Time To Get Ready For An Annual Buffalo Winter Parking Ritual

We all know that no one wants to think about what's coming, but thanks to some news from the New York State Department of Transportation, plus some annoucements from local governemtns all around the Western New York area, we guess it's finally time to start to accept the realization that the sunny skies and warm weather of the Buffalo summer have gone away and now the cold air is blowing into town.

One of the key ways we know that winter is on the way is when we need to change the way we park our cars, and that annual winter ritual that we have to deal with will be here before you know it. What ritual, you ask? The winter parking rules and regulations ritual.

It's the time of year when most communities in New York State start to implement their winter parking rules. While some start in mid-to-late October annually, most go into effect on November 1st.

Last year, we had some relatively mild temperatures that delayed the start of winter parking, but places across the 716, like Amherst and Buffalo are reminding people that the rules are the rules, and you should be ready to follow them starting Saturday, November 1, 2025.

• When in effect, parking rules typically last until at least April 1st, 2026,
• Overnight parking on bus routes in Buffalo is prohibited during overnight hours, typically from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m,
• Overnight parking on most suburban streets outside of Buffalo is prohibited during overnight hours, typically from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m,
• Side and residential streets with daytime alternate parking rules between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. go into effect.

If your vehicle is parked in a way that doesn't follow these rules, the police or parking enforcement will more than likely give you a nice present hefty ticket.

While these rules are annoying, they are used to help cities and towns have clear access to the streets so plows can clear the roads. We've all heard the stories about municipal plows being unable to clear a street because cars are stuck on them.

This is just another sign that winter is on the way. Next thing you know, the ice boom will be going into Lake Erie.