Public Works - Snow and Ice Control FAQs
When does the Village plow my street? Sidewalk? Alley? Public Works plows Village-owned or maintained streets when snow accumulations reach and exceed two inches. Sidewalks are the next priority. The sidewalk plow fleet is deployed when snow accumulations reach and exceed four inches. Alley plowing is the last priority. Alleys are cleared when snow accumulation reaches six inches.
What should I do with my car if it is parking on the street while I'm on vacation or at work and it snows? Residents who do not have off-street parking facilities such as a garage, driveway or slab need to make arrangements to either have their car moved by a friend or neighbor, or have their car stored at a garage during winter vacations to ensure that they are not in violations of the Alternate-Side Parking Program.
Can I park on either side of the street once the street is plowed? No, even after the street is plowed, vehicles must remain parked on the designated side of the street until 6 p.m. This allows Public Works to plow a second time if necessary. At 6 p.m., a siren will sound notifying residents that vehicles may be parked on either side of the street.
My vehicle was towed due to a violation of the alternate-side parking plan. Where can I pick it up? If your vehicle has been towed due to a violation of the Village's snow ordinance, contact the Skokie Police Department at 847/982-5900.
Why is snow pushed into my driveway by snowplows? As the plows pass driveways, snow will roll off the edge of the side-discharge snowplow into the driveway, frustrating yet an unavoidable result.
Every time a snowplow comes down my alley, it plows the snow up against my garage and I have to shovel out. Why does this happen? V-shaped snow plows are used to clear alleys of snow. These type plows distribute snow evenly to both sides of the alley. It is not possible for the driver to pick up the plow in the middle of an alley.
I have a serious medical condition. Can you plow my street first in case there is an emergency and an ambulance needs to get through? Anyone needing an ambulance in a medical emergency should call the Fire Department by dialing 9-1-1, and all necessary emergency steps will be coordinated. The potential for a medical emergency, however, does not warrant priority snow removal treatment. If a medical emergency occurs, the Public Works and Fire Departments will work together to provide immediate emergency help to the patient.
My garbage has not been picked up yet, even though it's my regular collection day. When will it be picked up? During snow removal operations, crews and equipment might not be available to pick up garbage until later in the day or, during heavier snow, later in the week. The Village will pick up your garbage as soon as possible.
Are all streets in the Village under Village jurisdiction? No. The following is a list of streets showing which jurisdiction they belong to: Skokie, Cook County or Illinois Department of Transportation, (IDOT).
Skokie is responsible for the following streets:
- All side streets in Skokie, as well as all alleys
- Dempster (border to border)
- Gross Point Road (Main Street to Church Street)
- Main Street (border to border)
- Niles Center (Main Street to Lincoln Avenue)
- Oakton Street (from Long Ave. to Skokie Blvd.)
- Howard Street
Cook County Highway Department is responsible for:*
- Church (Linder to Gross Point)
- Crawford Avenue (Jarvis to Golf)
- Frontage Roads
- Oakton Street (Skokie Blvd. to McCormick)
- Old Orchard Road (Harms to Crawford)
The Illinois Department of Transportation is responsible for:*
- Church (Gross Point to McCormick)
- Crawford Avenue (Golf to Old Orchard)
- Gross Point (Church to Old Orchard)
- Golf Road (McCormick to Harms)
- Gross Point (Lincoln to Howard)
- Lincoln Ave. (Linder to Jarvis)
- McCormick (Touhy to Golf)
- Niles Center (Main to Church)
- Niles Center (Pratt to Brown)
- Skokie Blvd. (Jarvis to Old Orchard)
- Touhy (East to West Limits)
*These streets are exempt from the Village's Alternate Side Parking Program.
Are there streets that are exempt from snow parking provisions? Yes, the following blocks are exempt on Saturdays, Sundays, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day:
Birchwood Avenue : 4600 block
Bronx Avenue : 8800, 8900, 9000, 9100 blocks
Carol Street : 4800, 4900, 5000 blocks (to Terminal Avenue)
Central Park Avenue : 8000, 8100 blocks
Cleveland Street : 3300, 3400, 4600 and 4700 blocks
Conrad Street : 4800, 4900 blocks (to Terminal Avenue)
Crain Street : 4800, 4900, 5000 blocks (to Terminal Avenue)
Davis Street : 4600, 4700, 4800, 4900, 5000, 5100 blocks
Dobson Street : 4700 block
Elm Street: 4800 block
Enfield Avenue : 4800, 4900, 5000, 5100 blocks (to Terminal Avenue)
Greenleaf Avenue : 4800 block
Greenwood Avenue : 4800, 4900, 5000 and 5100 blocks (to Terminal Avenue)
Grove Street : 4700, 4800, 4900, 5000, 5100 blocks (to Terminal Avenue)
Hull Street : 4800 and 4900 blocks
Jarvis Street : 3800, 3900 blocks
Karlov Avenue : 7900 block
Keating Avenue : 8000, 8100, 8200, 8300, 9000, 9100 and 9200 blocks
Kedvale Avenue : 7900 block
Keeney Avenue : 4600, 4700 blocks
Kilpatrick Avenue : 8000, 8100, 8200 to 8350. 9100, 9200 blocks
Kimball Avenue : 8300 block
Kirk Street : 4800, 4900 blocks
Knox Avenue : 7600, 8000, 8100, 8200, 8300 blocks
LaCrosse Avenue: 7900, 8850, 8900, 9000, 9100 blocks
Lamon Avenue : 7800, 7900, 8850, 8900, 9000, 9100 blocks
Lavergne Avenue : 8900, 9000, 9100, 9200, 9300, 9400, 9500 blocks
Lawler Avenue : 9100, 9200, 9300, 9400, 9500 blocks
Lee Street : 4800 block
Long Avenue: 7800, 7900, 8000, 8100, 8200 blocks
Louise Street : 4800, 4900 blocks
Madison Street : 4600, 4700 blocks
Monticello Avenue : 8000, 8100 blocks
Mulford Street : 4800, 4900, 5400, 5500 blocks
Niles Avenue : 7750, 7800, 7900 blocks
Ridgeway Avenue : 8000, 8100 blocks
St. Louis Avenue : 8300, 8600, 8700 blocks
Suffield Terrace : 5000 block
Trumbull Avenue : 8600, 8700 blocks
Washington Street : 4600, 4700 blocks
Wright Terrace: 4800 block