Facts from public sources, not quotes. Where these numbers come from
Driveways, sidewalks, HOA drives and commercial lots cleared and salted all winter. Lock in your spot on a local crew's route before the first snow, or request a storm-day visit.
Get a free quote How it worksSnow here is not a maybe. Federal climate normals for Detroit Metro Airport (NOAA, 1991–2020) put the average season at 45.0 inches of snow, most of it in January and February. January is the snowiest month at 14.0 inches, February follows at 12.5 and December at 8.9. About 13.6 days a year bring an inch or more.
The National Weather Service office in Detroit/Pontiac puts the average first measurable snow on November 16 and the first inch on November 30. Ice is the other half of the story: the normal January high at the airport is 32.3°F and the low 19.2°F, and our count of NOAA daily records finds about 63 freeze-thaw days a winter, November through March. Melt by day turns into ice by morning.
The best time to line up snow removal is before you need it. Routes fill up in the fall, and the people who call after the first big storm wait in line.
Detroit Snow Pros connects homeowners, HOAs, condo associations and businesses in Detroit, Troy, Southfield and Warren with a local snow and landscape crew that plows, shovels and salts all winter. Every number on this site links to its public source, and we tell you what we don't know.
A seasonal residential contract puts your driveway on a route. When snow reaches the trigger depth in your contract, the crew comes without a phone call. Most plans cover the driveway and the front walk, and many add the steps, the sidewalk along the street and a pass of ice melt.
The rules make the sidewalk part matter. Detroit DPW says that for all snow events, business owners and residents are required to clear their sidewalks. In the suburbs the clock is written down: 12 hours in Warren, 24 hours in Sterling Heights and Troy, and 24 consecutive hours in Southfield, including ADA curb cuts.
Your street may wait. For 3 inches or less, which is about 80% of Detroit snow events, DPW salts only the major thoroughfares. Ask whether your plan covers the public walk, and whether the crew comes back for the ridge a street plow leaves at the end of your driveway.
If you clear your own walk between visits, a shovel with a spring-assist handle or a wide snow pusher saves your back, and a pet-safe ice melt is kinder to paws on the front step.
HOAs and condo associations need more than a driveway service. A contract can cover private streets and shared drives, mailbox clusters, common-area walks and trails, and the frontages along the busy roads.
Common areas are only half of it. Owners along public sidewalks still have their city's deadline to meet, so a good association contract spells out exactly which walks the crew clears and which are left to owners.
Plan where the snow goes, too. Detroit prohibits snow removal companies and property owners from putting snow from their property onto public roadways, and Livonia's ordinance bans plowing, shoveling or blowing snow onto any road. Keep piles on the property, off the sidewalk and where they don't block drivers' view of traffic.
A good HOA proposal spells out the trigger depth, how fast walks are done after the snow stops, what salting is included and how extra storms are billed.
The typical machine for a big lot is a wheel loader with a snow pusher box, the kind of rig that moves a whole lane of snow in one pass and stacks it at the edge of the lot (see a 102-inch skid steer pusher box in the Ice Fighter shop). It's the right tool for the biggest contracts in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties: retail centers, business and industrial parks, medical campuses, schools, churches and apartment lots where cars, trucks and customers need clear lanes before the doors open.
Big commercial work runs on a plan. A good contract lists the plowing trigger, when the lot must be open, where the snow piles go, how the drive lanes, loading docks and fire lanes are handled, and how salting and sidewalks are billed. In Detroit, lot snow can't go into the road, and Warren's 12-hour sidewalk rule covers commercial and industrial property too, so the storefront walk belongs in the contract.
Smaller sites get the same attention with the right size of equipment: pickups with plows for office and church lots, and walk crews with blowers and spreaders for storefront sidewalks. As an estimate, HomeGuide's national guide lists commercial plowing at $50 to $150 an hour and salting at $150 to $350 an acre. Every commercial price is set after a walk-through.
Pickups with plows clear smaller lots overnight, then come back for the drive lanes and entrances during long storms. Ask how the crew handles cars parked overnight.
When a big storm lands, large sites need several machines working together: skid steers with pusher boxes, loaders and plow pickups. Ask how many machines will be on your site and how often they return during a long snowfall.
Storefront walks, ramps and entrances are cleared by hand crews with blowers and shovels, then treated so they don't refreeze.
Plowing moves the snow. Salting deals with what's left: the thin layer that packs down under tires and freezes into ice. Contractors spread salt from trucks with tailgate spreaders on lots and streets, and from walk-behind or ATV spreaders on sidewalks and HOA paths.
