Snow Removal in Aurora, CO: Hiring and Planning

Define the areas you need cleared

Walk the property boundary before requesting quotes. Aurora requires owners to keep adjacent city sidewalks free of snow and ice, including stretches behind or outside rear and side fences. On a corner property, identify each adjacent sidewalk stretch rather than describing the job as driveway clearing. [1]

The city does not require owners to shovel private paths such as the walkway to the front door. Include those paths, steps and driveway access in your service request if you need them cleared. Ask the provider to name each area in the quote so you can compare the same work across offers. [1]

Send photos and approximate dimensions. Point out gates, tight passages, parked vehicles, surface damage and places where you want the crew to pile snow. Ask which equipment the crew plans to use and how it will protect the surfaces you identify.

Agree on a response time and service trigger

Use the city’s sidewalk deadline when discussing scheduling: owners must remove snow and ice within 24 hours after snowfall ends, or within 48 hours after the city declares a snow emergency. Ask the provider to explain its timing for both situations rather than accepting an arrival promise such as after the storm. [1]

A service trigger is the snow depth at which you want the provider to start work. Write down where the crew will measure it, whether visits happen during prolonged snowfall and who handles snow or ice below that threshold. Do not assume a driveway plowing agreement includes sidewalk ice removal.

Request a plan for missed visits and inaccessible streets. Name the person you should contact, the method for reporting unfinished work and any charge for a return visit. Ask whether the provider will send a completion message or photos when you are away.

Compare quotes by scope and billing terms

Ask for separate terms for driveway clearing, sidewalk work, ice treatment and repeat visits. For a visit price, confirm any snow-depth bands or minimum charge. For a seasonal agreement, confirm the start and end dates, included visits, exclusions and cancellation terms. Ask for a total that identifies any additional charges.

Request proof of insurance and ask how the provider handles accidental damage. Keep pre-service photos of the pavement, edging and other features you want protected. Identify the proposed ice-treatment product and ask the provider to explain its suitability for your surfaces, landscaping and household needs.

Review spring coverage before signing a seasonal agreement. The National Weather Service’s nearby Denver International Airport record includes April and May snowfall, including 3.4 inches in April and 5.8 inches in May during 2025–2026. Those airport observations do not measure your property’s snowfall; they give you a concrete reason to ask about work after the contract ends. [5]

Prepare access before the crew arrives

Choose a vehicle relocation plan before service. Aurora marks designated snow emergency routes with special traffic signs and warns that vehicles parked on those streets risk citation or towing at the owner’s expense. Check signs before moving a car from your driveway to the street. [3]

Aurora prioritizes major arterial streets during storms, then other route categories. The city says it plows smaller neighborhood streets only under approved extreme conditions. Check the address-searchable snow maps available through the city’s snow removal page and discuss the provider’s approach to your street. [2]

Move loose items from the agreed work area and provide gate instructions. Mark the edges and obstacles you want the crew to avoid. After service, check the agreed sidewalk stretches and access paths, then report omissions through the contact method you arranged.

Nearby DIA seasonal snowfall: three completed seasons

Choose the arrangement that fits your clearing needs

Your hiring checklist

1. Photograph and measure the driveway, adjacent public sidewalks and private paths you want cleared.
2. Confirm the exact sidewalk stretches your HOA handles before requesting overlapping service.
3. Write down the snow-depth trigger, measurement location and response window.
4. Agree on ice treatment, repeat visits and clearing below the service trigger.
5. Compare billing units, extra charges, seasonal dates and cancellation terms.
6. Request proof of insurance and document existing surface damage.
7. Choose vehicle relocation, gate access and snow-pile locations.
8. Arrange a backup contact and a way to confirm completion when you are away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my driveway quote need to include the sidewalk?

Ask for sidewalk work in writing. Aurora requires owners to clear adjacent city sidewalks, including stretches outside rear and side fences. List those stretches separately from your driveway and private paths. [1]

Can I wait for the city to plow my neighborhood street?

Plan your property clearing around the sidewalk deadline. Aurora says smaller neighborhood streets receive snow removal only during approved extreme weather conditions. Ask your provider how it will reach you if the street remains uncleared. [1] [2]

Does Aurora require me to clear the path to my front door?

The city’s published guidance requires clearing adjacent city sidewalks and says it does not require clearing private paths such as the walkway to a front door. Add those paths to your quote if you need access for your household or visitors. [1]

Can Snow Busters help with an immediate storm?

The city says Snow Busters does not match residents with volunteers in real time and may have a waiting list. Apply if you meet the eligibility criteria, then arrange another option while you wait for a confirmed match. [4]