Snow removal questions, answered
The questions property managers, HOA boards and business owners in northern New Jersey actually ask, each answered in its first sentence. 52 so far.
A commercial seasonal snow contract in northern NJ runs about $10,000 to $30,000 a winter. New Jersey has no statewide sidewalk deadline: across 171 towns it runs from 5 daylight hours to 48 hours. Rock salt works best above about 15°F pavement temperature. The details, and the sources, are one click below.
Cost & contracts
What commercial snow removal costs in northern NJ, what a seasonal contract covers, and when to sign one.
- How much does commercial snow removal cost in New Jersey?
- Is salting included in a snow removal contract?
- Should I get a seasonal snow contract or pay per push?
- What if it barely snows? Do I still pay the full seasonal price?
- What if it's a record winter? Can a seasonal snow price go up mid-season?
- When should I sign a commercial snow removal contract?
- Is it too late to get a snow contract in November or December?
- How long does a snow removal contract last?
- How long does it take to get a snow removal proposal?
- What is a trigger depth in a snow contract?
- What is a cap in a seasonal snow contract?
- What counts as one snow event for billing?
- What does additional insured mean on a snow contractor's insurance?
- What is a hold harmless or indemnification clause in a snow contract?
Sidewalks & NJ town rules
How long you have to clear a sidewalk, who is responsible, and what towns fine for, from each town's own code.
- How long do I have to clear my sidewalk after it snows in New Jersey?
- Who is responsible for clearing the sidewalk in front of a business in NJ?
- Can my town fine me for not clearing the sidewalk?
- Can my plow contractor push snow into the street?
- Is rock salt banned on sidewalks anywhere in New Jersey?
- Who is responsible for snow removal at a commercial property, the landlord or the tenant?
- Do I need a permit to plow or haul snow in New Jersey?
Slip-and-fall, liability & insurance
What to do after a fall, what records to keep, and what a contractor's insurance certificate should show.
- What should I do if someone slips and falls on ice at my property?
- How long should I keep snow removal records?
- What should a snow contractor's certificate of insurance show?
- Is an HOA liable for a fall on the public sidewalk outside the community?
- What is New Jersey's ongoing storm rule?
- Does salting during a storm create liability in New Jersey?
- Does hiring a snow contractor move the liability off the property owner?
- Does the ADA require clearing snow from accessible parking spaces?
- Does OSHA require employers to clear snow and ice?
Salt & ice
When salt stops working, why a lot ices after it was treated, and what de-icers do to concrete.
- At what temperature does rock salt stop working?
- Why is my parking lot icy even though it was salted?
- Why did my contractor salt when it didn't snow?
- What is pre-treatment or brine, and is it worth it?
- Is sand better than salt for ice?
- Does salt damage concrete sidewalks?
- What is the difference between rock salt, calcium chloride and magnesium chloride?
- What ice melt is safe for pavers and natural stone?
- Is ice melt safe for pets and landscaping?
During a storm
When the plow comes, what happens if a contractor does not show, and how much snow a winter really brings.
- Do I have to call my snow contractor when it snows?
- What do I do if my snow contractor doesn't show up?
- When will my parking lot be plowed before we open?
- How many times will my lot get plowed in a northern NJ winter?
- How much snow does northern New Jersey get in a winter?
- Do snow plows work during the storm or wait until it stops?
- What should a snow removal service report include?
- What happens when snow piles take over my parking spaces?
HOAs & property types
Private HOA roads, medical offices, retail and who we do and do not plow for.
Looking for the short version? The FAQ has the questions we get on the phone most.
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