Snow and Ice Removal in the City of Boulder
52% of streets and 100% of multi-use paths are regularly cleared by city snow crews, with the University of Colorado and other entities clearing portions of the path system. The city prioritizes emergency access routes, major arterial streets, and access to hospitals, schools, transit and critical infrastructure, as well as neighborhood streets with steep slopes.
2022 Snowplow Naming Contest
Thank you to all the students who submitted names for the city's annual snowplow naming contest! The winning names are below.
Check Snow Conditions
Interactive travel map
- Go to the Interactive Snow Removal Map page
- Enter your address in the upper right-hand corner of the map to find plowed routes and bus stops near you
Major intersection webcams
- View the live webcams at four of Boulder's largest intersections
Clear Sidewalks Within 24 Hours
Help make travel safe for everyone!
City of Boulder property owners, landlords and tenants are required to remove snow and ice from their sidewalks within 24 hours after snow stops falling. Failure to remove snow from sidewalks may result in fines and costs for a private snow removal contractor.
Important reminders
- Check the National Weather Service snowfall report for the last recording of "Light Snow" or "Snow" to determine when your sidewalks need to be cleared.
- Sidewalks include curb ramps and curb extensions, which are the sloped pathways leading to streets and crosswalks, as well as the area beyond the bottom of the curb ramp that forms a curb extension.
- Don't plow or shovel snow into street or alleys. It is best to place shoveled snow on lawns or other vegetated areas.
- Plows may need to push snow onto curbs and sidewalks to keep the streets clear. The owner, manager and tenant of property abutting the sidewalk are responsible for removing that snow as well.
- Homes and businesses on corner lots are responsible for clearing all public sidewalks that abut the property, this includes the walks along the front, side and rear of the property and the pedestrian ramps connecting to the street.
What if I can't remove snow from my sidewalk?
Older adults and physically disabled persons who are unable to clear snow from their sidewalks may receive assistance through the Cultivate SnowBusters Program.
You may also hire a company to shovel when you are unable to or during extended vacations.
More Information
For more information, download the "Make it Clear" brochure.
Request Snow Removal
By Phone
The Transportation Maintenance team will inspect the area and will service depending on conditions and after prioritized streets and multi-use paths are cleared.
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Streets and multi-use paths
- To report icy street and multi-use path conditions during a snowstorm, call Snow Dispatch at 303-413-7109.
- To report icy streets and multi-use path conditions outside of a snowstorm, call Transportation Maintenance at 303-441-3200 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, to make a service request.
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Sidewalks
To report sidewalks that haven't been shoveled within 24 hours after it stops snowing, call Code Enforcement Dispatch at 303-441-3333.
Online
Service requests submitted online will receive a response within four business days. (7 a.m. to 5 p.m., except holidays)
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Streets and multi-use paths
You may "Make a Service Request" for street plowing using the button at the bottom of the Snow Plow Request page
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Sidewalks
You may "Make a Service Request" for sidewalk snow and ice removal using the button at the bottom of the Sidewalk Snow and Ice Removal page.
Volunteer to Clear Snow
Shovel-a-Stop Program
The City of Boulder is committed to multi-modal transportation, including year-round access to bus transit. The city’s Shovel a Stop Program helps increase the number of bus stops cleared after it snows. The city's snow removal budget supports clearing about 40 high-ridership stops after at least two inches of snow accumulation. This program aims to bolster that number with community volunteer support.
Clearing bus stops helps prevent slips and falls and increases safety and accessibility for bus riders of all ages and abilities.
- View map of adoptable stops
- Watch the program video
- Sign up to support this effort! Contact Rachel McCoy with questions
- En español
Adopt-a-Stop Program
- Learn more and sign up for the RTD Adopt-a-Stop Program
Cultivate SnowBusters Program
Older adults and physically disabled persons who are unable to clear snow from their sidewalks can receive assistance through the Cultivate SnowBusters Program. Please consider volunteering for this vital service. For more information call 303-443-1933.