Snow and Ice Removal in the City of Boulder

63% of streets and 100% of multi-use paths are regularly cleared by city snow crews. 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.

Storm Information

Jan. 30, 2023, 4 p.m.: City snow crews are active.

Forecast:** Winter Weather Advisory until Jan. 30, 8 p.m.** Currently 9 degrees and overcast Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. Tonight, A 30% chance of snow before 11 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around -2. Wind chill values as low as -9. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph after midnight. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Road conditions in Boulder: Primary streets range from wet/slushy to snow covered. Secondary and residential streets range from slushy to snow covered. May be icy in spots, depending on location and service level.

Road conditions around Boulder: Highways are wet/slushy to snow covered. Off-highway and residential streets are slushy to snow covered. May be icy in spots, depending on location and service level.

Our approach to snow clearing:

When it snows, our team works 24/7 to keep 400+ miles of roads and 100% of our multi-use paths clear and safe for all types of travel. We prioritize clearing emergency access routes, major arterial streets, access to hospitals, schools, transit and critical infrastructure, as well as neighborhood streets with steep slopes and the city’s multi-use path system for walking and bicycling.

Like other Front Range communities, the city does not typically plow side and residential streets. We are in the process of reviewing and potentially updating our snow clearing program in 2023 and there may be opportunities for community engagement later this year

Community members should take extra care while traveling and give snow crews plenty of room to operate. Snow and ice can make it difficult to get around. We recommend community members plan ahead, as normal travel conditions cannot always be maintained during winter storms.

Snow and Ice Program Review

We are in the process of reviewing and potentially updating our snow clearing program in 2023 and there may be opportunities for community engagement later this year. More information will be posted on this webpage when it is available. Stay tuned!

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.

2022 Snowplow Naming Contest Winners

Check Snow Conditions

Interactive travel map

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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)

  1. 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

  2. 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.

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.

Snow Resources

Related Services