Here the trouble is ice. With about 63 freeze-thaw days a winter (our count of NOAA daily records) and a normal January low of 19.2°F, slush that melts in the afternoon is ice by morning. Pre-treat walks before freezing rain, clear to the pavement, and re-apply after a refreeze. Livonia's guidance says ice on the sidewalk should be removed or treated with sand or a chemical ice melter.
Want to see the gear behind a salting route? The Ice Fighter shop lists truck tailgate spreaders, a receiver-mount spreader for an ATV or UTV, a 100 lb walk-behind spreader and pallets of ice melt.
Not on a contract yet? Storm-day calls happen. A one-time plow or shovel visit is usually priced per visit. As an estimate, ProMatcher puts a Detroit driveway and sidewalk visit at about $38.29 on average ($34.03 to $42.54), and YourGreenPal lists $35 to $40 for a typical Detroit driveway. These are estimates, not quotes.
Be ready to wait during a big storm, because contract customers come first. That's the strongest argument for signing up in the fall. If you just need a hand after a storm, use the form and choose a one-time job.
Front steps and walkways freeze first, and shaded ones refreeze overnight. A visit can include clearing and a pass of ice melt so the walk is safe in the morning.
Heavy snow at the roof edge can melt and refreeze into ice dams. From the ground, a roof rake can clear the edge. Anything that needs a ladder is a job for a pro.
A one-time plow visit can clear the driveway and the ridge of snow a street plow leaves at the end of it.
Each city has its own rules, and they're stricter than most people think. Here's a short version from each city's own page or code. Check the source before you rely on it.
| City | Sidewalks | Where snow can go | Snow-emergency / winter parking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | For all snow events, business owners and residents must clear their sidewalks | Companies and owners may not put snow from their property onto public roadways | Snow-emergency routes (red-and-white signs) are posted up to 48 hours ahead to clear them for plowing |
| Warren | Within 12 hours after snow or ice falls or accumulates; residential, commercial and industrial (Sec. 34-60) | Not covered here; check with the city | Not covered here; check with the city |
| Sterling Heights | Within 24 hours of a snowstorm, on all sides of a home or business | Not covered here; check with the city | In a declared snow emergency, park off the street or risk a ticket and tow |
| Troy | Snow over 2 inches and any ice, within 24 hours after the event ends | Not covered here; check with the city | Not covered here; check posted signs |
| Southfield | Within 24 consecutive hours, including ADA curb cuts | Don't shovel snow into the street | No parking on any public street 2 a.m. to 5 a.m., all year; $80 civil infraction |
| Livonia | Overnight snow off the sidewalk by noon; daytime snow by noon the next day | Ordinance prohibits plowing, shoveling or blowing snow onto any road | Vehicles left on the street in a snow emergency may be ticketed and/or towed |
| Dearborn | Residents clear the sidewalk in front of their home | Not covered here; check with the city | Outdoor sirens announce a snow emergency; move parked vehicles off the street or be ticketed |
Sources: City of Detroit DPW, City of Warren, City of Sterling Heights, City of Sterling Heights, City of Troy, City of Southfield, City of Southfield, City of Livonia, City of Dearborn. Novi rules are not covered yet. Full source list.
Before you head out in a storm, check the official sources. These are the ones the state, the National Weather Service and the cities point to.
MDOT's Mi Drive map shows traffic cameras, incidents and closures across Michigan, including the freeways through Metro Detroit.
The National Weather Service office in Detroit/Pontiac forecasts for Southeast Michigan. Check weather.gov/dtx for watches and warnings.
Detroit posts red-and-white snow-emergency route signs up to 48 hours ahead. Move your car off those routes so plows can clear them.
No parking on any public street in Southfield from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m., all year. The ticket is an $80 civil infraction.
In a declared snow emergency, park off the street. Vehicles left out may be ticketed and towed.
Dearborn sounds its outdoor sirens to start a snow emergency. Move parked vehicles off the street.
About 63 freeze-thaw days a winter (our count of NOAA records). Pre-treat walks before freezing rain and re-apply after a refreeze.
For 3 inches or less, Detroit DPW salts major thoroughfares only. Plan your own driveway and walk clearing.
Detroit prohibits companies and owners from putting snow from their property onto public roadways.
Snow work and landscaping go together. The snow and ice trade group SIMA reports 88,200 snow and ice businesses in the U.S., and more than half of them are lawn and landscape companies. The average operator earns 37% of its revenue from snow, and about 4 in 5 are sole proprietors, which means you are usually dealing with a local owner, not a national chain.
That's good for you. A crew that mows your property in July already knows where the curbs, sprinkler heads and flower beds are when they're buried under a foot of snow in winter. When the snow is gone, the same crew can handle spring cleanup and repair any turf damaged by plows or salt.
