Patrol
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 3:00 A.M. on the morning of NOVEMBER 1st and continuing to APRIL 1st.
- 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 3:00 A.M. through 6:00 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 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 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 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 – March 30, 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 2021, 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 fee schedule.
The city's large assembly permit can be found here.
Requests should be submitted as soon as practical and submissions with less than 24 hours’ notice may go unfilled. The extra-duty police services application can be submitted by email or fax. If you have any questions, please contact the on-duty sergeant by phone at (651)-450-2525 or via email at: sergeant@invergroveheights.org