The City continuously strives to keep residents safe and informed during inclement weather events. Below are some items for citizens to keep in mind during snow storms that could affect the City this winter:
The City of Rockville announces inclement weather status through several outlets. To find out whether a City meeting or recreation program has been cancelled due to the winter weather, always check this Web site, The Rockville Channel (Cable Channel 11) and the following radio and television stations for Rockville City government closings and delays:
Radio | TV |
WTOP (1500 AM, 820 AM, 107.7 FM, 103.5 FM) | WRC - NBC Channel 4 |
WARW (94.7 FM) | WTTG - Fox Channel 5 |
WRQX (107.3 FM) | WJLA - ABC Channel 7 |
WFRE (99.9 FM and 930 AM) | WUSA - CBS Channel 9 |
The following policies apply: when Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) close due to weather, all Rockville Recreation and Parks programs are canceled; if MCPS open late, Recreation and Parks programs are canceled for the morning; and, if MCPS close early, all afternoon and evening programs are canceled.
The Rockville Recreation Inclement Weather hotline number is 240-314-5020.
If schools don’t close, but a weather emergency develops, a decision will be made on afternoon programs (from 2:15-6 p.m.) by 2 p.m. and announced on the message lines. For league play, a decision will be made by 3 p.m., and for special events, the policy varies.
For Recreation and Parks programs, you also may call:
Recreation Programs (info line) | 240-314-5023 |
Sports - League Play (info line) | 240-314-5055 |
Special Events (info line) | 240-314-5022 |
Swim Center | 240-314-8750 |
F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre Box Office | 240-314-8690 |
Swim Center Winter Weather Policy
Early Bird Swim: The Swim Center will not open for Early Bird Swim when Federal employees have been advised of "unscheduled leave policy."
Swim Classes: If school is canceled, no daytime classes. If school is delayed opening, classes will start at 9:15 a.m. (8:30 a.m. classes can come at 9:15 a.m.) Evening classes will be decided in the afternoon. If school closes early, there will be no afternoon or evening classes.
Swim Team: If there is snow on the roads in the morning, swim team will be canceled. Decision on afternoon swim practice will be made at 2:00 p.m.; swim team members can call 240-314-8750.
Rockville’s plan differs from snow emergency plans of most area jurisdictions because it is geared toward helping clear residential streets. Most jurisdictions that have snow emergency plans apply those plans to major streets. They generally require residents to not park on those roadways so the streets can be plowed more easily and quickly following significant snowfalls.
According to the Rockville policy passed in the summer of 2003 by the Mayor and Council, after a snow emergency is declared, residents are requested to park their cars in available garages or driveways on their properties. When that is not possible, residents are required to park only on sides of the street with even house numbers. Once that lane and the main part of the street is cleared, cars must be moved to the cleared curb (odd-numbered side). Violators may be ticketed or towed. When both sides of the street are cleared, cars can be parked in regular spaces.
Conditions leading to a “snow emergency” are significant, deep snow. The City Manager may declare a “snow emergency” and will announce the status through local media, via the City’s Web (www.rockvillemd.gov) and on The Rockville Channel (Cable Channel 11). The “snow emergency” ordinance states:
- The City Manager may invoke “snow emergency” parking restrictions
- The City may remove or impound cars improperly parked
- Residents with driveways must park all vehicles there
- Residents without driveways, or who have more vehicles than will fit in the driveway, may park on the even-numbered side of the street only
- In courts or cul-de-sacs, where house numbers are not even on one side of the street and odd on the other, parking is allowed only on the left side of the streets as one enters the cul-de-sac or court
- No parking is allowed in the “bulb” of the cul-de-sac or court
- After the snowfall ends and the odd-numbered side of the street is cleared, vehicles must be moved to the odd-numbered side to allow plows to clear the even-numbered side
- A fine of $100 for a “snow emergency” parking violation will be incurred
For more information about the new policy, contact the Public Works Department at 240-314-8500.
The City would like to remind you that its snow ordinance requires that snow be removed from sidewalks, steps, driveways, parking spaces, and similar paved areas for public use (including access ramps and curbs) within 24 hours after a snow fall of three inches or less, and within 48 hours after a snowfall of more than three inches, to provide a safe, unobstructed, passable path 36-inches wide. Ice must be removed or treated within 24 hours, and surfaces must be treated to prevent re-freezing. Violators may be fined $100 per occurrence.
The City maintains reverse-frontage sidewalks where City sidewalks abut properties at the rear property line. More information is available at the Code Enforcement Division at City Hall.
Senior citizens or people with disabilities who need assistance with snow removal can contact contractors who will assist in snow removal at reduced rates. For more information, call Rockville's Senior Center at 240-314-8800.
