Snow plowing
Who plows the road to a Colorado mountain home?
The county plows county roads. Everything past that, from a private road to the berm at the end of your driveway, is on the owner.
A live person answers. Not a robot, not a phone tree. Updated September 2026.
Photos: Aerial of golden fall aspens and a mountain road, Taylor Brandon (Unsplash).
The county plows county roads it has accepted, and the owner plows the rest. Jefferson County does not plow private roads or roads the commissioners have not accepted, and residents clear driveway berms. Clear Creek, Gilpin, Larimer and Teller counties do not plow private driveways or roads except in life-threatening emergencies. In Gilpin County, pushing snow into a county road carries a minimum $250 fine.
Accepted roads only.
Jefferson and Park counties plow roads the county has accepted.
Owner's job.
Counties do not plow private roads except in life-threatening emergencies.
Yours to clear.
Jefferson County residents clear the berm the plow leaves at the driveway.
$250 minimum.
For pushing snow into a county road, Ordinance 25-01.
What do the mountain counties plow?
- Jefferson County. Plows by 4 priorities. No plowing in mountain areas from 9 pm to 3 am. No private roads and no roads the commissioners have not accepted.
- Park County. Full plowing at 4 inches of snow. County roads must be accepted before the county plows them.
- Clear Creek County. No private driveway or road plowing except in life-threatening emergencies.
- Gilpin County. No private driveway or road plowing except in life-threatening emergencies.
- Larimer and Teller counties. No private driveway or road plowing except in life-threatening emergencies.
Confirm the road's status with the county road and bridge department before you buy.
Who plows a private road in the mountains?
- Not the county. Jefferson County does not plow roads the commissioners have not accepted.
- Find the agreement. Ask the seller whether an HOA, road association or written agreement pays for plowing.
- Find the contractor. Ask who plows today, what it costs each season and who calls it in.
What are the rules for driveway berms and plowed snow?
- Residents clear berms. In Jefferson County, the resident clears the berm the county plow leaves.
- Keep snow off county roads. Gilpin County Ordinance 25-01 sets a minimum $250 fine for pushing snow into a county road.
- Tell your plow contractor. Share the rule. The Gilpin County fine applies to snow pushed into a county road.
How much snow do the mountain towns get?
- Evergreen: 80.8 inches. Estes Park averages 104.0 inches.
- Dillon: 115.5 inches. Fraser averages 143.2 inches.
- Breckenridge: 184.6 inches. Winter Park averages 214.0 inches.
NOAA 1991-2020 annual averages. Call the Kenna Real Estate Group at 303-955-4220 to check a home's road status and plow setup before you write an offer.
Questions
Quick answers.
Does Jefferson County plow private roads?
No. Jefferson County does not plow private roads or roads the commissioners have not accepted.
Will the county plow my mountain driveway?
No. Clear Creek, Gilpin, Larimer and Teller counties plow private driveways only in life-threatening emergencies.
What is the fine for plowing snow into a road in Gilpin County?
A minimum of $250 under Ordinance 25-01.
When does Park County plow?
Full plowing starts at 4 inches of snow, on county roads the county has accepted.
Does Jefferson County plow mountain roads at night?
No. Mountain areas see no plowing from 9 pm to 3 am.
Sources
- Jefferson County snow and ice control
- Park County
- Clear Creek County
- Gilpin County
- Larimer County
- Teller County
- NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normals
Rules, rates and dates change. The county, town or state office named above has the current version.
Go deeper
Where to go next.
The map
Where the mountain towns are.
Every pin opens that town's page. Drive times from downtown Denver, without traffic.
- Front Range foothills
- I-70 corridor
- Peak to Peak
- Summit County
- Resort
- Tap a town to open its page
Outline: U.S. Census Bureau. Roads from downtown Denver: OSRM on OpenStreetMap. Town points: OpenStreetMap and USGS. Drive times without traffic.
Private consultation
Ask us about your mountain home.
303-955-4220A live person answers. Not a robot, not a phone tree.
- Every mountain town. Evergreen and Conifer to Summit County and Steamboat.
- Wildfire, water, winter. Insurance, well, septic and access checked before you offer.
- One point of contact. From the first call to the closing table.
Colorado Mountain Home Finder is part of the Kenna Real Estate Group at Keller Williams DTC (KWDTC).