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Inclement Weather Policy
City of Rockville, Maryland

The City of Rockville works diligently to keep residents safe and informed during inclement weather events. Below are some items to keep in mind during snowstorms that could affect the City this winter.

When weather has the possibility of affecting a City program, meeting or facility, every attempt is made to maintain standard operations throughout the City. Decisions about whether to cancel morning programs or close facilities will be made by 6 a.m. with an update at 9 a.m. A decision on afternoon and evening programs will be made at 1:30 p.m. with an update at 4 p.m.

Those updates can be found on the home page of the City’s Web site, Rockville 11 (Cable Channel 11) or through updated phone lines.

For Recreation and Parks programs, call the following phone numbers.

Recreation Classes Standing Policy
If Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) closes for the day or has a two-hour delay, morning recreation programs will be canceled.

Swim and Fitness Center Standing Policy
Early Bird Swim – The Swim and Fitness Center will not open for Early Bird Swim when Federal employees have been advised of an unscheduled leave policy.

Swim Classes

• If school is cancelled, no daytime classes until 6:00 p.m. Call after 3:00 p.m. to see if a decision has been made about the evening classes.
• If school has a delayed opening, classes will start at 9:15 am (8:30 a.m. classes may come in at 9:15 a.m.)
• If schools close early, there will be no afternoon or evening classes.
• Weekend classes will be decided upon that day by the Aquatics Supervisor.

Swim Team – If there is snow on the roads in the morning, morning practices will be cancelled. Decision on afternoon swim practice will be made by 2:00 p.m.; swim team members can call 240-314-8750.

Notification
In addition to the City’s Web site, Rockville 11 and phone lines, the City will advise the following media outlets of cancellations and closings.

Snow Emergency Plan
Rockville’s snow emergency plan is geared toward helping clear residential streets. Most jurisdictions with 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 should 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 clear, 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, call the Public Works Department at 240-314-8500.

Snow Removal
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. Clearing paved areas 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.