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Snow and Ice Control Division
This division oversees plowing operations during snow storms and ensures that winters in Skokie are safe for residents, drivers, and pedestrians. Alternate Side Parking Program
The Village's Alternate Side Parking Program is in effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, after 2" inches of snow accumulates on the pavement. The snow removal program is a minimum two day operation.
On even days of the month, after a 2" snowfall, all vehicles must be moved to the side of the street with even numbered addresses.
On odd days of the month, after a 2" snowfall, all vehicles must be moved to the side of the street with odd numbered addresses.
Violators will be ticketed and towed.
The Village does have certain streets that are exempt from the alternate parking program only on Saturday, Sunday, and some holidays. There are also streets in the Village that are under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Transportation, (IDOT), or Cook County Highway Department. Residents are advised to review the FAQ's for a listing of these streets or phone Public Works (847) 933-8427 for further details.
An "alert" warning siren will sound at the start of alternate side parking or at 7 a.m. After the 6 p.m. siren, residents may move their vehicles to the opposite side of the street.
Cable television subscribers will be alerted of the program through the Village emergency override system at 7:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m. More information can be found on the municipal access channel.
Residents may also phone the Village's "Snow Hotline" at (847) 675-SNOW to listen to a recorded message which informs them whether the alternative parking feature is in effect or not.
For additional information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's), or phone the Public Works Department at (847) 933-8427.
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When it Snows in Skokie
Remember! It takes approximately 16 hours to clear Skokie’s approximately 160 lane miles of roadway and 12 to 16 more hours to clear Skokie’s 70 lane miles of alleys. Heavy snowfalls usually take longer. Your patience is appreciated! And please keep in mind that the County and State own many of the Village’s major roads and are therefore responsible for plowing and salting them.
Skokie is responsible for the following streets:
Dempster (border to border)
Howard Street ( border to border)
Main Street (border to border)
Oakton Street (from Long Ave. to Skokie Blvd.)
All side streets in Skokie, as well as all alleys
Cook County Highway Department is responsible for:
Crawford Avenue (Jarvis to Golf)
Oakton Street (Skokie Blvd. to McCormick)
Old Orchard Road (Harms to Crawford)
Church (Linder to Gross Point)
The Illinois Department of Transportation is responsible for:
Crawford Avenue (Golf to Old Orchard)
Gross Point (Church to Old Orchard)
Golf Road (McCormick to Harms)
Gross Point (Lincoln to Howard)
Skokie Blvd. (Jarvis to Old Orchard)
Lincoln Ave. (Linder to Jarvis)
Church (Gross Point to McCormick)
Niles Center (Pratt to Brown)
McCormick (Touhy to Golf)
Touhy (East to West Limits)
There are Approximately 2000 Fire Hydrants in Skokie…Is One on Your Property?
Please assign someone in your household the responsibility of keeping fire hydrants on or near your property clear of snow for easy access. In case of an emergency, seconds count!
Below are the programs and components. For additional information, please see the frequently asked questions, or call the Public Works Department at (847) 933-8427.
Salting Program
All Village-owned or maintained arterial streets are salted as needed.
Residential streets are salted on an as-needed basis when snow and ice conditions warrant.
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Snow Plowing Program
The first streets to be plowed are the main arterial roads. Next are the streets that are around schools, followed by residential streets and alleys.
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The Snow and Ice Control Division has a task of keeping vehicular traffic moving on Skokie streets during inclement winter weather. Depending on the severity of the storm, Skokie residents are provided with a quick and efficient removal of snow from Village owned or maintained streets, sidewalks, and alleys, which help make winters in Skokie safe for residents, drivers, and pedestrians.
The Village maintains a weather radar system and consults with variety of professional weather services to track the anticipated arrival and movement of the snow or freezing rain. When such weather nears Skokie, the Village dispatches some or all of their plows/salt spreaders to the main arterial roads, proceeding to residential streets. There are several streets in Skokie that is under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Transportation or Cook County Highway for maintenance, including snow plowing and salting. If you have questions regarding your street maintenance or contact number, please phone Public Works at (847) 933-8427.
For major snowstorms, the Village has the capacity to equip garbage trucks to supplement the fleet with plows, thus eliminating garbage collections services to the residents. The Refuse Collection personnel are also utilized with special use vehicles for the task of sidewalk snow removal. This task generally occurs when a 4” or greater snowfall is reached and usually takes two to three days to complete.
An additional snow plowing removal is the process of plowing alleys, whenever a 6” or greater of snow falls in Skokie. This operation is usually predicated upon that all other operational aspects of snow removal have been completed and personnel and equipment are available.
The secondary process to an effective snow and ice removal program is the deicing process. The Village uses ordinary rock salt and at times treat it with calcium chloride to enhance effectiveness in below freezing temperatures. Residential streets are salted on an as-needed basis when snow and ice conditions warrant.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Village plow my street? Sidewalk? Alley?
Public Works will plow Village-owned or maintained streets when snow accumulations reach and exceed 2" inches. Sidewalks are the next priority and the Public Works Department will deploy its sidewalk plow fleet when snow accumulations reach and exceed 4" inches. Finally, attention will be given to clearing Village alleyways if the snow reaches and exceeds 6" inches.
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What should I do with my car while I'm on vacation?
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 vacations.
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I leave the house every morning at 6:30 a.m. I have a second car that I park on the street. What if it snows two inches or more while I'm at work?
If your second car will be on the street between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., and the forecast calls for snow, our recommendation is to move (or have someone else move) your second vehicle to the odd or even side of the street (depending on what day it is) before you go to work. If the car is parked on the side of the street that is to be plowed you vehicle may be ticketed and towed.
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 Can I park on either side of the street once the street is plowed?
At 6:00 p.m. an "alert" warning siren will sound signifying that snow removal operations for that day have been completed. After 6:00 p.m. you may move your vehicle to the opposite side of the street.
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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, you may call the Skokie Police Department at (847) 982-5900 for information on how to get your vehicle.
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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, an unavoidable result.
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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?
The V-shaped plows used to clear alleys of snow, distributes snow evenly to both sides. It is not possible for the driver to pick up the plow in the middle of an alley.
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I have a heart 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 911, 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.
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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.
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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:
Dempster (border to border)
Main Street (border to border)
Oakton Street (from Long Ave. to Skokie Blvd.)
All side streets in Skokie, as well as all alleys
Cook County Highway Department is responsible for:
Howard Street (Gross Point to Lincoln)
Crawford Avenue (Jarvis to Golf)
Oakton Street (Skokie Blvd. to McCormick)
Old Orchard Road (Harms to Crawford)
Church (Linder to Gross Point)
The Illinois Department of Transportation is responsible for:
Crawford Avenue (Golf to Old Orchard)
Gross Point (Church to Old Orchard)
Golf Road (McCormick to Harms)
Gross Point (Lincoln to Howard)
Skokie Blvd. (Jarvis to Old Orchard)
Lincoln Ave. (Linder to Jarvis)
Church (Gross Point to McCormick)
Niles Center (Pratt to Brown)
Howard (Lincoln to McCormick)
McCormick (Touhy to Golf)
Touhy (East to West Limits)
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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
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