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Snow clearance in Pittsburgh

Snow removal firms and roofers.

21 pros in Pittsburgh

Snow clearance in Pittsburgh starts with a city rule: City Code 419.03 requires the tenant, occupant or property owner in charge of land or a building fronting a street with a sidewalk to have snow, sleet or ice removed from that sidewalk within 24 hours after it falls. The National Weather Service Pittsburgh lists a 1991-2020 normal of 13.3 inches of snow in January, and says snowfalls of 1 inch or more happen 15 times a year. So the job comes up often, and the sidewalk deadline is yours even if a contractor does the work. When you hire, ask whether the sidewalk is included along with the driveway, and how quickly they reach you after a storm. Ask where they will pile the snow. The city asks residents not to shovel into the roadway, but onto lawn areas or close to the curb. Check whether the contractor has to register with the Attorney General's office, and if so, that the registration number appears on the estimate and contract.

Sources: City of Pittsburgh (source, opens in a new tab), National Weather Service Pittsburgh (source, opens in a new tab)

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What to know in Pittsburgh

  • After the January 2026 storm, Pittsburgh's Mayor declared a state of emergency, which the city says let it engage contractors to assist with snow removal. One city update reported 35 city snow removal vehicles and 50 contractor vehicles clearing streets overnight.

    City of Pittsburgh (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 Pittsburgh

Do I have to clear the sidewalk myself in Pittsburgh?

The duty falls on the tenant, occupant or property owner in charge of the land or building, not on the city. City Code 419.03 requires snow, sleet or ice to be removed from the sidewalk within 24 hours after it falls. You can hire someone, but the responsibility stays with you. City of Pittsburgh (source, opens in a new tab)

Where can a plow or shovel crew put the snow?

The City of Pittsburgh asks residents not to shovel snow into the roadway, but onto lawn areas or close to the curb. It also says parking spaces should be sacrificed to pile snow in heavy snows. Ask any contractor where they plan to pile it before the season starts. City of Pittsburgh (source, opens in a new tab)

What should a snow removal quote or contract include?

Ask for the areas covered (driveway, walkway, sidewalk), what snowfall triggers a visit, how soon they arrive, where snow is piled, and how repeat visits are billed. Get it in writing, with the contractor's name and contact details, and confirm who is responsible for damage to lawns or edging.

Does a snow contractor need to be registered in Pennsylvania?

Under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, contractors doing a set yearly amount of home improvements must register with the Attorney General's office. Registration lasts two years, and the number must appear in advertisements, contracts, estimates and proposals. Ask to see it, and check whether your job counts as home improvement. Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (source, opens in a new tab)

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