Want to know where the snow plows are?  Click on the link below to view the "Live Snow Route Map"
Live SNOW ROUTE Map



About the Snow Removal Program
The Snow Removal program is an aggressive program which is designed, under optimum conditions, to complete the initial plowing of the City’s 130 miles of streets in 12 hours. In addition to removing snow from city streets, snow removal crews are also responsible for sanding icy roads and intersections, as well as clearing the parking lots of some city facilities.

Snow removal personnel consist of seven (7) full-time street maintenance crew members (including supervisors), two transfers from other departments who work as equipment operators, nine equipment maintenance staff members, and a code enforcement officer who function as public service officers, and a number of seasonal employees.

Snow Removal Hotline (530) 542-6030

1. The primary purpose of snow removal is to clear all streets for orderly movement for emergency vehicles, school buses, entry to the hospital, refuse trucks, and all vehicle traffic.
2. Primary routes are plowed first when generally three (3) inches of snow accumulates throughout the city. Initially, one lane is plowed to create a travel lane throughout the entire route. Plows will return to continue to push the snow off the street. Please wait until they return for the final pass before contacting the city about any concerns regarding snow removal. 
3. Berms are a residual part of snow removal and there is now way to avoid berms. Please refer to city code 26-40.2. When snow removal occurs, so will berms. The size of the berm fluctuates depending on many variable conditions; number of driveways on the street, density of the snow, the amount of snowfall and snow drifts to name a few. City streets range from 24-40 feet wide and all the snow that falls in the street must be displaced to the side of the streets. The wider the street, the more snow will be moved to the edge of the street. In addition, most parcels within the City have now been developed creating more driveways; more driveways prohibits less open space for snow storage. All snow is pushed to the side of the street as evenly as possible to all parcels. Wet heavy snow makes it harder to manipulate for the plow drivers and residents alike.
4. Gates on the snow plows were installed to minimize the impact of the berm; however, they do not make berms disappear, larger amounts of snowfall equate to a potentially larger berm. The plow blade can only carry so much snow, when the blade is full, the snow flows around and over the gate and seeks the path of least resistance, which is usually the open driveways.

Please complete this form to inform the City of South Lake Tahoe Public Works Division of any concerns, requests, or safety issues.

Snow Removal Maintenance Responsibility - Chapter 26-50

The City's Snow Removal Plan provides comprehensive description of the City's efforts to ensure snow is removed from City streets as effeciently and quickly as is safetly possible.