Winter Parking Restrictions

IGH PD reminds our community to please do their part in promoting safety on our city streets by closely following longstanding City Ordinance #6-3-6 LIMITED PARKING DURING WINTER MONTHS: It shall be unlawful to park a vehicle on any street between the hours of 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. from November 1 through April 1. 

1. Parking Notices

Starting yearly on or around October 17, officers begin to issue winter parking notices to vehicles that are found parked on any city street and/or highway, within the city limits of Inver Grove Heights. Notices state the following:

• There is NO PARKING on any city street and/or highway, within the city limits of Inver Grove Heights. Between the hours of 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.
• This goes into effect at 3 a.m. on the morning of NOVEMBER 1 and continuing to APRIL 1. 
• Any vehicle found parked on any city street and/or highway, within the city limits of Inver Grove Heights in violation of city ordinance #6-3-6 between the hours of 3 a.m. through 6 a.m. will be cited and subject to towing and impound.
• If you have any questions, you may contact IGH PD from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 651-450-2525.

2. Parking Warnings 

Starting yearly on November 1, the Police Department begin to issue written warnings for winter parking violations to vehicles that are found parked on any city street and/or highway, within the city limits of Inver Grove Heights. Between the hours of 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. 

The warnings are issued to the registered owner of the vehicle.

3. Parking Citations 

Starting yearly on November 15, the Police Department begin to issue written citations for winter parking violations to vehicles that are found parked on any city street and/or highway, within the city limits of Inver Grove Heights. Between the hours of 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. 

The citations are issued to the registered owner of the vehicle. 

• If a vehicle has received two (2) citations for a winter parking violation, it will be issued a third and also towed/impound.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q - What if I have visitors from out of town and have no available parking on my property? 

A - If you have visitors who will need to temporarily park on the street, the Police Department can provide a waiver for up to 14 days. To make a waiver request, property owners should call the Police Department at 651-450-2525. The waiver allows for overnight street parking only. All other state or local parking requirements remain in effect (i.e. duration of parking, fire hydrant parking, etc.). Those with waivers are also expected to move vehicles to alternate locations if a significant snow event occurs to allow for curb-to-curb snow removal. 

Q - I see cars parked overnight on my street, why haven’t they been cited or towed? 

A - The ordinance restricts overnight parking between the hours of 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. Officers focus on overnight parking enforcement based on availability. Since the department’s priority is the response to calls for police service, winter parking regulation enforcement is completed only when officers have available time. Residents can call the department at 651-450-2525 to report a persistent or chronic violation, which will be given priority status when officers are not engaged in call for service response. 

Q - What is the requirement in the event of a snowfall? 

A - The ordinance was intended to standardize parking regulations by prohibiting overnight parking from November 1 to April 1. During snow events of 2 inches or more, we ask that vehicles be parked off-street to allow City plowing crews to clear snow for expediently and effectively. 

Q - Is Inver Grove Heights the only city that this type of date-specific winter parking restriction? 

A - Cities have a variety of different ordinances governing winter parking. Some cities have a year-round overnight parking restriction. Inver Grove Heights winter parking requirements are date and time specific to minimize questions and confusion about parking during snow events. If you have questions, contact IGH PD from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 651-450-2525.

Street Parking Regulations

• Commercial vehicles (vehicles exceeding 26,000 pounds) and semi-trailers cannot be parked on city streets in a residential neighborhood.
• Trailers, watercraft and recreational trailers cannot be parked on city streets unless they are hitched to a motor vehicle.
• Vehicles, trailers, watercraft, recreational vehicles and motor homes cannot be parked on city streets for more than 20 continuous hours.
• Parking Regulation Ordinance

If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Police Department at 651-450-2525.

Off-Street Front Yard Parking Regulations (City Code 10-15A-3)

Within all Single-Family Residential districts, parking on the grass or an unpaved area in the front yard is prohibited. To find out which district ("zone") you are in, visit our Zoning and Land Use Map. 

Parking pads and driveway modifications require a permit from our Engineering Department. Residents must submit a site plan, which can be an informal drawing including measurements, along with a $25 fee. For permit questions, please contact Mike Edwards at 651-450-2575. For design questions, contact our Planning Department at 651-450-2545.

Automobiles: Parking Pads & Driveway Modifications 

• All vehicles must be parked on a solid paved parking pad consisting of asphalt, concrete or paving blocks
• All wheels of the vehicle must fit on the pad surface. The parking pad is to be no larger than necessary to fit the vehicle.
• The parking pad must be immediately connected to the driveway.
• Parking pads cannot exceed impervious surface coverage requirements.
• Parking pads must be set back a minimum of five (5) feet from a side lot line.
• Parking pads do not include:
  •  Individual unconnected blocks under the wheels.
  • Strips of blocks acting as runners to a pad or a spot off the driveway.

