What are Big Bear Lake's winter parking and snow rules?

If you’re buying a Big Bear Lake home, the driveway deserves a close look before winter. Where will you leave a vehicle when street parking is restricted, and what happens when a plow leaves snow across the entrance?

The city’s guide says vehicles cannot be left unattended on City streets from October 15 through April 15. Free driveway berm reduction has separate conditions, including properly placed orange snow poles. Neither service replaces your responsibility for a private driveway.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Start by confirming that the property is inside city limits, then check the street and driveway with the city.

When is winter street parking restricted?

The city’s Snow Removal Guide describes a restriction covering October 15 through April 15, while its home page reminder uses the phrase “when snow conditions exist.”

That difference matters. The City of Big Bear Lake’s October 14 parking notice says there is no parking on City streets between those dates when snow conditions exist, citing Ordinance 2023-517 and Municipal Code Sections 10.04 and 10.12.

The Snow Removal Guide quotes Section 10.12 more broadly: the council has declared snow conditions to exist throughout that period because snow removal may be required with little or no advance notice. It says vehicles shall not be left stopped, parked, abandoned or otherwise unattended on any City street during that period.

Don’t assume a clear-looking street settles the question. Ask the city to explain the wording difference, or read the ordinance before relying on street parking.

What happens if a vehicle is left on the street?

A vehicle parked in violation may be towed and impounded, and the guide lists a fine of up to $500 per offense.

All fines, towing charges and impoundment charges are the vehicle owner’s responsibility. The guide identifies A-Performance Towing in Big Bear Lake as the official towing provider. It does not give towing or impoundment prices, or say how often enforcement occurs.

There are two alternatives listed for overnight parking. When snow conditions are in effect, the guide says free overnight parking is available at:

• West Civic Center Parking Lot, 39707 Big Bear Blvd.
• Alden Parking Lot, 547 Alden Road.

Before buying, account for the vehicles you expect to keep at the property. Ask which parking spaces are on private property and where the public street boundary lies. A listing photograph showing a vehicle beside the road doesn’t answer either question.

Which streets does the city plow?

Public Works crews and on-call contractors clear city-maintained public streets, while Caltrans District 8 clears Big Bear Boulevard, also called SR-18, and the state highways leading to Big Bear.

Crews begin plowing when approximately three inches of snow accumulates and continue through each storm. Plowing typically happens overnight and early in the morning. Each pass creates a snow berm at the street edge and across driveways.

Private driveways remain the property owner’s responsibility.

For a purchase, establish who maintains the particular street. The sources do not establish whether an HOA or a private-road property receives plowing. If an association is involved, use the California HOA disclosure guide to organize your document review, then ask specifically who handles snow removal.

Confirm jurisdiction too. A 92315 mailing address alone does not establish that a property is inside Big Bear Lake city limits. These City street rules should not be extended to county, private or state roads without checking the responsible authority.

Who can receive free snow berm reduction?

City of Big Bear Lake residents are eligible for no-cost berm reduction, subject to the program’s driveway and service conditions.

The public does not need to request service or join a waiting list. However, only residential driveways clearly identified by unobstructed bright orange snow poles at the driveway edges are eligible. Properties whose driveways extend onto SR-18 are excluded.

Service starts only after all maintained public streets have been made safe for travel and additional heavy snowfall accumulation is not anticipated. It may not begin for several hours after snowfall begins. Berms will not be completely eliminated.

The Winter Services & Information page uses the word “residents.” It does not settle whether a non-resident or second-home owner qualifies. Ask the city about your situation.

Where should you put snow poles?

Place a bright orange snow pole on each side of the driveway, two feet off the street pavement, following the city’s placement guidance.

Where there are curbs and drainage channels, the page says to place poles just inside the curb near the driveway edges. For a circular driveway, select one driveway for the program. Keep the poles unobstructed so the entrance is clearly identified.

The suggested in-ground installation uses a hole 12 inches deep and two inches wide, with a 12-inch length of pipe measuring 1 1/2 inches in diameter. The pipe may be PVC, metal or conduit. The pole should extend four to five feet above ground.

Installation is the resident’s responsibility; the city cannot help install poles.

The page and guide describe the pick-up point differently. The page directs residents to the Engineering counter at the Civic Center; the guide says poles may be purchased at City Hall for a nominal fee or assembled by the homeowner. Ask City Hall where to obtain them.

What else needs to stay clear of snow operations?

Keep trash receptacles on private property a safe distance behind the berm, and keep snow cleared from private property out of public areas.

The guide says snow removed from private driveways or lots may not be dumped, deposited, placed or pushed into a City street, sidewalk or other public right-of-way. Make that restriction part of any discussion with whoever will clear your driveway.

Sprinklers, fences, block walls and landscaping near the street are not always visible as snow accumulates. The city recommends red stakes measuring six feet by two inches by two inches, placed at least three feet from the street edge to mark improvements. Those red stakes have a different purpose from the orange driveway poles.

For damage, the listed contact is the Risk Management Division at (909) 866-5831. Before winter, check which improvements need markers and where receptacles can sit behind a berm.

What should you confirm before buying?

Confirm the property’s jurisdiction, street maintenance and driveway eligibility before treating winter service as part of your ownership plan.

Use the 24-hour Snow Removal Hotline at (909) 752-2830 for snow removal questions. The city’s page and its guide list different numbers for berm reduction questions, so confirm which one to use when you call. For code questions, both sources list Code Compliance at (909) 866-2633.

Keep your questions specific: Is this a city-maintained public street? Does the driveway extend onto SR-18? Does your residency situation qualify for berm reduction? Where should the poles go if a curb or drainage channel complicates placement?

If vacation rental use is part of the purchase, review the separate Big Bear Lake two-license limit guide. Winter services do not answer licensing questions. For a separate ownership topic, see the guide to claiming the California homeowners’ exemption.

We worked with a Big Bear Lake buyer who planned to use the home mainly on winter weekends. He had budgeted for snow removal on the driveway but had not considered the city’s parking restrictions or the berm that a snowplow could leave behind. We went through those rules because owning the home during snow season involves more than getting the driveway cleared.

The short version

Plan for off-street parking during the October 15 through April 15 period described in the city’s guide, and ask the city to clarify its differently worded home page notice.

Check who maintains the street. Private driveway clearing is your responsibility, and free berm reduction has eligibility, pole-placement and service conditions. It does not promise a clear driveway at a set time.

Before buying, confirm jurisdiction and ask about your specific driveway and residency situation. Those answers give you a firmer basis for planning winter ownership.

For a starting point on property value, use the home value tool.