We haven’t yet gotten the official press release from the Department of Public Works, but the agency’s online public calendar shows that residential street sweeping is set to resume on Monday, March 24. As happens every winter, street sweeping and the parking restrictions that come along with it were suspended on Nov. 30.

Here’s how DPW describes its street sweeping regime:

Mechanical street sweeping is a weekly service in heavily trafficked residential sections of Wards 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. In other residential areas, unscheduled cleaning takes place on an “as needed” basis—generally monthly or quarterly. Street and Alley Cleaning crews also respond to individual requests for one-time street cleaning. Commercial areas’ cleaning cycles range from daily to weekly.

Along with the return of street cleaning machines to residential streets comes alternate-side parking restrictions in high traffic neighborhoods. We suggest beginning to obey all posted street sweeping parking restrictions now, so you don’t forget and end up with a pesky ticket. Violations carry a $30 fine for vehicles parked during street sweeping hours in areas posted with “No Parking/Street Cleaning” signs, and parked cars may be towed to allow the sweepers access to the curbside. Typically though, the city gives automobile-owning residents a week or so after street sweeping begins before they start issuing tickets (last year’s sweeping resumed on March 26, but tickets didn’t start being handed out until April 2).

Image courtesy DPW