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Bozeman adopts alternate-side winter parking to clear local streets; program includes warnings, signage and $50 fine for enforcement
Summary
The commission adopted a resolution authorizing seasonal alternate-side parking on local residential streets to improve winter maintenance, starting with downtown neighborhoods. Enforcement will target times when street clearing occurs, start with warnings and use a roughly $50 citation for violations after warning.
The Bozeman City Commission on Tuesday adopted a resolution to implement alternate-side parking on local streets during winter months to improve snow removal and emergency access. The motion, moved by Commissioner Fisher and seconded, passed 4-0.
"The goal here is to improve winter maintenance through enforcement of alternate side parking regulations as means of improving public safety by reducing the risk of right away blockages and leading to decreased response times from our emergency services," Nick Ross, the city's director of transportation and engineering, told the commission as he presented the proposed resolution.
Under the program as described by Ross, alternate-side parking would run from Dec. 1 through March 31. On first and third Tuesdays of a month, no parking would be allowed on the odd-numbered side of a signed street; on second and fourth Tuesdays the restriction would apply to the even-numbered side. The city will place signage at the start and end of each block and will not apply the alternating schedule on streets that already have permanent one-sided parking restrictions. The initial rollout targets downtown neighborhoods along the city’s Tuesday grader route where on-street parking is heavily used.
Ross said enforcement would be tied to actual maintenance activity: parking enforcement would issue first-time warnings as an educational measure and would issue citations only when maintenance was occurring and compliance was required. The proposed fine for violations after warning is roughly $50, with a potential for future escalation for repeat offenders if the city ordinances are adjusted. Parking enforcement staff indicated they expect to have capacity to carry out proactive enforcement during winter operations.
Commissioners and staff described a multichannel education plan — mailers, door hangers, targeted outreach to multifamily addresses and neighborhood groups, and on-street signage — to build compliance and "muscle memory," particularly among students and renters who may be newer to the city’s parking norms. Several commissioners urged robust early enforcement and visibility so residents learn the schedule before a first winter storm.
The commission emphasized the program’s safety rationale. Ross cited the International Fire Code requirement for a minimum clear width of 20 feet for emergency access and said alternate-side enforcement aims to ensure graders and emergency vehicles can operate on local streets without berms created by piled snow and parked cars.
Commissioner Fisher said the program represents "city government in action" — an operational policy that improves mobility and public safety. The resolution delegates enforcement authority to the city’s parking division and directs staff to lead the education campaign prior to December implementation.
The resolution passed unanimously, and staff said they will prepare signage, mailers and outreach to neighborhood associations and off-campus student services in coming months.
