Winter Parking Bans

ATTENTION: Due to the forecast of snow beginning today, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, a citywide parking ban will be in effect from 8 p.m. tonight through Monday, Jan. 19, at 6 a.m. The ban will be in effect downtown on Monday, Jan. 19, from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. only.

While in effect, parking is banned on:

• City streets, sidewalks or adjacent public parking areas.
• Third Street and Belknap parking lots, and Orchard Street lot public parking spaces.

While in effect, limited parking is allowed on:

• The Fourth Street lot’s outside spaces only.
• Two rows closest to Atkinson Street in the Dover Public Library lot at 73 Locust St. Motorists must adhere to 3-hour parking limit between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and must be actively using facilities at McConnell Center, the Library, or Dover District Court.
• The first two floors of the Orchard Street Parking Garage, which require paid parking at all times, at $1.25 per hour.
  • Use the Flowbird pay-by-phone app to extend parking time remotely.
  • The top three floors of the garage are reserved for permit parking only.
  • If the parking garage is at capacity, the Transportation Center lot is available for off-street parking. The Transportation Center parking lot requires paid parking at all times. Paid parking is not allowed in permit-only spaces. A map showing public spaces can be viewed here.

Vehicles in violation of the parking ban and related restrictions may be fined and towed at the vehicle owner’s expense.

In addition to snow removal, the parking ban allows Community Services crews to treat the roads with salt and sand, and keep areas open for safe travel.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory that is in effect for Dover from 10 a.m. today, Sunday, Jan. 18, through 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 19. Snow accumulations of between 3 and 6 inches are expected.

The complete forecast for Dover from the National Weather Service can be viewed here: bit.ly/doverweather.

WINTER PARKING BAN ALERTS

• Dover follows an “as-needed” winter parking ban policy. Unless a parking ban is declared, vehicles may be parked where legally permitted on public streets.
• When a winter parking ban is declared, all vehicles must be off public streets. Violators should expect their vehicles towed and stored at the vehicle's owner's expense, per city ordinance § 141-16 Winter parking.
• If your vehicle is towed during a parking ban, contact the Dover Police Department dispatch center at 603-742-4646 to learn where it can be claimed. The city uses a rotation of private towing companies for this purpose; charges for towing and storage are the responsibility of the vehicle owner or driver.
• Notifications of parking bans are posted to this webpage, on DoverTV, the city's home page (www.dover.nh.gov), the city's Facebook and Twitter/X social media pages, distributed to local news media. The community may also call the winter parking ban hotline 603-516-PARK (7275) for the current parking ban status.
• It is the responsibility of the vehicle owner to know when a winter parking ban is in effect. The City of Dover provides many avenues to alert the public when a parking ban is in effect.

HOW TO SIGN UP

• To sign up for email notifications, https://bit.ly/doverdownload, and add "Parking Ban Alerts" to your email subscription list.
• Please note that the CodeRED alert system is currently inaccessible for text alerts.  

Need help signing up for alerts?

Contact the city's Office of Media Services at 603-516-1641 or news@dover.nh.gov.

If you're calling about a parking ticket, contact the Parking Bureau at 603-516-6132 or parking@dover.nh.gov.

WINTER PARKING BAN DETAILS

If needed for snow plowing or cleanup, a citywide parking ban will typically be declared by 3 p.m. and begin at 8 p.m. that night, except for a specific downtown area, which will usually begin at 1 a.m. the following morning. Earlier start times may be enacted in the event of a major storm or for clean-up from a prior storm. 

When a ban is declared, PARKING IS PROHIBITED ON CITY STREETS, SIDEWALKS and ADJACENT PARKING AREAS, such as the angled spaces on First and School streets, and the parking bay on Dover Street. Vehicles found in violation of the parking ban may be ticketed and towed at the vehicle owner's expense.   

An easy way to determine if you are in the right spot is to ask, “Am I parked on private property and not on any portion of the public right-of-way?"  If the answer is 'no,' then you need to move your vehicle onto private property or to an authorized public parking lot or the public parking garage. 

Apartment building owners are encouraged to alert all tenants about the parking ban.

The storm-based parking ban ordinance replaces the former winter parking ban, which was in effect from Dec. 1 to April 1. 

Additional Winter Parking Regulations

The following streets have been posted for NO PARKING ANY TIME for the period of December 1 to April 1. These additional restrictions were needed due to the limited width of the roads and concerns about plows and emergency vehicles being able to pass. 

When a parking ban is declared, both sides of the listed streets are restricted, as are all other city streets.