Recreational Vehicles: Parking Pads & Driveway Modifications

• Recreational vehicles include: trailers, boats, campers, RV’s.
• Within the R-1C district only, no more than two (2) recreational vehicles are allowed to be parked in the front yard of a single-family home. All other single-family residences may have more than two (2) recreational vehicles in the front yard.
• All recreational vehicles must be parked on a solid paved parking pad consisting of asphalt, concrete or paving blocks.
• All wheels of the vehicle must fit on the pad surface. The space is to be no larger than necessary to fit the vehicle.
• The parking pad must be immediately connected to the driveway on the side OPPOSITE the front door (see attached diagrams).
• Parking pads must be set back a minimum of five (5) feet from a side lot line.
• Parking pads do not include:
  • Individual unconnected blocks under the wheels.
  • Strips of blocks acting as runners to a pad or a spot off the driveway.
  • Parking pads cannot exceed impervious surface coverage requirements.

Off-Street Front Yard Parking Exceptions

• During the winter street parking ban from November 1 – April 1, automobiles may be parked on the grass/snow in the front yard.
• At any time of the year, automobiles may be parked in a side or back yard (on any surface including grass) provided that parking meets a 5-foot side yard setback and an 8-foot back yard setback.

DWI Enforcement in IGH

IGH PD applied for and was awarded a grant by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Office of Traffic Safety in 2021 to put toward DWI prevention and patrols in Inver Grove Heights. This year, one IGH PD officer will be dedicated to DWI patrols and community education around the consequences of drinking and driving and how to avoid it. Throughout the year, look for extra reminders to get a sober ride on our IGH PD Facebook page and around IGH. 

For more information, visit: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ots/impaired-driving/Pages/default.aspx.

Traffic & Speed Control

One of the major complaints in traffic control involves vehicles speeding through neighborhoods. Did you know that, most often, individuals speeding through a neighborhood also reside there? 

The Police Department takes these complaints seriously and actively enforces the traffic laws of Minnesota. As part of our education program, IGH PD along with South St. Paul and West St. Paul Police Departments operates a traffic monitoring trailer. This trailer has a radar mounted in it with a large display window. When it is set up, the radar will display the speed reading of traffic that passes through the radar. The IGH PD uses this trailer every third week, for a week at a time.

We keep a list of complaint areas and not only enforce the traffic laws, but also try to educate drivers on their speed using the trailer. If you would like to see these trailers in your neighborhood, call IGH PD at (651) 450-2525.

IGH PD officers can be hired to provide extra-duty police services for events in the City of Inver Grove Heights. However, all extra-duty police services must be requested via an application.

The application must include:

• The event service location
• Date(s) services are needed
• Hours services are needed
• The total number of officers needed

The rate for extra-duty police services is published on the City's 2024 fee schedule.

View the City's large assembly permit.

Requests should be submitted as soon as practical and submissions with less than a 24 hour notice may go unfilled. The extra-duty police services application can be submitted by email or fax. If you have any questions, please email the on-duty sergeant by phone at 651-450-2525.

Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Program

The Inver Grove Heights Police Department utilizes Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones, to enhance public safety, improve emergency response capabilities, and support law enforcement operations in a safe, efficient, and transparent manner.

What is the UAS Program?

The Inver Grove Heights Police Department launched the UAS Program in October 2024 to enhance our ability to protect the community through safe, responsible, and effective drone operations. UAS technology allows our department to respond more quickly and efficiently to emergencies, support investigations, and assist in community outreach and city operations.

How We Use UAS

The Inver Grove Heights Police Department deploys Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in limited, well-defined circumstances to support public safety and emergency response. UAS operations are conducted in compliance with Minnesota law, including Minn. Stat. § 626.19, which outlines acceptable uses of drone technology by law enforcement.

We may use drones in the following situations:

• Emergency Response: During or in the aftermath of an emergency or disaster, where there is a risk of death or bodily harm to a person.
• Evidence Preservation: To document evidence that is at imminent risk of destruction.
• Public Events: Over large gatherings when there is a heightened risk to the safety of participants or bystanders.
• Counterterrorism: When credible intelligence indicates a specific individual or organization poses a terrorist threat.
• Disaster Planning & Recovery: To prevent the loss of life or property in natural or man-made disasters and to assist with planning, rescue, and recovery efforts.
• Threat Assessments: In anticipation of a specific event, to evaluate potential threats and improve preparedness.
• Criminal Investigations: To collect information from public areas where there is reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.
• Crash Reconstruction: Following a serious or fatal crash on a public roadway, this service assists with scene documentation and analysis.
• Training & Community Engagement: Over a private area with the written consent of the occupant. Over public areas for officer training exercises or public demonstrations to educate the community on drone capabilities.
• Government Requests: For non-law enforcement purposes at the written request of another government entity, when a legitimate need and time frame are specified.
• Missing Persons: To facilitate the active search for a missing or endangered person.

Each UAS mission is authorized, logged, and reviewed in accordance with our internal policy and state reporting requirements. Drones are not used for random surveillance or to monitor individuals without a legal basis.

