Snow clearance in Syracuse

Snow removal firms and roofers.

13 pros in Syracuse

Snow clearance in Syracuse comes with city rules attached. The ordinance requires the owner, agent or occupant of a building or vacant lot fronting a park, street or alley to clear snow and ice from the sidewalk by six o'clock in the afternoon of the following day. The city also tells residents not to push, throw or plow snow into the street, sidewalk or park, and it says commercial snow removal services must comply with the Snow Removal Contractors article. Blizzard '93 dropped 43 inches on the city in two days, a reminder of how much snow one event can leave. When you hire, ask whether the crew knows the city's contractor article and where it will put the snow so it does not end up in the street. Ask how they handle sidewalks as well as the driveway, and how they work around signed overnight parking blocks downtown. Get the scope, timing and who clears the sidewalk in writing before the season starts.

Not yet verified. We checked that each one’s own website offers this work, but we haven’t contacted them yet. How a business gets listed

Know a good one we’re missing? Suggest one

What to know in Syracuse

  • Seasonal odd/even overnight parking restrictions apply on signed blocks in parts of downtown Syracuse between Nov 1 and April 1. Police patrol priority areas and ticket and, if necessary, tow illegally parked vehicles that block plows.

    City of Syracuse (source, opens in a new tab)

  • Blizzard '93, on March 13-14, 1993, dropped 43 inches of snow on Syracuse in two days, the most in one event on record for the city.

    CNYCentral (WSTM) (source, opens in a new tab)

  • National Grid reported that over 121,000 Central New York customers lost service after heavy rains and high winds, including an EF-1 tornado with winds up to 105 mph in Clark Mills. Crews had restored nearly 115,000 of them (95%) by 3:30 p.m. on the day of the release, and fallen trees and debris created access issues.

    National Grid (source, opens in a new tab)

Before you hire

  1. Put it in a written contract: the work, price, deposit, start and finish dates, warranty, permits and clean-up. Paying cash to skip it leaves you no recourse.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

  2. Ask about liability insurance and workers’ compensation cover before anyone works on your roof or property.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

  3. Get written quotes from at least three contractors for the same work, and check references from recent clients.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

Questions about hiring in Syracuse

Who is responsible for clearing the sidewalk in front of my Syracuse property?

Under the city ordinance, the owner, agent or occupant of a structure or vacant lot fronting a park, street or alley must clear snow and ice from the sidewalk by six o'clock in the afternoon of the following day, with exceptions in the ordinance. If you hire a crew, confirm in writing that sidewalks are included. City of Syracuse (source, opens in a new tab)

Can a plow crew push snow into the street in Syracuse?

No. The city tells residents not to shovel, sweep, throw, plow or otherwise deposit snow or ice into the street, sidewalk or park. Commercial snow removal services must also comply with the city's Snow Removal Contractors article. Ask any crew where they will put the snow from your property. City of Syracuse (source, opens in a new tab)

What should a snow clearance quote or contract include?

Ask for the address and areas covered, such as driveway, walkways and sidewalk, plus what snowfall triggers a visit and how soon after. It should say whether roof snow removal is included, who pays for damage, how the work is billed, and whether the crew carries insurance.

How do I compare quotes from different snow removal crews?

Compare like with like: same areas, same trigger for service, same response time and same billing method, whether per visit or seasonal. Ask each crew about insurance and references, and whether they know Syracuse's rules on sidewalks and snow placement before you decide.