Facts from public sources, not quotes. Where these numbers come from
Driveways, long forest drives, cabin roofs, sidewalks and commercial lots cleared all winter. Lock in your spot on a local crew's route before the first snow, or request a storm-day visit.
Get a free quote How it worksSnow here is not a maybe. Federal climate normals for Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (NOAA, 1991–2020) put the average season at 90.1 inches of snow, at a station about 7,000 feet up. January is the snowiest month at 20.9 inches, February follows at 19.3, December at 18.5 and March at 15.6. About 18.7 days a year bring an inch or more.
The season starts early and runs late. Our analysis of NOAA daily records puts the median first measurable snow at the airport on November 10, and April still averages 5.0 inches. In between, the normal January day swings from a high of 43.4°F to a low of 17.6°F, so snow that melts in the afternoon sun can be ice by morning.
The best time to line up snow removal is before you need it. Routes fill up in the fall, and the people who call after the first big storm wait in line.
Flagstaff Snow Pros connects homeowners, cabin owners, HOAs and businesses in Flagstaff, Doney Park, Kachina Village and Fort Valley with a local snow and landscape crew that plows, shovels and salts all winter. Every number on this site links to its public source, and we tell you what we don't know.
A seasonal residential contract puts your driveway on a route. When snow reaches the trigger depth in your contract, the crew comes without a phone call. Most plans cover the driveway and the front walk, and many add the steps, the sidewalk along the street and a pass of ice melt. Long, sloped forest driveways are common here, so ask how the crew handles grades and turnarounds.
The rules make the sidewalk part matter. The City of Flagstaff says property owners and occupants must clear the sidewalks next to their property no later than 24 hours after the accumulation. After one Notice of Violation per season, the city clears unsafe sidewalks at the owner's cost.
Where the snow goes matters too. Flagstaff's ordinance prohibits moving snow or ice onto city streets or alleys, so your piles stay on your property. And the city plows arterials, major hills, downtown, transit and school bus routes first, so neighborhood streets can wait.
If you clear your own walk between visits, a shovel with a spring-assist handle or a wide snow pusher saves your back, and a pet-safe ice melt is kinder to paws on the front step.
Not here every week? A cabin or second home still needs its driveway open and its walk safe, and the city's 24-hour sidewalk rule applies to owners whether or not they are in town. A contract crew can clear the drive and walks after each storm and check the roof edge while they're there.
HOAs and condo associations need more than a driveway service. A contract can cover private streets and shared drives, mail kiosks, common-area walks and parking, with clear rules for where the snow is piled.
Outside city limits, in Doney Park, Kachina Village and Fort Valley, Coconino County rules apply. The county bans parking at any time along county-maintained rights-of-way from November 1 to April 1, with a citation of not less than $200 or a tow, so plan off-street parking for guests and crews.
A good proposal spells out the trigger depth, how fast walks are done after the snow stops, what salting is included and how extra storms are billed.
The typical machine for a big lot is a wheel loader with a snow pusher box, the kind of rig that moves a whole lane of snow in one pass and stacks it at the edge of the lot (see a 102-inch skid steer pusher box in the Ice Fighter shop). It's the right tool for retail centers, offices, medical buildings, schools, churches and apartment lots where cars and customers need clear lanes before the doors open.
Big commercial work runs on a plan. A good contract lists the plowing trigger, when the lot must be open, where the snow piles go, how the drive lanes, loading docks and fire lanes are handled, and how salting and sidewalks are billed. Flagstaff's 24-hour sidewalk rule covers businesses too, so the storefront walk belongs in the contract.
Smaller sites get the same attention with the right size of equipment: pickups with plows for office and church lots, and walk crews with blowers and spreaders for storefront sidewalks. As a national estimate, HomeGuide lists commercial plowing at $50 to $150 an hour and snow hauling at $80 to $200 an hour, and every commercial price is set after a walk-through.
Pickups with plows clear smaller lots overnight, then come back for the drive lanes and entrances during long storms. Ask how the crew handles cars parked overnight.
When a big storm lands, large sites need several machines working together: skid steers with pusher boxes, loaders and plow pickups. Ask how many machines will be on your site and how often they return during a long snowfall.
Storefront walks, ramps and entrances are cleared by hand crews with blowers and shovels, then treated so they don't refreeze.
Plowing moves the snow. Salting deals with what's left: the thin layer that packs down under tires and freezes into ice. Contractors spread salt from trucks with tailgate spreaders on lots, and from walk-behind or ATV spreaders on sidewalks and paths.