All UAS pilots are certified under a FAA certificate of authorization and receive ongoing training to ensure responsible and lawful operation.

Privacy and Accountability

The Inver Grove Heights Police Department is committed to protecting individual privacy while utilizing Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to enhance public safety. All drone operations are conducted in accordance with constitutional rights, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, and Minnesota Statute § 626.19.

We take several measures to ensure transparency and accountability:

• Warrant Requirement: UAS may only be used with a valid search warrant unless a specific exception under state law applies, such as during emergencies, public safety threats, or crash reconstructions.
• Privacy Protections: Absent exigent circumstances or legal authority, drones will not be used to intentionally record or transmit images of areas where individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy (e.g., private residences, backyards). Operators take all reasonable precautions to avoid inadvertent capture of such areas.
• Restricted Uses: Drones are strictly prohibited from being used for random surveillance, personal business, harassment, discrimination, or crowd monitoring unless authorized by law. Weaponization, facial recognition, and biometric matching technology are prohibited unless explicitly permitted by a warrant.
• Data Security and Retention: All data collected by the UAS is securely stored and managed according to strict chain-of-custody protocols. Any data not part of an active criminal investigation is deleted as soon as possible, and no later than seven days after collection, in accordance with state law.
• Public Reporting and Oversight: The department documents every UAS deployment, including the reason for use and applicable legal justification. An annual report is submitted to the Minnesota Commissioner of Public Safety, and department policies related to drone use are publicly posted on our website.
• Program Oversight: A designated UAS Program Coordinator ensures compliance with all legal requirements, oversees training and certification of drone operators, maintains equipment integrity, and monitors all missions for adherence to department policies and applicable laws.

We are committed to using this technology responsibly and transparently to serve and protect the community.

Public Transparency

The Inver Grove Heights Police Department recognizes the importance of maintaining public trust when utilizing drone technology. As part of our commitment to transparency, we provide oversight, documentation, and public access to information regarding our Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) operations.

Key Transparency Measures:

• Deployment Documentation: Each UAS use is documented with a unique case number, a factual basis for deployment, and the applicable legal exception or warrant reference, as required by Minn. Stat. § 626.19.
• Annual Reporting: The department submits an annual report to the Minnesota Commissioner of Public Safety detailing the number and types of UAS uses, including those conducted without a warrant. This report is available to the public upon request.
• Public Notification System: A system is in place to provide public notification of UAS deployments when appropriate. This may include general notices on the department’s website or direct notifications for significant public uses.
• Website Accessibility: This policy is published on the department’s website to ensure the community is informed about how and why drones are used in Inver Grove Heights.
• Post-Warrant Notification: When a warrant is used for drone surveillance, and once unsealed by a judge, the department is required to notify affected individuals within 90 days, in accordance with state law.

Our UAS program is guided by clear policy, lawful purpose, and accountability. We encourage the public to contact the department with any questions about drone operations or data practices.

UAS Program Highlights

FY24 Quarter 4 (October through December)

• 52 missions completed, 70 drone flights.
  • 34 missions were conducted for pilot training and skill development.
  • 13 missions involved an emergency response with potential life-threatening risks.
  • 3 missions involved a criminal investigation.
  • 1 mission involved conducting a threat assessment of a specific event.
  • 1 mission supported a government request.

Notable Successes:

• Recovered cash, cell phones, and narcotics from a rooftop during a narcotics search warrant.
• Located a missing, intoxicated person within minutes during freezing rain conditions, ensuring a safe recovery.
• Assisted in the capture of a fleeing suspect during a vehicle pursuit, before helicopter support arrived.

FY25 Quarter 1 (January through March)

• 43 missions completed, 60 drone flights.
  • 34 missions were conducted for pilot training and skill development.
  • 6 missions involved an emergency response with potential life-threatening risks.
  • 3 missions involved a criminal investigation.

Notable Successes:

• Five missions were conducted to assist the Police Departments of South St Paul, West St Paul, Hastings, and Burnsville as well as the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office.
• The mission to assist the Burnsville Police Department (BPD) was for a burglary in progress at a business. Our UAS was used to provide overwatch of the building while BPD officers safely cleared the building. They located a suspect inside and took them into custody. 

FY25 Quarter 2 (April through June)

• 28 missions completed, 62 drone flights.
  • 19 missions were conducted for pilot training and skill development.
  • 9 missions involved an emergency response with potential life-threatening risks.

Notable Successes:

• Seven missions were conducted to assist the Police Departments of South St Paul, West St Paul, Rosemount, Eagan, and Mendota Heights.
• Located a missing vulnerable juvenile runaway in a large open field area 3/4 of a mile from their home. 
• Conducted a public safety detail on a location that had the potential for gang violence. During this time, the UAS was able to gather intelligence on potential threats, license plates, and monitor suspicious people observed by detail officers.