Local service guide
Snow Removal in Des Moines: Hiring and Planning
Arrange Snow Removal in Des Moines with a written scope covering your driveway, public sidewalk, steps and a return visit after street plowing. Require sidewalk completion within 48 hours after snowfall ends, the city’s deadline for owners and tenants. Agree on where the contractor will store snow before accepting the quote. [2]
Specify the areas and completion deadline
Walk the property with the contractor or send marked photographs. Identify the driveway, garage approach, public sidewalk, front steps and route to your door. Ask the contractor to list each area in the quote. Include any gate, narrow passage or surface that needs hand clearing.
Des Moines requires property owners and tenants to remove sidewalk snow and ice within 48 hours following the end of a snowfall. The city lists a $75 administrative penalty for a first offense and larger penalties for repeat violations over three years. Set a contractor completion time that leaves room to arrange backup service before the deadline. [2]
Ask how the contractor handles a snowfall below the driveway service trigger when the sidewalk still needs clearing. Specify who checks for remaining ice and whether treatment requires a separate charge. A driveway-only agreement leaves you responsible for arranging the other areas.
Coordinate access with city street plowing
City crews generally work designated main snow routes while snow falls, then move to residential roads after it stops. Ask your contractor how they coordinate the first clearing and any later driveway-entrance visit with that sequence. Put the price and request process for a return visit in writing. [1]
The city requires residents to move vehicles off streets during snow removal operations, with an exception for designated odd/even parking zones. During announced odd/even operations, the city specifies parking on the matching house-number side between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Check your address’s rules before deciding where to move cars for contractor access. [1]
Des Moines offers snow-parking text alerts: text SNOW to 515-355-8815, or ODDSNOW for odd/even neighborhoods. Use the notices to plan vehicle moves. Give the contractor your preferred contact method and instructions for reaching you if a parked vehicle blocks the agreed clearing area. [1]
Agree on snow placement before the first visit
Des Moines prohibits depositing snow from driveways and parking lots on the street or public right-of-way. The city holds property owners responsible whether they perform the work or hire a contractor, and lists a $100 administrative penalty for a first offense. Mark an acceptable storage area before work begins. [1]
Ask the contractor to explain where they will push or blow snow and how they will handle the job if that area fills. Keep the agreed pile location clear of your walking route, garage access and places you need to reach. Request a separate price and approval step for hauling snow away if you want that option.
Plan waste-cart access too. The city directs residents to place carts in the driveway approach or a cleared spot near the curb, rather than in the street, and to leave at least three feet between carts. Show the contractor the space you want cleared for collection. [1]
Compare contract terms before comparing totals
Request itemized quotes rather than assuming a driveway price includes sidewalks or ice treatment. Ask each contractor to identify the service trigger, measurement method, arrival window, covered areas and charge for repeat visits during one storm. Request proof of liability insurance and a written process for reporting property damage.
For a seasonal offer, read the start and end dates, visit limits, snowfall caps, exclusions and cancellation terms. For a per-visit offer, ask about minimum charges, deeper-snow charges and whether a return visit counts as another billable service. Choose the arrangement whose obligations and possible extra charges you can explain before signing.
The National Weather Service’s historical report records 2.8 inches of snowfall in December 2019 and 1.2 inches in December 2018, alongside a 9.0-inch December normal for 1981–2010. These monthly totals provide historical context for reviewing contract limits. They do not predict the coming winter or establish how many visits your property will need. [3]
Historical December snowfall in Des Moines
Local details that affect your job
Sidewalk responsibility and assistance
Owners and tenants must remove sidewalk snow and ice within 48 hours after snowfall ends. Include the sidewalk deadline in your agreement even if the driveway has a separate service trigger. The city directs low-income seniors and disabled residents who cannot remove snow because of physical or financial constraints to United Way 2-1-1 to locate assistance; confirm availability before relying on it. [2]
Property owners remain responsible for snow disposal
The city prohibits placing driveway and parking-lot snow on streets or public rights-of-way and applies the rule even when an owner hires a contractor. Its first-offense administrative penalty is $100. Ask the contractor to identify a permitted storage location as part of the quote, rather than leaving disposal instructions until the visit. [1]
Street problems have a separate reporting route
After city snow removal operations finish, report a street that still needs plowing or treatment to the Public Works 24-Hour Customer Service Center at 515-283-4950 and provide the exact location. Use your private agreement to define driveway and sidewalk work, and the city reporting route for unresolved street work. [1]
Match the agreement to your property
| Your situation | Ask for | Resolve before accepting |
|---|---|---|
| You want to pay for each clearing | An itemized per-visit offer | Minimum charge, covered areas and repeat-visit billing |
| You want a seasonal agreement | Written coverage dates and limits | Visit caps, snowfall caps, exclusions and extra charges |
| You have a public sidewalk | Explicit snow and ice coverage | Completion within the city’s 48-hour deadline after snowfall ends |
| You need access after street plowing | A driveway-entrance return option | How to request it, arrival commitment and price |
| You have limited snow-storage space | An agreed storage location and hauling option | No placement of driveway snow on streets or public rights-of-way |
Your hiring checklist
- Send marked photos showing every area you want cleared.
- Write down the snowfall trigger and how the contractor measures it.
- Agree on a sidewalk completion time and a backup contact.
- Confirm who handles ice treatment and approves extra charges.
- Mark the snow-storage area and ask about hauling if it fills.
- Specify the price and timing of driveway-entrance return visits.
- Request insurance documentation and a damage-reporting process.
- Keep the quote, service terms and completion messages together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does hiring a contractor transfer my sidewalk responsibility?
The city places the sidewalk-clearing requirement on owners and tenants. It requires snow and ice removal within 48 hours after snowfall ends. Put that deadline in your agreement and arrange a backup if the contractor cannot complete the work. [2]
Can the contractor push driveway snow into the street?
No. Des Moines prohibits depositing driveway or parking-lot snow on streets or public rights-of-way. Owners face enforcement even when they hire a contractor. Agree on a storage area before the work starts. [1]
Should I choose per-visit or seasonal service?
Compare both using the same scope. For per-visit service, check minimum charges and repeat visits. For seasonal service, check coverage dates, caps and exclusions. Choose based on your budget and the written service commitment; the historical snowfall chart cannot establish which option will cost less this winter.
Can I get help if I cannot clear snow?
The city encourages low-income seniors and disabled residents who cannot remove snow because of physical or financial constraints to contact United Way 2-1-1 to locate assistance. Ask about availability, covered areas and timing before depending on that help. [2]
Sources and scope
This guide combines the sources below with practical planning guidance. Figures apply to the stated geography and period; request a written quote for your property.