Snow Removal in Chicago, IL
Residential and commercial plowing with 24/7 storm dispatch.
Snow is a regular part of the season in Chicago, averaging an estimated 38" a year between November – April. Our dispatch model is built around that reality: forecast-driven routes, not next-day cleanup.
Services we provide in Chicago
Local rules & timing
Chicago enforces a Winter Overnight Parking Ban (3 a.m.–7 a.m., December 1–April 1, regardless of snowfall) on about 107 miles of designated arterial streets, plus a separate 2-inch Snow Parking Ban that can be activated on roughly 500 miles of additional streets any time at least 2 inches of snow accumulates. Both were established under Mayor Jane Byrne's 1980 'Snow Plan '80' following the city's criticized response to the 1979 blizzard; violators face towing plus a minimum $150 tow fee, $60 ticket, and $25/day storage fee.
Rules can change, so verify current requirements with your municipality.
Response time
Response within 1 hour during a storm. That response time applies day or night; storms don't wait for business hours, and neither do we.
Residential
Driveway plowing and sidewalk clearing for Chicago homeowners, with a trigger depth you set once. The same crew learns your property's layout over the season, so plowing follows the same pattern every storm: no re-explaining where the edges are or where to pile snow.
Commercial
Commercial snow removal in Chicago covers the full property (lot, sidewalks, and entrances), cleared on a schedule built around when the property actually needs to be open.
Neighborhoods & areas we serve
ZIP codes: 60601, 60614, 60622, 60640, 60647, 60657
Local conditions
A few things about Chicago specifically inform how service is scheduled.
Chicago's lakefront exposure to Lake Michigan can enhance snowfall from northeast wind-flow storms, on top of the regular clipper and low-pressure systems that cross the region each winter. The city's snow removal response is built around a well-documented, decades-old street classification system created after the 1979 blizzard response failure that helped end Mayor Michael Bilandic's re-election bid. Lake-effect contribution in Chicago proper is generally more modest than in the Indiana/Michigan shoreline snowbelt, since the city sits on the lake's western/upwind shore for most storm tracks.
We regularly service routes near I-90/94 (Kennedy/Dan Ryan), I-290 (Eisenhower), I-55 (Stevenson), I-57, Lake Shore Drive.
FAQs
Do I need to sign a contract?
No: per-push service is available without a season-long commitment, though a seasonal contract is available if you'd rather lock in a flat rate.
Are you licensed and insured?
Ask us for current proof of licensing and insurance when you request a quote; we're glad to provide it before you sign anything.
Do you offer commercial and HOA snow removal in Chicago?
Yes: parking lots, sidewalks, and ice control for commercial, HOA, and municipal properties in Chicago, alongside residential service.
Is Chicago prone to ice dams or roof snow load issues?
Chicago's lakefront exposure to Lake Michigan can enhance snowfall from northeast wind-flow storms, on top of the regular clipper and low-pressure systems that cross the region each winter. The city's snow removal response is built around a well-documented, decades-old street classification system created after the 1979 blizzard response failure that helped end Mayor Michael Bilandic's re-election bid. Lake-effect contribution in Chicago proper is generally more modest than in the Indiana/Michigan shoreline snowbelt, since the city sits on the lake's western/upwind shore for most storm tracks. Ask about roof snow removal or ice dam service if that's a recurring issue at your property.
What areas of Chicago do you cover?
Coverage includes The Loop, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Logan Square, and the surrounding area. Check the neighborhoods list on this page or contact us to confirm your specific address.
What trigger depth do you plow at?
Most customers set a 2-inch trigger, meaning we plow once 2 inches has accumulated and again as needed through the storm. You can set a different trigger when you sign up.