Facts from public sources, not quotes. Where these numbers come from
Straight answers about cost, contracts, berms, parking bans, roofs and chain controls, with a link to the source behind every number.
Get a free quote How it worksTreat these as estimates, not quotes. Homeblue's Truckee cost page (an estimator, not a contractor) lists $50 to $120 a visit for driveway snow removal and $59 to $88 an hour for snow blowing. For a regional reference, one South Lake Tahoe operator lists seasonal packages from $849 to $2,999 depending on the plan. HomeGuide's national guide puts roof snow removal at $200 to $500, or $1,000 to $2,000 for large or steep roofs. A local crew quotes your property for free.
You do. The Town of Truckee says it is the responsibility of the homeowner or resident to clear the berm from their own driveway. Ask your contractor whether a return pass after the Town plow is included; it is often the heaviest, iciest snow of the storm.
Not in Truckee. The Town bans parking on Town roads and rights-of-way from November 1 to April 30 (TTMC 10.17.030), and Truckee Police may tow or ticket. Parking behind the snow poles is not enough. On Placer County roads east of Emigrant Gap, including North Lake Tahoe, Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows, parking is banned from November 1 to May 1, with fines of $150, $250 and $450 for the first, second and third or later offense.
On your own property. The Town of Truckee says the road right-of-way, usually 60 feet wide or about 30 feet from the road centerline, is for the Town's snow storage, not for individuals. Agree on where the piles go before the first storm.
R-1: chains are required on all vehicles except passenger vehicles and light trucks under 6,000 lb gross weight with snow tires on at least two drive wheels, and those must still carry chains. R-2: chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicles with snow tires on all four wheels, and those must carry traction devices. R-3: chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles, no exceptions, and Caltrans notes a highway will often be closed before R-3 is imposed.
You need to carry them. Caltrans says 4WD and AWD drivers must still carry chains for one drive axle to enter a chain control area. Snow tires need an M+S marking and at least 6/32-inch tread. Studded tires are allowed from November 1 to April 30, but Caltrans says they are not traction devices.
In Truckee, usually a seasonal contract. The Truckee Ranger Station averages 206.6 inches of snow a season and about 41.9 days a year with an inch or more (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). With that many plowable storms, a spot on a route is the safer bet, and per-visit costs add up fast.
Before the first snow. Our analysis of NOAA daily records puts the median first measurable snow in Truckee on November 2 and in Tahoe City on November 3, so September and October are the time to get on a route.
Heavy snow at the roof edge can melt and refreeze into ice dams that push water under shingles, and Truckee's snowiest months average more than 40 inches each (NOAA). A roof rake used from the ground keeps the edge clear. Anything that needs a ladder or a climb is a job for a pro.
Yes. Requests from this site go to a local snow and landscape contractor that quotes homes and second homes, HOA and condo lots, and commercial lots. Commercial and HOA work is priced per site after a walk-through.
Many do. Industry group SIMA reports that more than half of snow and ice businesses are also lawn and landscape providers, and the average operator earns 37% of revenue from snow.
Fill out the free quote form with your name, phone, ZIP code and what needs clearing. A local crew contacts you with questions and a price. There is no cost and no obligation to ask.
The Town of Truckee says parking behind the snow poles is not enough. From November 1 to April 30, no parking on Town roads or rights-of-way.
The Town plows the road. The berm it leaves across your driveway is the homeowner's or resident's to clear, the Town says.
The road right-of-way is for the Town's snow storage, not for individuals. Keep your snow on your own property.
Heavy snow at the roof edge can melt and refreeze into ice dams that push water under shingles. A roof rake used from the ground keeps the edge clear. Hire a pro for anything that needs a ladder.
Sources: Homeblue, Tahoe Island Snow Removal, HomeGuide, NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI, Town of Truckee, Placer County, Caltrans, Caltrans, Turf Magazine. Full source list.
Tell us what needs clearing, your ZIP code and anything that helps: driveway length, sidewalks, steps, a driveway and its plow berm, walks, decks and steps, a roof, a parking lot or a business entrance. Your request goes to a local snow and ice crew serving Truckee, Tahoe City, Kings Beach, Incline Village and nearby North Lake Tahoe communities, and they contact you directly with questions and a price.
No cost and no obligation to ask. Seasonal contracts fill up before the first snow, so fall is the best time to ask.
Before you sign, ask for proof of insurance, what snow depth triggers a visit, whether sidewalks and salting are included, and how storm-day calls are billed.
