Snow Plow Hours. How Early??

Question

For anyone that gets a lot of snow like we do in Buffalo, do you guys have rules or a city ordinance that says how early you can begin to plow at an apartment complex? There's nothing on my city website and people are getting irritated how early in the morning it's being done (waking people up obviously)....

Shannon K. · Answer

@Michael Karl, its just one person so far, but its two days in a row.... I just figured I would check on the rules/hours in case we were wrong...

Michael Karl · Answer

@Shannon K. you hit the nail on the head, if you wait till 8am to start plowing they will be snowed in. I would explain to the tenants complaining that if the snow fall is overnight and your slowing service has multiple lots to plow they have no choice but to start early to make sure everything is clear before the morning.  I live is the town of Amherst and the town plows started at 1am last night, I think those plows running down the street at 30MPH is louder then a truck in a driveway or parking lot.  Do you have multiple tenants that are complaining or just the same person every time, something to consider if its just one person

Shannon K. · Answer

Plows on the roads and main streets and highways are definitely out there early.  I'm wondering about plowing an apartment complex parking lot. People hearing pavement scratching and snow smashing before 5am and getting woken up is irritating to some people.

I suppose people will complain either way.  5am and its too loud.  8am and they're snowed in and complaining about that too, haha. My partner is the one doing the plowing and he likes to get out there early to get a jump on it, so I just wanted to see what everyone else's timetables were like...

Mike Cumbie · Answer

Hi @Shannon K.

We have no rules, generally want the plow as soon as possible as often as needed

Brian Rosher · Answer

Plows need to plow with the storm, not wait until it piles up too high.  They will also get the lot/driveway scraped cleaner if they come before everyone starts driving on it.  With all the lake effect you get in Buffalo I would think people would be used to plows coming at all hours.

You could check with your plow company if they can move you later in the route, but then people will complain about being snowed in.  It's also a safety/liability issue as others mentioned.

Joshua D. · Answer

@Shannon K.

I would think you would want them there as early as possible so they are not in the way during morning chaos.

Alex Franks · Answer

@Shannon K wow I recall the snow plows when I was younger in NY coming at 3- 4 am in morning. I would think it would not matter but this is actually a good question for some other local folks to chime in.

Alex