Here the trouble is the daily swing. Flagstaff's normal January day runs from 43.4°F down to 17.6°F (NOAA), so sun-softened snow on walks and steep drives refreezes overnight. Shaded, north-facing walks and drive aprons need the most attention.
Want to see the gear behind a salting route? The Ice Fighter shop lists truck tailgate spreaders, a receiver-mount spreader for an ATV or UTV, a 100 lb walk-behind spreader and pallets of ice melt.
Not on a contract yet? Storm-day calls happen. A one-time plow or shovel visit is usually priced per visit. As an estimate, Homeblue's Flagstaff cost page lists $40 to $90 a visit for driveway snow removal, depending on driveway size, and $48 to $72 an hour for snow blowing. These are estimates, not quotes.
Be ready to wait during a big storm, because contract customers come first. That's the strongest argument for signing up in the fall. If you just need a hand after a storm, use the form and choose a one-time job.
Front steps and walkways freeze first, and shaded ones refreeze every night. A visit can include clearing and a pass of ice melt so the walk is safe in the morning.
Heavy snow at the roof edge can melt and refreeze into ice dams. From the ground, a roof rake can clear the edge. Anything that needs a ladder is a job for a pro.
A one-time plow visit can clear the driveway and the ridge of snow the street plow leaves at the end of it.
The city and the county each have their own rules, and they're stricter than most people think. Here's a short version from each one's own page. Check the source before you rely on it.
| Place | Sidewalks | Where snow can go | Winter parking |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Flagstaff | Owners and occupants clear adjacent sidewalks no later than 24 hours after the accumulation. One Notice of Violation per season, then unsafe sidewalks are cleared at the owner's cost | Moving snow or ice onto city streets or alleys is prohibited | No parking on city streets or alleys midnight to 7 a.m., Nov. 1 to Apr. 1, snowing or not. Snowing: likely towed as well as cited |
| Unincorporated Coconino County (Doney Park, Kachina Village, Fort Valley) | Not covered here; check with the county | Not covered here; check with the county | No parking at any time along county-maintained rights-of-way, Nov. 1 to Apr. 1. Citation of not less than $200, or a tow |
Sources: City of Flagstaff, City of Flagstaff, Coconino County. Full source list.
Before you head out in a storm, check the official sources. These are the ones ADOT, the National Weather Service and the city point to.
ADOT says to check Arizona Traveler Information at az511.gov, use the AZ511 app or dial 511 for road conditions and closures before you drive.
The National Weather Service office in Flagstaff forecasts for northern Arizona. Check weather.gov/fgz for forecasts, watches and warnings.
ADOT says to use snow tires, chains or studded tires as recommended, required or both on snowy, icy roads. Studded tires are permitted on Arizona highways from October 1 to May 1.
Arterials, major hills, downtown, Mountain Line transit routes and school bus routes come first. In 12-inch-plus storms, second-priority streets can take up to 36 hours.
No parking on city streets or alleys from midnight to 7 a.m., November 1 to April 1, whether it is snowing or not.
ADOT says to stay at least four car lengths behind a snowplow and never pass one.
All winter travel advisories, chain and tire rules, and sources
The city gives owners and occupants 24 hours after the accumulation to clear the sidewalk. Clear to the pavement so nothing is left to refreeze.
Normal January days swing from 43.4°F to 17.6°F (NOAA). Treat shaded walks, steps and steep drive aprons before sundown.
ADOT suggests a charged phone, water, coats and blankets, plus an ice scraper, a small folding shovel and sand or kitty litter for traction. Keep the tank about three-quarters full.
Snow work and landscaping go together. The snow and ice trade group SIMA reports 88,200 snow and ice businesses in the U.S., and more than half of them are lawn and landscape companies. The average operator earns 37% of its revenue from snow, and about 4 in 5 are sole proprietors, which means you are usually dealing with a local owner, not a national chain.
That's good for you. A crew that works your property in summer already knows where the curbs, sprinkler heads and flower beds are when they're buried under a foot of snow. When the snow is gone, the same crew can handle spring cleanup and repair any turf damaged by plows or salt.
It's also why customers stay. SIMA reports snow and ice customers are retained 93% of the time from one year to the next. Once you find a crew that shows up, you tend to keep them.
