What are Springfield, MA's snow removal rules, and how do you hire a plow service?

By Luis Sierra, 413 Home Pros · Updated 2026-10-28 · Sources linked inline

Short answer: In Springfield, the occupant (or the owner, for multi-unit or vacant property) must clear snow and ice from the abutting sidewalk, fire hydrant and curb cut within 24 hours after it stops falling, and no one, including a hired plow contractor, may push or throw snow into the street; the property owner pays those fines ($100, rising to $300 for repeat violations in a fiscal year). During an announced snow emergency, there is no parking on the even side of the street from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. or on the odd side from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A 2026–27 Massachusetts contractor estimate puts residential driveway plowing at about $45–$110 per visit or $350–$750 for a season.

Springfield's sidewalk, hydrant and curb-cut rule

Springfield's Snow and Ice ordinance, Chapter 322 of the City Code, puts the job on whoever is responsible for the property next to the sidewalk:

Who: the tenant or occupant when the parcel has just one dwelling unit; for buildings with more than one unit, or no occupant, the owner or the person who manages the property (§ 322-1).
What: the sidewalk, any fire hydrant and any curb cut abutting the property, including snow that slides off your roof or drifts back onto the sidewalk (§§ 322-1, 322-2).
When: within 24 hours after snow or ice stops falling. Ice has to be removed or covered with sand or another suitable material within 24 hours (§ 322-3).
Roofs over the sidewalk: if snow can slide off a roof onto people on the street, it must be removed within a reasonable time after the storm, and the Building Commissioner can have it removed at the owner's expense after 24 hours (§ 322-4).

The City's penalty schedule lists $25 for a § 322-1 sidewalk and hydrant violation (enforced by the Fire Department) and $50 for other Chapter 322 violations (enforced by DPW).

Don't push snow into the street

Under § 322-5, no one, explicitly including paid or unpaid contractors, may throw or put snow or ice into any street or public way, at any time. Piling snow over hydrants, or into banks that block sight lines or narrow parking or travel lanes, also counts. The property owner pays the fine even if a hired plow did it: $100 for the first violation, $200 for a second in the same fiscal year and $300 for each after that, reissued every seven days until the snow is cleared. Tell your plow service where on your lot the snow should go before the first storm.

Snow emergency parking bans

Rule	Springfield
When it starts	When the City announces it (news media, City website); stays in effect until lifted
Even-numbered side	No parking 7 p.m. – 7 a.m.
Odd-numbered side	No parking 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Exceptions	Posted no-parking rules still apply; you may park where red-and-white "Severe Weather" signs allow
Ticket	$50 if paid within 21 days, rising if unpaid; vehicles can be towed

Sources: Springfield DPW, Parking Bans (updated December 2025); Springfield Rules of the Road, Sections 3C and 14A. In the February 2026 nor'easter, the City also opened Springfield Parking Authority lots and garages for free during the ban. Questions: DPW at 3-1-1 or (413) 736-3111. Neighboring towns set their own rules; see our town pages for Chicopee, West Springfield, Agawam, Longmeadow and Ludlow and check each town's website.

Roof snow and safety

Mass.gov's roof collapse and snow removal guidance (from the state's Office of Public Safety and Inspections, Department of Fire Services and MEMA) says flat and low-pitched roofs are at the greatest risk and suggests hiring professionals. If you do it yourself: use a roof rake from the ground, start at the edge and work up, leave 2 to 3 inches of snow rather than scraping the shingles, keep tools away from utility wires, and don't use ladders on ice, torches or heat guns. Leave immediately and call 911 from outside if you notice sagging, cracked or split framing, severe leaks, or doors and windows that suddenly won't open.

Mass.gov's winter storm safety tips also say to take breaks when shoveling (overexertion can trigger a heart attack), keep furnace and boiler exhaust vents and car tailpipes clear of snow to prevent carbon monoxide buildup, and dig out nearby fire hydrants and storm drains. If ice dams are a problem on your house, see our ice dam guide.

What plowing costs (2026–27 estimates)

These are estimates published by one Massachusetts contractor, not prices from 413 Home Pros or any listed business. Western Mass prices can differ.

Service	Estimated price
Per visit, single-car driveway	$45 – $85
Per visit, two-car driveway	$55 – $100
Per visit, three-car or long driveway	$75 – $150
Seasonal contract, most homes	$350 – $750
Walkway shoveling (add-on, per visit)	$20 – $40
Salt or sand (add-on, per visit)	$15 – $35

Source: The Pros, Inc., Residential Snow Removal Cost in Massachusetts (2026–27). The same guide puts the break-even between per-visit and seasonal pricing at roughly seven plowable storms.

Hiring a plow or snow removal service

Book in the fall. Many landscapers sell snow contracts alongside fall cleanups, and some plow commercial accounts only, so ask early.
Get the trigger depth in writing: how many inches start a visit, how soon after the snow stops they come, and whether the season caps visits or total inches.
Ask what's included: driveway only, or also the walkway, steps, salting and the public sidewalk you're required to clear within 24 hours.
Agree where the snow goes. Not in the street, not over the hydrant, and not where it blocks your view of the road (§ 322-5).
Ask for proof of insurance, and if you have a paver driveway, ask whether the plow uses a rubber or poly cutting edge.
Roof snow is a different job. For roof raking or ice dam work, ask a roofer; see roofers in Springfield, MA.

Find local pros: landscapers and lawn care in Springfield, MA (several list snow plowing on their own sites). We list only businesses we could check on their own websites; see how we verify. Related: fall lawn care and leaf cleanup · winter home checklist.

FAQ

How long do I have to shovel my sidewalk in Springfield, MA?

24 hours. Springfield's Snow and Ice ordinance (Chapter 322) requires the sidewalk, any fire hydrant and any curb cut next to your property to be cleared within 24 hours after snow or ice stops falling, and icy sidewalks must be cleared or sanded within 24 hours. In a single-unit building that duty falls on the occupant; in multi-unit or vacant property it falls on the owner or whoever manages it.

Can my plow company push snow into the street?

No. Springfield's § 322-5 bars anyone, including paid or unpaid contractors, property owners and tenants, from throwing or putting snow or ice into any street or public way, or piling it over hydrants or where it blocks sight lines or narrows travel lanes. The property owner is liable: $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second in the same fiscal year and $300 for each one after that, with new fines every seven days until it is fixed.

How does the Springfield snow emergency parking ban work?

Once the City announces a ban, it stays in effect until it is lifted: no parking on the even-numbered side of the street from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., and no parking on the odd-numbered side from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Posted no-parking rules still apply, but you may park where red-and-white "Severe Weather" signs allow it. During recent bans the City has opened Springfield Parking Authority garages for free, and the DPW and Police tow and ticket.

How much does snow plowing cost in Massachusetts in 2026?

One Massachusetts contractor's 2026–27 guide (The Pros, Inc., an Eastern MA company) puts a standard residential driveway at about $45–$110 per visit and $350–$750 for a seasonal contract, with walkway shoveling ($20–$40) and salting ($15–$35) usually billed extra per visit. These are estimates, not quotes; get prices from local companies.

Should I shovel snow off my roof?

Only if it's safe. Mass.gov advises using a roof rake from the ground, working from the edge up, leaving 2 to 3 inches of snow on the roof, staying away from utility wires, and considering a professional. Leave the building and call 911 from outside if you see sagging, cracked framing, new severe leaks, or doors and windows that suddenly stick.

This guide is general information, not professional, legal or tax advice. Figures change; check the linked sources. Found an error? Email info@413homepros.com.

More guides

Find a pro: Best landscaping & lawn care in Springfield, MA · All verified pros