What Minnesota Drivers Should Know About Winter Parking Rules

Minnesotans know fall is in full swing when the air gets crisp, the Vikings are playing, and those dreaded parking restrictions start popping up again. Before you get hit with a surprise ticket, here’s when—and where—you’ll need to move your car as winter rules return across the state.

You've likely heard that old adage about how there are only two seasons in Minnesota: Winter and road construction, right? And while there are many road construction projects that are still underway across the Land of 10,000 Lakes, the calendar-- and Mother Nature-- are bearing down on us with seasonal parking restrictions that begin next week in many parts of the North Star State.

New Minnesota Parking Rules Begin as Early as Next Week

While seasonal parking restrictions don't coincide with a specific calendar date in Minnesota's two biggest cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, many other municipalities DO restrict on-street parking, usually beginning in November, which, here in 2025, starts next Saturday already!

For instance, in Rochester, Minnesota's third-largest city, seasonal parking restrictions begin on November 1st each year when alternate side parking goes into effect across Minnesota's Med City. According to the city of Rochester's website, this means:

Rochester's Alternate side parking requirements are in place city-wide from November 1 to April 1 from 2 am to 3 pm.
Park your vehicle on the side of the street with EVEN house numbers when the calendar date is EVEN.
Park your vehicle on the side of the street with ODD house numbers when the calendar date is ODD.

These Minnesota Cities Are Enforcing Winter Parking Rules Soon

Additional Minnesota cities, including St. Cloud and Winona, also have seasonal parking restrictions that begin in November, with St. Cloud's taking effect on November 1st and Winona's beginning on November 15th. Both of those cities also implement a similar alternate side parking requirement during the winter months.

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However, instead of implementing seasonal parking restrictions on a specific date, other Minnesota cities, in addition to Minneapolis and St. Paul, wait for Old Man Winter to drop several inches of snow before declaring a snow emergency, which then restricts on-street parking in a similar alternate side manner.

Snow or No Snow, These Minnesota Parking Rules Still Apply

Duluth, Red Wing, Mankato, and Lake City are just some of the other Minnesota municipalities that have adopted a similar season parking plan that only goes into effect after a snow event takes place.

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To make sure YOU don't get an unexpected parking ticket-- even if there's no snow on the ground yet-- it's always best to check with the municipality in which you'll be parking to check on specific seasonal parking restrictions.