Snow News

Engineering/Streets Overview  |  Sidewalk Assessment
Snow News  

Emergency Snow Removal Ordinance

City Ordinance No. 809 prohibits the parking of vehicles on city streets when a snow emergency is declared by the Director of Public Services.

1. A snow emergency will be declared when four or more inches has accumulated in one hour or more.

2. It will be announced radio stations: WOMC/104.3 FM, WCSX/94.7 FM, WWJ/950 AM, WXYT/1270 AM; and television channels WJBK-FOX2, WDIV-TV 4, WXYZ-TV7 and Ferndale Municipal Cable/Cable TV 53/10.

3. Once a snow emergency is declared, it shall remain until your street is clear curb-to-curb, or until the Director of Public Services cancels it.

4. A special parking permit may be issued by the Department of Public Services for any residential home that does not have a driveway. A maximum of two parking permits may be issued per such home. Please remove the snow emergency parking sticker when a driveway is constructed, when the permit holder moves, or when the vehicle is disposed of.

5. Any person whose vehicle(s) is parked on a city street during a snow emergency may be ticketed, fined, and his/her vehicle(s) impounded.

With city streets cleared of vehicles, the city snow trucks will be able to clear streets faster, and more on-street parking will be available.

Please help us help you have a safe and pleasant winter!

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Remember...

When it snows, Ferndale’s major streets – those with a high volume of traffic – are plowed first.

The Ferndale Department of Public Services uses rock salt to de-ice city streets and intersections. Rock salt is effective only when temperatures are above 10-20 degrees.

Snow Removal on Sidewalks is Required by Law

Chapters 16-3 and 16-4 of the Ferndale City Code states that the occupant of premises adjoining a public sidewalk is responsible for clearing that public sidewalk of ice and snow within 24 hours of the snowfall. Homeowners and businesses who have newly poured concrete should not use road salt to de-ice sidewalks or driveways.

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Piling Snow is Illegal

Don’t unknowingly break the law by piling snow on roadways and shoulders as you shovel your driveway and walk!

State law prohibits businesses and citizens from dumping snow on roadways and shoulders, or piling it so high at driveway entrances that it obstructs motorists’ vision.

Keep the shoulder in front of your driveway clear, and clear snow for a short distance from the driveway in the direction of approaching traffic. That way the view of a motorist entering the roadway from a driveway is not obstructed. When clearing your driveway, push the snow away from the roadway and to the sides of the driveway to its full length. That will eliminate the problem of high snow banks blocking a driver’s view.

Businesses should make special arrangements ahead of time to remove snow from their parking lot entrances and driveways. In some cases, it may be necessary to remove snow away from private facilities. Violators leave themselves open to fines and lawsuits for public liability and property damage if snow is plowed and left on city streets.

All property owners and persons hired to remove snow are responsible for maintaining safe traffic conditions and for preventing careless snow removal techniques.

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The City of Ferndale, Michigan
300 East Nine Mile Road
Ferndale, Michigan  48220
(248) 546-2525