The plow approaches the vehicle
The operator cannot continue along the roadway edge with a parked car occupying that space.
Naperville Winter Guide
Where should you park when it snows?
Naperville asks residents to keep vehicles off the street during winter snow events. The reason is practical: a parked car forces the plow around it and can leave a large patch of snow and ice behind.
Here is how snow operations interact with street parking, Naperville’s overnight parking rule, downtown parking and the City’s broader winter-removal system.
01 Street parking
A parked car creates a hole in the plow route.
Snowplows work best when they can make an uninterrupted pass along the roadway.
Naperville asks residents not to park on the street during a winter snow event because vehicles obstruct plowing.
When a plow encounters a parked car, the operator has to move away from the curb or roadway edge and then return after passing the vehicle. Snow that would otherwise have been moved can remain around the parked car.
Once that snow is driven over, compacted or exposed to changing temperatures, it can become harder to remove on a later pass.
Keeping vehicles in driveways or other lawful off-street locations gives crews a clearer path and improves the chances of a more complete plow pass.
Why the City asks
One parked vehicle can affect more than one parking space.
The problem is not simply that snow remains underneath the vehicle.
The plow needs clearance before and after the car to safely move away from the roadway edge and then move back toward it.
That can leave a much larger uncleared area than the physical footprint of the vehicle itself.
If multiple vehicles are parked along the same block, crews may be unable to clear substantial stretches near the curb during that pass.
What happens
How a parked car changes the plow path.
The issue becomes easier to understand when you picture the path the truck has to take around a vehicle.
The truck moves away from the curb
The plow must begin shifting outward before reaching the parked vehicle.
Snow remains around the car
The blade cannot reach the area immediately around the vehicle during the pass.
The truck returns to the edge
After safely passing the vehicle, the plow can gradually move back toward its normal position.
Separate parking rule
Naperville also restricts overnight street parking.
The winter request to move cars during snow is separate from the City’s normal overnight-parking ordinance.
General City rule
2 a.m. → 5 a.m.
Naperville Municipal Code generally prohibits vehicles from parking on City streets during this period.
Exceptions exist.
View current City parking-enforcement information
Emergency situations, temporary Police Department permission and certain approved Overnight Parking Program participants can qualify for exceptions.
Two different concepts
Snow-event guidance and overnight parking are not the same rule.
Keep vehicles off the street.
This is the City’s winter-operational guidance so plows can move through the street more effectively.
Overnight parking restriction.
This is a broader municipal parking rule that applies independently of whether snow is falling.
During active snowfall
Moving the car once may not be the end of it.
Naperville’s snow operation unfolds over time rather than in one final pass.
Main traffic routes receive attention first, followed by residential side streets, with cul-de-sacs, alleys and dead ends handled later.
During a longer storm, crews may make repeated passes as additional snow accumulates.
That means keeping a street clear during the active event can be more helpful than simply moving the vehicle for a short period while one plow passes.
Learn how Naperville’s priority plowing works Downtown Naperville
Downtown parking is a different environment.
Downtown has parking garages, surface lots, on-street spaces and a much tighter relationship between parking, pedestrians and snow storage.
Naperville Public Works says the City removes snow in downtown parking lots and on downtown sidewalks.
Public Works also hauls accumulated snow piles out of downtown to keep parking spaces available, improve visibility and reduce icy pedestrian conditions.
Current downtown parking rules still apply during winter, including posted time limits and Washington Street rush-hour restrictions.
View official downtown parking information Downtown facilities
Off-street parking can matter more during snow.
Downtown Naperville has multiple City parking facilities that provide alternatives to leaving a vehicle along an on-street plow route.
Van Buren Parking Facility
43 W. Van Buren Ave.
Central Parking Facility
75 E. Chicago Ave.
Municipal Center Parking Facility
400 S. Eagle St.
Water Street Parking Facility
120 Water St.
Parking limits, overnight availability and other restrictions vary by facility and time. Follow current posted signs and City parking information.
Private parking lots
Businesses have the same basic obstruction problem.
Snow-removal equipment needs access to the pavement whether the property is a City street or a private commercial parking lot.
Parked vehicles can make it difficult to clear individual spaces, curb lines, traffic lanes and areas where snow needs to be stacked.
Commercial properties therefore often need a plan for where vehicles will remain during plowing and how areas blocked during the initial service will be handled.
Those expectations should be part of the actual snow-removal agreement rather than assumed after the first storm.
Before the snow
A simple parking plan helps the whole block.
The easiest time to decide where the vehicle will go is before accumulation begins.
Use your driveway when possible
Moving vehicles off the roadway gives City equipment a clearer path along the street.
Remember the overnight restriction
Street parking generally is not permitted between 2 and 5 a.m. unless an authorized exception applies.
Follow posted downtown rules
Snow does not automatically suspend downtown time limits, tow zones or other posted parking restrictions.
Check official City information
Use Naperville’s current snow-removal and parking resources when conditions are changing during an active storm.
At home
Moving the car helps the street. The driveway may still need another pass.
Even when the street is completely clear of parked vehicles, a municipal plow can leave a dense ridge of snow at the driveway entrance.
That is a separate issue created by roadway snow moving across the driveway apron during the plow pass.
Why the plow leaves snow at your driveway Winter parking FAQ
Parking and snow in Naperville.
Parking rules and municipal procedures can change. During an active event, follow current City information and posted restrictions.
Can I park on the street during a snowstorm in Naperville?
The City of Naperville tells residents not to park on the street during winter snow events because parked vehicles interfere with plowing and can leave large patches of snow and ice behind.
Is overnight street parking allowed in Naperville?
Naperville Municipal Code generally prohibits parking on City streets between 2 and 5 a.m. Exceptions exist for certain emergency situations, temporary Police Department permission and approved participants in the City’s Overnight Parking Program.
Why does a parked car make snow removal harder?
A snowplow needs room to move along the curb or roadway edge. When a vehicle is parked in the street, the plow must move around it, which can leave an uncleared pocket of snow and ice around the vehicle.
Can I park downtown during snow?
Downtown parking remains subject to the City’s normal posted restrictions and facility rules. During winter weather, conditions and snow-removal operations can affect parking availability, so current City information and posted signs should be followed.
Does Naperville remove snow from downtown parking areas?
Yes. The City says it handles snow removal in downtown parking lots and sidewalks. Public Works also hauls accumulated snow piles out of the downtown area to preserve parking, visibility and pedestrian conditions.
Where should I check for current snow-operation information?
Use the City of Naperville’s official snow-and-ice-removal resources and interactive snow-removal map for current municipal information during a winter event.
Official resources
Check Naperville directly during active weather.
Private-property snow removal
Need a driveway or parking lot cleared?
Naperville handles City streets. Private driveways, parking lots and commercial properties require separate snow-removal planning.