If I do not have off-street parking, where can I park during a snow emergency?
Changes to Salem's Snow Emergency Parking Rules Starting Winter 2019
Please See Snow Emergency Parking Map Here
The City of Salem has announced changes to its snow emergency parking plan that will be implemented starting this winter season. The online map here snow identifies allowable snow parking locations.
Starting this winter, Salem Public School lots are no longer allowable as snow emergency parking locations, except as specified below.
Parking a vehicle in a school lot during a snow emergency will result in a ticket and tow.
Residents who normally park in a school lot during a snow emergency may instead park in one of the identified alternative locations highlighted below. Where alternative parking locations are on-street, residents parking in those locations must park between the posted snow emergency parking area signs. Vehicles parked outside of the signed area are subject to ticketing and towing.
Residents should also be aware that going forward the activation of the blue snow emergency lights at key intersections around the City is a signal that they should visit www.salem.com for additional information and not a representation that a snow emergency parking ban is necessarily in effect at that precise time. Snow emergency parking rates in the City garages go into effect when the blue snow emergency lights are activated. Vehicles parked in the garages before the blue snow emergency lights are activated will be charged the regular parking rate.
Please see the table below for available parking locations.
Parking Location | Address | Type | Spaces | Cost |
Museum Place Parking Garage | 1 New Liberty Street | Garage | 980 | $5/24 hours or any portion thereof, effective at the start of a snow emergency |
MBTA Garage | 252 Bridge Street | Garage | 710 | |
South Harbor Garage | 10 Congress Street | Garage | 315 | $5/24 hours or any portion thereof, effective at the start of a snow emergency |
Forest River Park | 38 Clifton Avenue | Lot | 200 | Free |
Salem Willows Park | 200 Fort Avenue | Lot | 125 | Free |
Universal Steel Parking Lot | 297 Bridge StreetlOT | Lot | 110 | Free |
SSU O’Keefe Center | 225 Canal Street | Lot | 100 | Free. Permit required. Call 978-542-7341 to obtain |
Sargent Street (west side only) | Sargent Street | Street | 75 | Free |
Lower Gallows Hill Park | 50 Proctor Street | Lot | 30 | Free. Parts of this lot will be closed due to construction at the park in the winter of 2019-2020 |
Fort Avenue (north side only) | 39 Fort Avenue to SESD | Street | 30 | Free |
Salem High School | 77 Willson Street - Posted central Lot | Lot | 30 | Free |
Footprint Power Lot | 24 Fort Avenue | Lot | 50 | Free. Permit required. Visit the Parking Garage office, New Liberty Street, to obtain |
Shetland Office Park | 78 Congress Street | Lot | 60 | Free. Permit required. Visit the Parking Garage office, New Liberty Street, to obtain. The vehicle must be removed within 30 minutes of the end of the parking ban |
Salem Wharf | Blaney Stree | Lot | 45 | Free |
Castle Hill Park | 14 Story Road | Lot | 45 | Free |
Jackson Street | Head-in spaces adjacent to Collins Middle School | Street | 40 | Free |
Collins Street (east side only) | From Webb Street to Conners Road | Street | 40 | Free |
Mack Park | 29 Grove Street | Lot | 35 | Free |
Szetela Lane (north side only) | Szetela Lane along Collins Cove only | Street | 35 | Free |
Bates School Basketball Court (not the parking lot) | 55 Liberty Hill Avenue | Lot | 30 | Free |
Old Senior Center | 5 Broad Street | Lot | 25 | Free |
Palmer Cove | Salem Street | Street | 20 | Free |
Broad Street Park | 24 Jackson Street | Lot | 20 | Free |
Lafayette Place | 54 Lafayette Place | Lot | 20 | Free |
Remond Park | 1 Bridge Street | Lot | 20 | Free |
Palmer Cove | 30 Leavitt Street | Lot | 15 | Free |
High Street Playground lot | 2 High Street Court | Lot | 15 | Free. Zone D-Yellow resident parking only, however |
Beacon Avenue (east side perpendicular spaces) | Beacon Avenue | Lot | 10 | Free |
Lathrop Street (north side only) | Along 9 Lathrop Street fence | Street | 10 | Free |
In all, with the proposed changes the City will make available at least 3,280 snow emergency parking locations across the City for residents, of which at least 1,275 are available free of charge.
