Facts from public sources, not quotes. Where these numbers come from
Straight answers about cost, contracts, city snow rules and salting, with a link to the source behind every number.
Get a free quote How it worksTreat 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.
A seasonal contract locks in your spot on the route and a set price for the winter. Pay-per-visit means you pay only when it snows. Detroit Metro Airport averages 45.0 inches of snow a season and about 13.6 days a year with an inch or more (NOAA 1991–2020 normals), but freeze-thaw ice adds salting visits that a per-storm plan may not cover.
Not right away in a light storm. Detroit DPW says that for 3 inches or less of snow or freezing rain, which is about 80% of Detroit snow events, crews remove snow only from major thoroughfares by salting them. Dearborn's DPW starts plowing and salting emergency routes after 3 inches, then moves to residential routes.
Yes. Requests from this site go to a local snow and landscape contractor that quotes HOA and condo drives and walks, apartment and townhome communities, and commercial lots, from small offices to big retail centers, business parks and medical campuses. Commercial and HOA work is priced per site after a walk-through.
It is usually priced per application or built into a seasonal contract. HomeGuide's national guide puts salting at $150 to $350 an acre and commercial plowing at $50 to $150 an hour (estimates, not quotes). We found no published Detroit-only salting price, so ask for a written per-application rate.
Many do. Industry group SIMA reports that more than half of snow and ice businesses are also lawn and landscape providers, and the average operator earns 37% of revenue from snow. The same crew that plows in January may mow, clean up and plant the rest of the year.
Fill out the free quote form with your name, phone, ZIP code and what needs clearing. A local crew contacts you with questions and a price. There is no cost and no obligation to ask.
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.
Sources: ProMatcher, YourGreenPal, HomeGuide, HomeGuide, NOAA NCEI, National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac, City of Detroit DPW, City of Warren, City of Sterling Heights, City of Troy, City of Southfield, City of Southfield, City of Livonia, City of Dearborn, Turf Magazine. Full source list.
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.