• Adelle Drive – Westerly side, from the northern edge and including both sides of the traffic circle to, and including, the roundabout at the southerly end
• Baker Street – Entire length (northerly/odd numbered side)
• Belknap Street – Washington to Silver (westerly/odd numbered side)
• Belknap Street – Silver to Fisher (easterly/even numbered side)
• Cocheco Street – From Portland Avenue (easterly side) to the area across from the City of Dover pumping Station at 20 Cocheco St. 
• Cushing Street – Washington to Silver (easterly/even numbered side)
• Elm Street – Entire length (westerly/odd numbered side)
• Essex Street – Entire length (southwesterly/even numbered side)
• Everett Street – Entire length (westerly/odd numbered side)
• Fifth Street – Chestnut to Tammany Park (northerly/odd numbered side)
• Freeman Court – Entire length (northerly/odd numbered side.) Vehicles in the dirt/paved areas on the residence side of the telephone polls will be allowed
• Folsom Street – Entire length (southerly/even numbered side)
• Forest Street – Entire length (northwesterly/even numbered side)
• Fourth Street – Chestnut to Grove (southerly/even numbered side)
• Grove Street – Hough to Ash (westerly side, even numbered)
• Grove Street – Sixth to Hough (easterly side, odd numbered)
• Hamilton Street – Entire length (northerly/odd numbered side)
• Hancock Street – Entire length (southwesterly/even numbered side)
• High Ridge Drive – Entire length (southerly side)
• Industrial Park Drive – Across from UPS (easterly side)
• Lexington Street – Washington to Silver (easterly/even numbered side)
• Lincoln Street – Chestnut to Grove (southerly/even numbered)
• Maple Street – Sixth to Ash (easterly side, odd numbered)
• Mount Vernon Street – Milk to Hough (easterly, odd numbered side)
• Nantucket Court – Entire length (easterly side, odd numbered) to include the entire turnaround at the end
• Nelson Street – Locust to Atkinson (southerly/even numbered side)
• New York Street – Southerly/odd numbered side, from the intersection with Central Avenue easterly to the driveway between 25 and 27 New York St.
• Northway Circle – Southerly side, from the intersection with Plaza Drive easterly to intersection with Princeton Way, then the easterly side northerly to the end, to include the turnaround area as posted
• Plaza Drive – Northway Circle northerly to end of street (easterly/even numbered side)
• Rogers Street – Entire length (southwesterly/even numbered side)
• St. Thomas Street – two spaces in front of 33/35 St. Thomas St. (northerly side)
• St. Thomas Street – Atkinson to Belknap (northerly/odd numbered side)
• Summer Street – Central to Belknap (southerly/even numbered side)
• Sylvan Drive – Easterly, from the northern edge and including both sides of the traffic circle to, and including, the roundabout at the southerly end
• Third Street – Grove to Frances Drive (southerly/even numbered side)
• West Concord Street – Entire length (northerly/odd numbered side)
• Western Avenue – Southerly side, from the intersection with Westgate Drive easterly to the end at Footbridge Lane, including the posted turnaround area
• Westgate Drive – Westerly side, from the intersection with Knox Marsh Road to the southerly end, including the traffic circle

When a parking ban is declared, both sides of the above listed streets are restricted, as are all other city streets.

Key points of the storm-based winter parking ban program:

• Parking bans may be called for nights other than the storm night to accommodate clean-up activities.
• It is incumbent on residents/businesses to notify their visitors of any parking ban.
• Some public parking lots have areas available for overnight parking. Go to DrivingDover.com for info.
• The parking garage has limited short-term spaces available and is for “Permit Parking Only” above the second floor (look for signs). Overnight parking is available in spaces 101-278. Metered parking at the garage is 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays, at $1.25/hour. You may use the “FLOWBIRD” smart phone application to pay for parking remotely and to extend parking meter time. 
• If you are going to be out of town for a few days and leaving a vehicle, assume a parking ban will be enacted and find alternative parking options. Do not try and predict the weather. 
• It is incumbent on rental property owners to properly notify their tenants of the program, especially when they move in mid-season.

Key points on the storm-based parking bans

Parking bans may be called even if there is no active storm to accommodate clean-up activities; 

The Orchard Street Parking Garage has limited short-term spaces available and is for permit parking only on the upper floors. Parking is $1.25 per hour, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays, on the lower two floors. 

If the parking garage is at capacity, the Transportation Center Lot is another option for off-street parking. Paid parking is also required 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 50-cents per hour or $3 a day. All spaces are available for overnight parking except for the 28 spots posted as "Monthly Permit Parking Only." Click here for map.

You may pay remotely from your phone with the “Flowbird” app or use the meters at the garage.

During parking bans, the following parking lot restrictions will also be in place:

• Orchard Street surface lot parking spaces (No Parking)
• Belknap Lot (No Parking)
• Third Street Lot (No Parking)
• Fourth Street Lot (Overnight parking only in rows facing Third Street and Chestnut Street.  No parking in the middle.)
• Central Fire Station Lot (No Parking)
• Library/McConnell Center Lot: Two rows closest to Atkinson Street in the Dover Public Library lot at 73 Locust St. Click here for map. Motorists must adhere to 3-hour parking limit between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and must be actively using facilities at McConnell Center, the Library, or Dover District Court.