Like potholes, snow removal is an issue that comes up again and again. To help our fellow neighbors, here is information on Denver’s policy and practice of snow removal. We’ve included excerpts from the city about residential snow removal as well. The city also provides information about requirements to shovel sidewalks, tips on bicycling in the snow, and more useful information for neighbors. We hope this is helpful to our neighborhood.
For Information about Snow Removal:
The City and County of Denver’s information on snow removal is all found here: https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/transportation-infrastructure/programs-services/snow-removal.html
Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Policy on “Snow Removal: How We Respond.”
Emergency snow response services fall within the purview of Denver’s Department of Transportation & Infrastucture (DOTI). Our workforce takes pride in performing snow removal services in an efficient, effective and fiscally responsible manner, with a response plan that is proven and economical for normal winter weather conditions in Denver.
Goals of the snow response plan include improving the safety and mobility of our transportation system by plowing city streets as efficiently as possible, keeping priority streets passable, and minimizing traffic disruption.Â
DOTI provides snow response to approximately 2,050 lane miles of main streets, or most streets with stripes, utilizing a fleet of 68 large plows. Denver also has a fleet of 36 smaller, residential plows, which deploy on the side streets if enough snow has accumulated to where the 4×4 pickup trucks can be helpful in clearing a path for drivers to get to the main streets.
Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Policy on “Plowing of Denver’s Residential Streets.”
Denver’s Residential Snow Plow Program was created during the blizzards of 2006-07 to keep residential streets, or side streets, passable. The program covers about 1,260 center lane miles of residential streets, utilizing a fleet of 4×4 pickup trucks with plows.
Denver previously deployed the residential plows only in emergency situations and larger storm events. Beginning in the 2017/18 season, Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) received additional staff members that it could dedicate to the residential plow program.Â
When a storm requires full deployment of Denver’s fleet of 68 large plows, the residential plows will also deploy when enough snow has fallen and they can be helpful in clearing a path for motorists to get to the main streets. The small trucks do not carry de-icing materials.
What to Expect:
- Plowing of the residential streets will occur between the hours of 3:00 am and 3:00 pm.
- When deployed, the residential plows will take one pass down the center of every side street to prevent deep ice rutting and to keep the streets passable.
- The residential plows shave off the top few inches of snow pack and will not expose bare pavement. 
- The residential areas will not receive de-icing materials.
Resources Utilized:
- 4×4 pickup trucks with plows from DOTI and Denver Parks & Recreation
Follow the Snow Plow Tracker here:
https://www.denvergov.org/pocketgov/#/plowtracker