Snow Removal
The Road and Bridge Division conducts snow removal operations on roads, bridges and other transportation assets within unincorporated Arapahoe County.
- State roads are the responsibility of the Colorado Department of Transportation
- Cities and towns maintain roads in incorporated areas.
Due to its varied geography, Arapahoe County can receive 20 to more than 100 inches of snow during the snow season. Amounts of snowfall can vary from a light dusting to several feet of accumulation. Roads are plowed on a Plowing Priority System. Snow removal operations are scheduled round-the-clock for urban areas.
Plow Routes and Priority System
One of the goals of winter maintenance is to achieve “passable roadways” within the limitations imposed by changing weather conditions and the availability of resources.
How does the County define a passable roadway?
Property Owner Responsibility
Property owners or contractors are not allowed to place snow from private property onto the county streets or roadways (see C.R.S. 43-5-301).
Sidewalk cleaning is the responsibility of the property owners and they should keep sidewalks abutting their property clear of the natural accumulation of snow and or ice. Snow and or ice should be removed within 24 hours of the last accumulation.
Fire hydrants on private property need to be cleared by the property owner to enable fire department access to the water in case of a fire.
Arapahoe County will not plow private driveways or roads except in the case of a life threatening emergency. Any emergency request will be forwarded to the Arapahoe County Public Works Department from the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office. A decision at the time will be made by the Director to have the driveway or roadway plowed at the Sheriff’s Office’s request.
To submit a request for road maintenance: Service Request Form.
Private snow plowing activities may be permitted on Unincorporated Arapahoe County Roads. A private contractor must enter into an agreement with the Board of County Commissioners and carry a $20,000 surety bond.
Private Snow Plow Agreement Form