Treat these as estimates, not quotes. Homeblue's Flagstaff cost page lists $40 to $90 a visit for driveway snow removal, depending on driveway size, and $48 to $72 an hour for snow blowing. HomeGuide's national guide puts a seasonal contract at $200 to $600 and roof snow removal at $200 to $500, or $1,000 to $2,000 for large or steep roofs. Your real price depends on the driveway, the roof, how often you want service and whether salting is included. A local crew quotes it for free.
24 hours. The City of Flagstaff says property owners and occupants must keep the sidewalks next to their property clear of snow and ice no later than 24 hours after the accumulation. Owners and occupants get a Notice of Violation once per season; after that, the city says unsafe sidewalks are cleared at the owner's cost.
No. Flagstaff's sidewalk ordinance prohibits moving snow or ice onto city streets or alleys. Keep it on your own property and tell your plow contractor the same.
Not in the city. Flagstaff's Winter Parking Ordinance bans parking on city streets and alleys from midnight to 7 a.m., November 1 to April 1, and the city says it is enforced whether it is snowing or not. If it isn't snowing you get a ticket; if it is, the city says you are likely to be towed as well as cited. The city page lists a few downtown exceptions.
The City of Flagstaff's snow and ice plan puts arterials, major hills, downtown, Mountain Line transit routes and school bus routes first. In storms of 12 inches or more, its completion window for second-priority streets runs up to 36 hours, so a contract crew for your driveway and walks matters.
Those are unincorporated Coconino County communities, so county rules apply. Coconino County's winter parking ordinance bans parking at any time along county-maintained rights-of-way from November 1 to April 1, with a citation of not less than $200 or a tow. Ask the county whether your road is county-maintained, and plan on clearing your own driveway either way.
ADOT says to use snow tires, chains or studded tires as recommended, required or both on snowy, icy roads, and studded tires are permitted on Arizona highways from October 1 to May 1. Check AZ 511 or dial 511 before you drive I-17, I-40 or the highways out of town.
Flagstaff's airport averages 90.1 inches of snow a season, with normal January lows of 17.6°F (NOAA), and the city still enforces its 24-hour sidewalk rule. Afternoon melt often turns into morning ice.
The City of Flagstaff says its November 1 to April 1 overnight parking ban is enforced whether it is snowing or not. If it is snowing, expect a tow as well as a citation.
Flagstaff's ordinance prohibits moving snow or ice onto city streets or alleys. Agree on where the piles go before the first storm.
Heavy snow at the roof edge can melt and refreeze into ice dams that push water under shingles. A roof rake used from the ground keeps the edge clear. Hire a pro for anything that needs a ladder.
Plenty of people pair a contract for the driveway with a little work of their own between visits. If that's you, a few tools make mountain winters easier.
For long driveways and deep storms, a two-stage snow blower like the Husqvarna ST224 or the battery-powered EGO 24-inch two-stage handles the heavy stuff. For the roof edge, a 20 ft roof rake or a 30 ft roof rake with a slide lets you work from the ground. A heated walkway mat keeps one path clear without salt.
Driving I-17 or I-40 in a storm? The shop's mountain driving and traction picks include low-clearance cable chains, textile snow socks and a winter road kit. For storm outages at home, a portable inverter generator such as the AIVOLT 4,200W can keep a fridge and the furnace blower going. Run it outdoors only, far from windows and doors, and keep snow away from the exhaust.
See every pick in the Ice Fighter shop, or let a crew do the heavy lifting.
Most contracts start at a set snow depth. Ask what it is, and whether a refreeze after a sunny afternoon gets a salting visit.
When will the driveway be clear, and when will the sidewalk be done? Flagstaff gives owners and occupants 24 hours after the accumulation.
Does the contract cover the roof edge, or only the ground? Get roof work priced separately before a big storm, not during one.
No snow onto city streets or alleys. Agree on where piles go, ideally on a sunny part of the lot, not a shaded corner that refreezes.
Ask for proof of liability insurance, especially for HOA and commercial work where slip-and-fall risk is high.
Stake curbs, beds, sprinkler heads, rocks and low walls before the ground freezes so blades don’t chew them up.
Tell us what needs clearing, your ZIP code and anything that helps: driveway length, sidewalks, steps, a long forest driveway, sidewalks, steps, a cabin roof, a parking lot or a business entrance. Your request goes to a local snow and ice crew serving Flagstaff, Doney Park, Kachina Village and Fort Valley, and they contact you directly with questions and a price.
No cost and no obligation to ask. Seasonal contracts fill up before the first snow, so fall is the best time to ask.
Before you sign, ask for proof of insurance, what snow depth triggers a visit, whether sidewalks and salting are included, and how storm-day calls are billed.
