter parking system in addition to time-of-day rules.
Season dates:
Winter parking rules run from November 15 through April 15, regardless of whether there is snow on the ground.
Daytime (6 a.m. – 6 p.m.):
On even-numbered dates, parking is allowed only on the side of the street with even-numbered addresses.
On odd-numbered dates, parking is allowed only on the side with odd-numbered addresses.
Nighttime (6 p.m. – 6 a.m.):
Parking is allowed on both sides of the street overnight under the winter ordinance, unless otherwise posted.
Bottom line: Between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., match the side of the street to the date (odd/odd, even/even). Overnight, parking is more flexible but still subject to posted restrictions.
The City of Eagan also offers FREE curb marking stakes to help prevent lawn or sprinkler head damage by plows. Free wooden stakes (eight per household) are available at the Eagan Maintenance Facility, 3501 Coachman Point.
Lakeville
Overnight / seasonal:
From November 1 to April 1, no parking is permitted on any city street between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., even when there is no snow.
During snow events:
Parking is also prohibited while it is snowing and until streets have been plowed, even outside the overnight window.
Bottom line: Assume no on-street parking between 2–6 a.m. all winter, and keep vehicles off the street any time snow is falling or plows are working.
Want to Track the City of Lakeville Plows? Now you can! Lakeville Snowplow Map
Rosemount
Season dates and overnight ban:
According to Rosemount’s winter reminders, from November 1 to March 31, parking is prohibited on city streets daily between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.
During/after snowfall:
Parking is also banned during snowfall anytime two inches or more of snow is expected, and the restriction stays in place until the street is plowed curb-to-curb.
Bottom line: No parking 2–6 a.m. in winter, and no parking at all on snow-covered streets after 2"+ until plowing is finished.
The City of Rosemount also offers FREE curb marking stakes to help prevent lawn damage by plows. The limited supply of free wooden stakes (four per household) is available at City Hall or at the Public Works & Police Campus, located at 14041 Biscayne Avenue. The City recommends putting the sticks six inches from the edge of the road and at least 25 feet apart.
Farmington
Season dates and overnight ban:
Farmington’s winter parking ordinance states that from November 1 through April 15, no vehicle may be parked on any street, highway, alley, or public parking area between 2:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., unless signs say otherwise.
Other limits:
Farmington also has a 72-hour rule, which prohibits leaving a vehicle parked in the same spot on public streets or parking areas for more than 72 consecutive hours.
Bottom line: Plan for no on-street parking between 2:30–5:30 a.m. Nov. 1–Apr. 15, and don’t leave vehicles sitting on the street for days at a time.
The City of Farmington also offers FREE curb marking stakes to help prevent lawn damage by plows. The stakes are available for pickup by residents at City Hall from 8 am to 4:30 pm, or at the Maintenance Facility between 7:30 am and 3:30 pm by appointment.
West St. Paul
West St. Paul’s strictest winter parking rules kick in during a declared snow emergency, which is typically triggered when 2.5 inches or more of snow has fallen or when city leaders declare one.
When a snow emergency is declared:
Snow Emergency Routes, which include the following major streets: Annapolis, Bernard, Butler, Charlton, Delaware, Dodd, Emerson, Marie, Mendota, Moreland, Oakdale, Robert, Smith, Stryker, Thompson, and Wentworth
No parking after 2 a.m. until the route is fully plowed. Vehicles can be towed from these routes.
All other streets and alleys:
No parking after 8 a.m. until the street is fully plowed, or until 8 p.m., whichever comes first. Vehicles left in place (“snowbirds”) can be ticketed and towed.
The city also requires property owners to remove snow and ice from adjacent sidewalks and prohibits pushing snow from private property onto public streets.
Bottom line: When a snow emergency is declared, move cars off major routes before 2 a.m. and off all other streets by 8 a.m., or risk a tow.
South St. Paul
South St. Paul focuses on keeping streets clear when plowing begins, rather than a fixed overnight ban.
Snow removal policy - Two Key Ordinances:
Municipal code prohibits parking on streets or alleys in any way that obstructs or interferes with snow plowing or snow removal. Vehicles should be off the street before plows start their routes.
A separate rule forbids leaving a vehicle in one place on any street for more than 20 continuous hours, encouraging regular movement so plows can reach the curb.
Vehicles that remain in the street during plowing can receive a “snowbird” citation and may be towed at the owner’s expense after plowing is complete.
Bottom line: There’s no single nightly ban, but if plows are out or a storm is forecast, you should clear vehicles from the street to avoid tickets and towing.
Mendota Heights
Season dates and overnight ban:
Mendota Heights has a general winter parking ban: no vehicle may be parked on any public street between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. from November 1 through March 31.
After 2"+ of snow:
City alerts note that after any snow event of two inches or more, parking is prohibited on all public streets until they are plowed curb-to-curb.
Bottom line: No street parking 2–6 a.m. all winter, and no street parking at all after 2"+ until crews finish plowing.
Hastings
Hastings uses an automatic snow emergency system.
Automatic snow emergency:
A snow emergency automatically goes into effect when two or more inches of snow have accumulated. The city no longer issues separate “declared” alerts—residents are expected to watch conditions.
Parking rules during a snow emergency:
When that 2"+ threshold is reached, vehicles must be moved off the street and kept off until the road is plowed from curb to curb.
Violators may be ticketed and towed; the city lists the current fine for a snow-emergency parking violation at $77.
Residents who need a place to park are encouraged to use designated public parking lots, which are mapped on the city website.
Bottom line: In Hastings, 2 inches of snow automatically means “snow emergency.” If your car is still on the street, you’re at risk for a ticket and a tow until plowing is complete.
Inver Grove Heights
Seasonal overnight parking ban:
Inver Grove Heights enforces a winter parking restriction from November 1 through April 1, during which no vehicle may be parked on any city street between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. This rule applies whether or not snow is present.
During snow events:
While the city does not use a formal “snow emergency” system, residents are expected to keep vehicles off the street whenever plows are out, especially after significant snowfall.
The City emphasizes that parking on the street during active plowing can delay snow removal operations and may result in enforcement action.
Other parking rules:
Vehicles may not be parked on any public street for more than 20 consecutive hours, a year-round rule that helps ensure plows and emergency vehicles can access neighborhoods.
Residents who need temporary overnight parking (e.g., visitors, driveway construction) may request a short-term parking waiver through the Police Department.
Bottom line:
From Nov. 1 to Apr 1, no street parking is allowed from 3–6 a.m., and vehicles should be moved off the street during snowplowing operations. Avoid leaving a vehicle in the same spot for more than 20 hours at any time of year.
Quick Tips for Drivers Across the Region
Check the dates. Many cities have winter bans that begin November 1 or November 15 and run through late March or mid-April, even when there’s no snow on the ground.
Watch the snow totals. In several communities, 2 inches of accumulation triggers snow emergencies or no-parking rules.
Look for signs. Local posted signs, especially on snow emergency routes, can be stricter than the general citywide rules.
Move cars early. Don’t wait for a tow truck or ticket; if a storm is in the forecast, move vehicles off the street before plows roll out.
Sidewalks matter, too. Most cities require residents to clear sidewalks within a specific timeframe after snowfall and prohibit pushing snow into the street.
Written by: Will Wight
