Frequently Asked Questions

City policy is that residential streets are only plowed after a storm leaving more than 8 inches of snow and only after the primary and secondary routes are completely cleared. The only residential streets that you may see plowed are those in front of schools. For more information, refer to the City Snow Removal Priorities (PDF). To determine what snowplow route you are on, refer to the Snow Removal Map (PDF).

Snowplow drivers will make every effort to avoid plowing snow onto sidewalks. However, there may be times that this cannot be avoided and sidewalks may become blocked. Residents' responsibilities are outlined in the City Code 8-1-10 and include the removal of all snow or ice from the sidewalks within 24 hours of the end of a storm.

Residents are required by City Code 8-1-10 to clear their sidewalks within 24 hours of the end of a storm. If you are concerned about uncleared sidewalks, you can contact Code Enforcement at 303-658-4432.

Become a Snowbuster Volunteer.

Sidewalks that are owned by the city will be cleared by the Parks, Recreation, and Libraries Department. They can be reached at 303-658-2192. View the Westminster Sidewalk Snow Removal map.

The city uses de-icing salt on the roads. Sand is not used on the roads due to the high cost and substantial environmental impact. City crews are annually trained on sensible salting techniques, and all snow trucks are calibrated to spread only the amount of de-icing salt required to de-ice the roadways.

At the end of the storm and after all plowing operations have ceased, the city will systematically begin to examine storm drains and crosspans to determine if they need to be cleared. If you wish to report a problem, contact the Streets Division at 303-658-2501, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.

Residential streets will only be plowed in the event of a major snowstorm (see city snow removal policy for details). When conditions warrant, residential streets will be plowed to give residents access to the secondary and primary roads. Plowing from curb to curb is not practical because it would require more time and the moving of many vehicles that park on the streets. When plowing down the middle of residential streets is required, piles of snow called "windrows" are often created that can block private driveways. Clearing the snow from driveways is the responsibility of the property owners.

It is the goal of the city to plow streets systematically based on traffic volume. When snowplows are moving from one location to another, or returning to refuel or have more de-icing material loaded on the truck, they travel with their plow blades up.

The City of Westminster works with the Post Office to plow the street where mail carriers deliver mail to cluster boxes. However, the sidewalks in front of these cluster mailboxes are the responsibility of either the homeowners associations or the property owners adjacent to the boxes. The clearing of sidewalks around mailboxes at individual resident properties is the responsibility of the property owner.

Heavy snowfall and extreme cold can immobilize an entire region. Even areas that normally experience mild winters can be hit with a major snowstorm or extreme cold. The impacts include flooding, storm surge, closed highways, blocked roads, downed power lines, and hypothermia. You can protect yourself and your household from the many hazards of winter by planning ahead. More information is on the Emergency Management section of the website.