How to Handle Overflow Parking During Snow Events

4 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

Snow accumulation eats into usable parking space fast, and properties that are already tight on parking during normal conditions can end up genuinely short during a snowy stretch. Planning for this ahead of time avoids a scramble.

Snow storage location planning directly affects available parking. If piles end up in the wrong spots, usable parking shrinks more than it needs to. A contractor who plans storage areas carefully, away from high-value spaces, preserves more usable parking through the winter than one piling snow wherever is convenient in the moment.

Hauling snow off-site becomes worth considering for properties with genuinely tight parking, even though it costs more than standard plowing. If a lack of parking is turning away customers or creating conflict among staff and visitors, the cost of hauling may be worth it compared to the cost of lost business or frustration.

Communicating parking changes to staff and customers helps too. If certain areas are temporarily unavailable due to snow storage, letting people know ahead of time, through signage or a quick note on your website, reduces frustration compared to people discovering it on arrival.

At Thames Valley Snow, snow is piled away from doors and drains, and storage areas are something to agree on when the season is set up. If parking has been a recurring winter headache, raise it with your snow removal provider before the first storm.

Decide Where the Snow Goes Before It Falls

The best time to plan snow storage is in the fall, when you can see the whole lot. Walk the property and note which spaces you can afford to lose for the winter, usually the ones farthest from the entrance. Those become the storage areas. The spaces closest to the door, including accessible parking, should stay clear all season.

Avoid storage spots near doors and drains. A pile beside a door blocks foot traffic, and a pile over a drain sends melt water across the lot to refreeze overnight. We pile snow away from doors and drains, and we mark edges, steps and drains before the season so they can be found under snow.

Keep the Lot Clear Through Long Storms

Parking disappears fastest when snow keeps falling while cars are parked. Service starts automatically at 5 cm, and long storms get return visits, so the lot does not slowly fill in through the day. Commercial sites are cleared before opening, so the first staff and customers arrive to usable spaces.

Walkways Matter as Much as Spaces

When parking is tight, people park farther away and walk longer distances. That makes sidewalks and entrances even more important. On our commercial sites, sidewalks, entrances and ramps are hand-cleared and salted on every visit.

Insurance and Pricing

Thames Valley Snow carries $2,000,000 in liability insurance, with certificates available on request and additional insured status available. We are WSIB registered and a member of the London Property Management Association (LPMA).

Commercial properties are priced per site, based on the paved area, the walkway length and the opening time. A written quote usually arrives within 2 business days. You can choose a fixed seasonal price, per-visit pricing or an event cap, and monthly billing is available on request.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should snow be stored on a small lot?

In the spaces farthest from the entrance, away from doors, drains and accessible parking.

Do you come back during long storms?

Yes. Long storms get return visits so the lot does not fill back in.

Want a fixed price for your property? Request a free quote, or call or text (548) 888-8702. You can also read more about our commercial snow removal and property manager services.

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.