It's also why customers stay. SIMA reports snow and ice customers are retained 93% of the time from one year to the next. Once you find a crew that shows up, you tend to keep them.
Treat these as estimates, not quotes. ProMatcher's Detroit page puts a driveway and sidewalk visit at about $38.29 on average ($34.03 to $42.54), and YourGreenPal lists $35 to $40 for a typical Detroit driveway. HomeGuide's Detroit page puts a full-season contract at $200 to $600, with hourly minimums of $30 to $70. Your real price depends on the size of the area, how often you want service and whether salting is included. A local crew quotes it for free.
Each city writes its own code. Warren's Sec. 34-60 says snow or ice must be cleared within 12 hours after it has fallen or accumulated, for residential, commercial and industrial property. Sterling Heights requires sidewalks to be cleared within 24 hours of a snowstorm, and Troy requires snow over 2 inches and any ice to be cleared within 24 hours after the event ends. Southfield gives residents 24 consecutive hours. Check which city your property is actually in.
Yes. The Detroit Department of Public Works says that for all snow events, business owners and residents are required to clear snow from their sidewalks, and that residents and businesses are responsible for keeping sidewalks safe for pedestrians.
No. The City of Detroit says snow removal companies and property owners are prohibited from putting snow from their property onto public roadways. Livonia's ordinance likewise prohibits plowing, shoveling or blowing snow onto any road, and Southfield asks residents not to shovel snow into the street. Agree on where piles go before the first storm.
Southfield's Ordinance 1696 prohibits parking on any public street from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m., all year. Vehicles found parked then are subject to an $80 civil infraction ticket. The chief of police can grant a permit for up to seven days for things like construction that blocks a driveway.
The National Weather Service office in Detroit/Pontiac lists November 16 as the average date of the first measurable snow (0.1 inch), November 30 for the first inch and December 26 for the first 3 inches. The earliest measurable snow on its list came October 12, 2006.
Livonia's guidance says ice on the sidewalk should be removed or treated with sand or a chemical ice melter. Ask your crew which product it uses, and whether it's safe for pets and concrete.
Detroit DPW says that for 3 inches or less, about 80% of Detroit snow events, its crews salt major thoroughfares only. Residential streets, driveways and sidewalks wait, so plan your own clearing.
The City of Detroit prohibits snow removal companies and property owners from putting snow from their property onto public roadways. Hire a crew that knows where the piles can go.
Warren requires snow and ice to be cleared within 12 hours after it falls or accumulates. Livonia wants overnight snow off the sidewalk by noon. Check your own city.
Heavy snow at the roof edge can melt and refreeze into ice dams that push water under shingles. A roof rake used from the ground keeps the edge clear. Hire a pro for anything that needs a ladder.
Plenty of people pair a contract for the driveway with a little work of their own between visits. If that's you, a few tools make Metro Detroit winters easier.
For long driveways and heavy snow, a two-stage snow blower like the Husqvarna ST224 or the battery-powered EGO 24-inch two-stage handles the deep stuff. For the roof edge, a 20 ft roof rake or a 30 ft roof rake with a slide lets you work from the ground. A heated walkway mat keeps one path clear without salt.
Ice and heavy snow can also take the power down. A portable inverter generator such as the AIVOLT 4,200W can keep a fridge, a sump pump and the furnace blower going. Run it outdoors only, far from windows and doors, and keep snow away from the exhaust.
See every pick in the Ice Fighter shop, or let a crew do the heavy lifting.
Most contracts start at a set snow depth. Ask what it is, and whether freezing rain or an overnight refreeze gets a salting visit.
When will the driveway be clear, and when will the sidewalk be done? Warren gives 12 hours; Sterling Heights and Troy give 24.
Will the crew pre-treat before freezing rain and come back to salt after an overnight refreeze?
No snow in the road: Detroit prohibits it for companies and owners. Agree on where piles go, without blocking drivers' view.
Ask for proof of liability insurance, especially for HOA and commercial work where slip-and-fall risk is high.
Stake curbs, beds, sprinkler heads and low walls before the ground freezes so blades don’t chew them up.
Tell us what needs clearing, your ZIP code and anything that helps: driveway length, sidewalks, steps, a parking lot, an HOA or condo association drive or a business entrance. Your request goes to a local snow and ice crew serving Detroit, Troy, Southfield and Warren, and they contact you directly with questions and a price.
No cost and no obligation to ask. Seasonal contracts fill up before the first snow, so fall is the best time to ask.
Before you sign, ask for proof of insurance, what snow depth triggers a visit, whether sidewalks and salting are included, and how storm-day calls are billed.
