How Often Should a Parking Lot Be Plowed in a Storm?

4 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

Parking lot plowing frequency during a storm is a question every commercial property manager should understand clearly, since getting it wrong either wastes money on unnecessary visits or leaves customers and employees navigating unsafe conditions. The right frequency depends on the storm itself and how the lot is used.

For a typical storm dropping five to ten centimetres over a few hours, one thorough visit after the snow stops is usually sufficient for most commercial lots. This keeps the surface clear and safe without the added cost of multiple visits for a storm that wasn't severe enough to warrant it.

High-traffic properties like grocery stores, medical clinics, or anywhere with a steady flow of vehicles and pedestrians throughout the day often benefit from more frequent servicing during longer storms, sometimes every few hours rather than waiting for the storm to fully end. The cost of an extra visit is usually far less than the liability risk of an unsafe lot during peak business hours.

Longer storms change the calculation for every property type. When snow falls steadily for twelve hours or more, waiting until it fully stops can mean a lot buried under significant accumulation, which takes much longer to clear and creates unsafe conditions in the meantime. A mid-storm push followed by a final cleanup pass is often the better approach for extended weather events.

Match Visits to Your Business Hours

The most important visit is the one that has your lot open and safe before the first employee or customer arrives. For an overnight storm, that usually means a clearing pass in the early morning hours. If snow keeps falling during business hours, a busy lot may need another pass mid-day so entrances, fire lanes and accessible spaces stay usable.

Plan for Where the Snow Goes

Every visit adds to the piles. Before the season, decide which corners or low-traffic spaces can hold snow without blocking sightlines, drains or parking you need. As piles grow over a long winter, it may be worth giving up a few spaces rather than letting banks creep into drive aisles.

Salting Between Visits

Plowing removes snow, but it does not stop ice. Salting after a plow pass, and again after freezing rain or a refreeze, is what keeps walkways and drive lanes safe between visits. Many commercial sites combine plowing with seasonal ice control for exactly this reason.

How We Price Commercial Lots

Thames Valley Snow prices every commercial site individually, based on lot size, layout, hours and the level of service you need, and we send quotes within 2 business days. We carry $2,000,000 in liability insurance and WSIB coverage, can provide a certificate of insurance on request, and document every visit with timestamped photos.

Set a Trigger Depth in Writing

A clear trigger depth in your contract removes guesswork about when crews come out. Many sites use about 5 cm as the point where plowing starts, with salting handled separately. Write down the trigger, the areas covered and how ice control is handled so everyone on your team knows what to expect during a storm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should my lot be plowed during the storm or after it stops?

For short storms, one thorough pass after the snow stops is usually enough. For long storms or busy lots, a mid-storm push followed by a cleanup pass keeps the lot usable.

Do timestamped photos help with liability?

Yes. Dated photos of each visit show when the lot was cleared and in what condition, which is useful if a slip-and-fall claim is ever made. Ask your insurer or lawyer about your specific situation.

Want snow off your mind this winter? Request a free quote or call or text (548) 888-8702. You can also read about our residential snow removal and commercial snow removal.

What's included… and what's extra

Commercial snow service is priced per site from paved area, walkway length and opening time. A typical contract includes plowing at the agreed trigger depth, clearing before opening, hand-cleared entrances, sidewalks and ramps, and a timestamped photo log of every visit.

Common extras are quoted separately so you only pay for what the site needs: salting and de-icing per event, extra sidewalk or ramp coverage, after-hours or priority service, and snow relocation when piles run out of room. See commercial snow removal or request a site quote by calling or texting (548) 888-8702.