Snow plowing in Salem, MA: reserve your season pass
- 1 car$425
- 2 cars$550
- 3 cars or 75 ft+$750
12 plows included. $100 deposit holds your spot. Per plow: $55 / $70 / $95. We plow at 2 inches.
Salem snow rules you should know
- Parking
- Salem declares a snow emergency when 2 inches or more of snow is predicted, and a parking ban starts automatically with it. Cars on posted streets must move; cars in snow emergency lots and on-street sites must be out within 6 hours after the ban ends or be ticketed and towed. Blue lights at key intersections signal it, and downtown has its own ban time set for each storm.
- Sidewalks
- Owners must clear sidewalks and curb ramps within 6 hours after snow stops in the daytime, or before noon if it stops at night. Fine: $25 for the first offense. Salem pages disagree on later fines: $75 and $100, or $50. Snow may not be shoveled or thrown back into the street ($75 first fine, then $150 and $200).
- Alerts
- The city calls all residents with a CodeRed phone message, posts on its homepage and SATV, sends email updates, and uses flashing blue lights. Call 978-744-0171 ext. 166 for ban status. Sign up or check.
Checked Oct 2026. Sources: salem.com/FAQ.aspx?QID=107, salem.com/632/Removing-Vehicles, salem.com/630/Downtown-Snow-Emergency-District, salem.com/635/Salems-Snow-Emergency-Parking-Rule, salem.com/city-engineer/faq/if-i-do-not-have-str
We are not the town. Rules change, so confirm with Salem before a storm. All 43 towns: parking ban and snow emergency rules.
What the pass covers
- 12 plows for the season. Each plow is up to 6 inches of snow.
- We plow when 2 inches or more has fallen. What a 2-inch trigger means.
- You get a text when we start and when we finish.
Cost in Salem
| Driveway | Season pass | Per plow |
|---|---|---|
| 1 car | $425 | $55 |
| 2 cars | $550 | $70 |
| 3 cars or 75 ft+ | $750 | $95 |
The pass costs less than paying per plow once you need about 8 plows. Pay $100 now, the rest on December 1. Per push or seasonal · Cost calculator
Plowing a driveway in Salem
Salem packs a lot of older housing into a small city. Historic districts such as the Federal Street and Chestnut Street districts have Federal-style houses close to narrow streets, and many other homes sit on small lots with short or shared drives. There is not much room to pile snow, so a drive plowed once is often blocked again by the city plow.
The city declares a snow emergency when 2 inches or more is predicted, and the parking ban starts with it. Salem's own rule is that plows cannot lift the blade at a driveway, so snow goes across drives and is unavoidable. The city tells owners to clear the drive opening more than once, or after plowing ends. Cars that came off the street usually fill the drive, which makes timing a plow pass hard. Downtown has its own later ban time, and snow emergency lots and on-street sites must be emptied within 6 hours after the ban ends.
Salem also sets a sidewalk rule. Owners must clear sidewalks and curb ramps within 6 hours after snow stops in the daytime, or before noon if it stops at night, with a fine that starts at $25. It also fines throwing snow back into the street, starting at $75. So plowed snow from a drive must stay on your lot, not go to the road. A plowing pass after the city plow, with the end bank cleared, is the quickest way to stay within those rules in a city this tight.
Neighborhoods and areas we serve
- Federal Street District
- Charter Street Historic District
- Chestnut Street District
- Witchcraft Heights
- Salem Willows
- Gallows Hill
- Juniper Point
Good to know
- Winter sand for residents is at 5 Jefferson Avenue; limit 2 pails per household.
- Salem clears designated sidewalks after streets, and the city says plows cannot lift the blade at a driveway.
- Salem High School athletic teams are the Witches; Witchcraft Heights is a public elementary school.
- The city has a shoveling assistance program for elderly and infirm residents (Council on Aging, 978-744-0924).
How it works
Reserve
Pick your driveway size and pay the $100 deposit.
We confirm
We text you to confirm the driveway and where snow can go.
We plow at 2 in
You get a text when we start and when we finish.
Condos, landlords and small lots in Salem
Own a triple-decker, a condo association or a small lot in Salem? A season pass is for single homes. For buildings and lots we walk the site and send a written price. Landlords · Condo associations · Request a proposal
Questions about snow plowing in Salem
How much does snow plowing cost in Salem?
A season pass is $425 for a 1-car driveway, $550 for 2 cars and $750 for 3 cars or 75 ft+. Each covers 12 plows. Or pay per plow: $55, $70 or $95. The pass costs less once you need about 8 plows.
When do you plow in Salem?
We plow when 2 inches or more has fallen, once the snow stops. We do not promise a clock time because storms and routes vary. You get a text when we start and when we finish.
What happens after 12 plows?
Plows after the 12th are billed at the per-plow price for your driveway size: $55, $70 or $95.
When does Salem start a snow parking ban?
When 2 inches or more of snow is predicted, a snow emergency is declared and a parking ban starts with it. Blue lights, CodeRed calls and the city website announce it.
How soon must I clear a Salem sidewalk?
Within 6 hours after daytime snow stops, or before noon if it stops at night. The first fine is $25.
Can I shovel my Salem drive snow back into the street?
No. Salem fines throwing snow back onto the street, starting at $75.
Also plowing near Salem
- Snow plowing in BeverlyAcross the Danvers River and harbor on the North Shore.
- Snow plowing in PeabodyBorders Salem to the west.
- Snow plowing in MarbleheadShares Salem's eastern border; the Marblehead tow lot is on Boston Street in Salem.
- Snow plowing in SwampscottShares Salem's southeast border.
All towns we serve · Before the first storm · Roof raking and ice dams