Knoxville — Knoxville Snow Ordinance



It is once again the time of year when citizens of Knoxville need to be aware of the City’s Snow Ordinance. Failing to understand and abide by the ordinance may result in fines or in cars being towed away. Here is a quick reminder.



When the Chief of Police proclaims a snow emergency “no person shall park, abandon or leave unattended any vehicle on any public street, street parking or alley”. The parking ban continues until 24 hours after the storm ends and the entire street is plowed, curb-to-curb. It is important to remember that you cannot park on the street even if your side has been plowed if the storm is still occurring or the other side of the street has not been plowed.



The fine for violating this ordinance is $25 and officers may have the illegally parked vehicles towed at the owner’s expense.



Generally, a snow emergency is called when the expected snowfall exceeds one inch. Announcements are made over the local radio station and placed on the Mediacom public access channel (12) to let people know about the ban. The Police Chief tries to announce the ban as soon as possible, however, occasionally an unexpected storm happens so people are encouraged to keep an eye on the weather and not park their vehicles on the street when it begins snowing.



Finally, people need to remember that it is illegal to push, throw, or dump snow from one property onto any City street or right of way or the property of another. The fine for violating this section is $10.



Anyone having any questions about Knoxville’s Snow Ordinance is welcome to contact the Police Department at 828-0541 or 828-0554 after hours.



5-2-6: SNOW ORDINANCE FOR CITY STREETS:

A. Parking Prohibited During Snow Emergency:

1. No person shall park, abandon or leave unattended any vehicle on any public street, street parking or alley during any snow emergency proclaimed by the Police Chief unless the snow has been removed or plowed from said street, street parking or alley and the snow has ceased to fall. A snow emergency parking ban shall continue from its proclamation through the duration of the snow or ice storm and the twenty four (24) hour period after cessation of such storm except as above provided upon streets which have been fully opened (curb to curb).

2. Such a ban shall be uniform application and the Chief of Police is directed to widely publicize the requirements, using all available news media in early November of each year. When predictions or occurrences indicate the need, the Police Chief shall proclaim a snow emergency and shall inform the news media to publicize the proclamation and the parking rules thereunder. Such emergency shall be extended or shortened when conditions warrant.

3. The foregoing prohibition shall be modified within the area of the Central Business District and more specifically described as follows:

a. Main Street from Harlan Street to Fourth Street.

b. Second Street from Pleasant Street to Washington Street.

c. Third Street from Pleasant Street to Washington Street.

d. Robinson Street from Roche Street to Fifth Street.

The foregoing prohibition shall not apply to the above described area during normal business hours of eight o'clock (8:00) A.M. to six o'clock (6:00) P.M. and during normal weekend, evening or holiday hours as defined by the Main Street organization. (Ord. 93-3, 2-15-1993)

4. There shall be a twenty five dollar ($25.00) fine for each violation of the provisions of this Section. Members of the Police Department are hereby authorized to remove or have removed a vehicle from a public street, street parking or alley to the nearest garage or other place of safety, or to a garage designated or maintained by the Police Department, or otherwise maintained by the City, when there has been a violation of the provisions of this Section. In addition to the penalties provided in this Section, the owner or driver of any vehicle impounded for violation of the provisions of this Section shall be required to pay the reasonable cost of towing charges and storage. (Ord. 93-3, 2-15-1993; amd. Ord. 97-17, 11-17-1997)

5. Snow removal priority list shall be maintained by the Police Chief and reviewed annually by that office along with the Public Works Director. (Ord. 93-3, 2-15-1993; 1996 Code)

B. Snow Dumping On Streets:

1. It shall be unlawful for any person to throw, push or place or cause to be thrown, pushed or placed, any ice or snow from private property, sidewalks or driveways onto the traveled way or right of way of streets so as to obstruct gutters or impede the passage of vehicles upon the street, or to create a hazardous condition therein, or to obstruct the view of or conceal any traffic sign, except where, in the cleaning of large commercial drives in the business district, it is absolutely necessary to move the snow onto the streets temporarily, such accumulation shall be removed promptly by the property owner or agent, and only after first making arrangements for such prompt removal at the owner's cost of the accumulation within a reasonably short time.

a. It shall also be unlawful for any person to throw, push or place or cause to be thrown, pushed or placed, any ice or snow from private property, sidewalks or driveways onto the property of another or the right of way located between the sidewalk and the street adjoining another person's property.

b. The sole exception to the above is where a business in the Central Business District has sidewalks that abut the curb, in which case the landowner or his/her agent may dump snow in the street from said sidewalk.

2. There shall be a ten dollar ($10.00) fine for dumping snow on City streets as described in subsection B1 of this Section. (Ord. 93-3, 2-15-1993)