Not snow emergency parking
- All Salem Public School lots except those listed above
- Mayor Jean A. Levesque Community Life Center parking lot at 401 Bridge Street
- Church Street parking lots
- Depot parking lot at the MBTA station
- Riley Plaza parking lot for permit holders only. Contact the Parking Department to obtain a permit
Removing vehicles
Vehicles parked in any non-garage snow emergency parking location, including the new alternative on-street parking sites (Sargent Street, Fort Avenue, Collins Street, Szetela Lane, Beacon Avenue, and Lathrop Street) are required to be removed within six hours of the end of the snow emergency parking ban unless otherwise posted or specified. Note that vehicles parked at Shetland must be removed from the lot within 30 minutes of the conclusion of the parking ban.
The only exception to this would be for vehicles parked at the Bates School basketball court, the designated central lot at Salem High School, the marked spaces on Salem Street immediately behind the Saltonstall School, and the Jackson Street and Broad Street Park spaces. Vehicles in these school locations are required to be removed no later than 6:00 a.m., whether or not the parking ban has been lifted unless otherwise notified.
Vehicles that are not removed in a timely manner from any snow emergency parking location will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense. Vehicles parked in a garage after the snow emergency parking ban ends may continue to be charged at the regular non-snow emergency rate for that garage.
Snow removal at snow emergency parking locations will not take place until after snow clearing operations on City streets are completed. Please plan your vehicle needs and access accordingly.
Snow Emergency CodeRED Alert System Sign-Up
Salem residents can sign-up for the City's CodeRED Alert System to receive notifications on Snow Emergencies via phone, e-mail and/or text by clicking here.
Salem Snow Emergency Downloadable Brochure
Updated brochure coming soon.
Snow Emergency Frequently Asked Questions
Winter Service Requests
Residents should report winter storm related issues by emailing snow@salem.com. Use this email address to report plowing issues, cases of snow left on or obstructing a sidewalk, and other similar snow-related issues.
Salem Snow Central
Sidewalks
The removal of the snow and ice from sidewalks is greatly appreciated. This will help school children, the elderly, and the general public from having to walk in the street. The City of Salem clears designated sidewalks following each storm. It takes time to accomplish this task and it is only done after all the roads have been cleared.
There are city ordinances requiring property owners to remove snow and ice from their bordering sidewalks within six hours after the snow ceases to fall or the city's snow emergency lights are turned off, whichever time is later. If the snow ceases to fall and the snow emergency lights are turned off in the nighttime, the snow shall be removed before 12:00 noon. If he/she neglects to do so, he/she shall be fined $25 for 1st offense, $75 for 2nd offense and $100 for 3rd and subsequent offenses.
Driveways
While the Department of Public Services tries to minimize the amount of snow that gets plowed across driveways and exits, it is unavoidable. Clearing driveway openings is the responsibility of the property owner. Plow blades cannot be lifted as they pass by a driveway. Unfortunately, snow will be plowed into driveways as we perform curb-to-curb plowing. You may wish to clear your driveway several times during the storm or wait until the storm and plowing activities have ended.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Snowplowing, shoveling, or throwing snow back onto the street when clearing driveways and sidewalks is prohibited by City Ordinance and violators can be fined $75 for 1st offense, $150 for 2nd offense and $200 for 3rd and subsequent offenses.
Catch Basins
Help us stop street flooding by shoveling out catch basins near your home.
Fire Hydrants
There are many fire hydrants in the City of Salem. Please help Keep Salem Safe by shoveling around the hydrant(s) near your home.
Winter Sand
Winter sand is available for residents (only) at the Department of Public Works Garage located at 5 Jefferson Avenue. Please limit yourselves to (2) pails per visit.