Snow Center

What We Do

The Baltimore City Snow Center is your go-to source for snow-related information and services. We cover:

• Keeping you updated:

  • If bad weather causes any disturbances, we’ll be the first to let you know all the details.
     

• Plowing the streets:

  • When winter arrives, our dedicated Snow Team ensures city streets (primary routes) are cleared first, followed by residential streets (secondary routes). Alleys will not be plowed by Baltimore City.
     

• Collecting the trash:

  • During a snowstorm, City employees will help collect your trash, recycling, and bulk items as soon as they can. (Be sure to stay informed about any schedule changes through local news outlets, social media, and the City of Baltimore website.)
     

• Clearing bike lanes: 

  • We have dedicated vehicles to help clear the bike paths so you can continue to travel safely.

The Baltimore City Snow Center also ensures residents with disabilities are taken care of in the case of bad weather. Our goal is to provide information, safety, and accessibility to the community.

What to Know When It Snows 

Street and Alley Plowed

When the Baltimore City Snow Team starts clearing snow, they work on the big roads first, like highways. After that, they move on to neighborhood streets. The big snow plows help first, and then they go help the smaller plows in the neighborhoods. Baltimore City does not plow alleys, but it does plow bike lanes and trails.
 

Trash and Recycling 

Trash, recycling, and bulk items will be collected if it is safe for City employees. Announcements will be made to local news outlets, social media pages, and DPW's website if collections will be affected due to inclement weather. 
 

Shoveling at Home

If you are shoveling snow at your home, put the snow in the grassy area or tree box next to the sidewalk. If there isn’t one, place the snow on the sidewalk near the curb — but don’t put it in the street or bike lane.
 

Parking and Driving

When Phase II and/or Phase III of the city's snow emergency plan is in effect, motorists may not park on snow emergency routes (indicated by white and black signs). Vehicles parked along snow emergency routes may be ticketed with a $52 fine and then relocated to a safe location. Learn more about parking during a snow emergency. 

• If a snow emergency is declared, DO NOT park your car on Snow Emergency Routes.
• Black and white snow emergency route signs generally are posted higher on the pole than the other signs, so look up to the top of the pole to make sure you are parked legally.
• Parking is banned on these routes to allow unimpeded curb-to-curb salting and/or plowing. 

Storm Event Information

Snow Maps

Useful maps under winter storm conditions. Maps include Snow Zones, Emergency Routes, and Snow Plow Pass Count maps.

Emergency Phases

A snow emergency has three phases. This page describes what each phase means.

Important Phone Numbers

Phone contact information you may want to know or have handy during a snow emergency.

Be Shovel Ready

An important element in providing safe passage for pedestrians during snow events is in the hands of Baltimore City residents themselves, namely the removal of snow and ice from public sidewalks.