The principle objective of the Larimer County Snow and Ice Control Program is to provide for safe and efficient travel on Larimer County roads during inclement winter weather.  Snow and Ice control is considered a core Road and Bridge program, vital to the economic and social welfare of the county. 

The basic philosophy and policy governing the Larimer County Snow and Ice Control Program is as follows:

LEVELS OF SERVICE

All of Larimer County's roads are categorized by the level of snow and ice removal efforts which will be devoted to them.  The various levels of service, description of the roadways which fall within that level and the degree of service which will be devoted to snow and ice removal operations on each level are identified below.

1. LEVEL ONE ROADS:  This level includes all current county roads (not including subdivision roads) that are school bus routes and/or major commuting routes

• • Level One roads will be plowed and/or sanded/salted in a timely manner so as to provide for the reasonably safe accommodation of school bus and commuting traffic.

2.  LEVEL TWO ROADS:  Level Two roads include all current county mainline roads (not including subdivision roads) that have both historically been, and currently are year-round U.S. rural mail routes with daily mail delivery service.  Seasonal or otherwise occasional mail delivery situations are not included in Level Two roads. 

• • Level Two roads will be plowed and/or sanded/salted in time to accommodate mail delivery schedules. 

3. LEVEL THREE ROADS:  Level Three roads are the remaining mainline county roads (not including subdivision roads) which are not included in Level One and Level Two above, or Level Six below. 

• • Level Three roads will be plowed and/or sanded/salted after completion of the Level One and Level Two roads.

4. LEVEL FOUR ROADS:  Level Four roads are those roads located within county maintained subdivisions. 

• • Level Four roads will only receive snow and ice control services when, in the opinion of the Road and Bridge Director, conditions warrant and then only after the needs of Level One through Level Three roads have been met.

 

5. LEVEL SIX ROADS:  Level Six roads are those county roads which receive no snow and ice control service and are not plowed or sanded/salted during the winter months.

 

Economics require a balance between the level of service provided and resources available to perform the service.  Larimer County’s Snow and Ice Control Program is staffed and equipped to effectively and efficiently respond to the conditions normally expected to occur during the winter months.  When rare severe winter storm events occur that are beyond those normally expected, services may be delayed.  During these severe storm events citizens are encouraged to limit travel on the County’s road system. 

When extreme weather conditions exist with heavy snow, high winds, extremely low visibility, etc. Larimer County may close roadways or cease maintenance operations until conditions improve. This will be at the discretion of the Road and Bridge Director.

 

HOURS OF SERVICE

Snow and ice control services will be provided during the following hours of service

• Monday – Friday                                             4:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays                4:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Monday – Sunday (Nighttime Service)          8:30 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.

Nighttime snow and ice control services are very limited and will only be routinely provided on the following roads (in no particular order or priority): 

County Road Number	Alias	From	To
County Road 19	Taft Hill/Wilson	County Road 28	County Road 34
County Road 17	Shields/Taft Ave.	County Road 28	County Road 34
County Road 38E		County Road 19	County Road 27
County Road 23	Centennial Dr.	County Road 38E	County Road 42C
County Road 42C		County Road 23	County Road 21
County Road 28	57th Street	HWY 287	County Road 11C
County Road 11C		County Road 28	County Road 30
County Road 30		County Road 11C	I-25 Frontage Road
County Road 54G		HWY 287	HWY 287
County Road 19	Taft Hill Road	County Road 48	County Road 72
County Road 48	Vine Drive	County Road 19	County Road 17
County Road 17	Shields Street	County Road 48	County Road 54
County Road 54	Douglas Road	County Road 17	HWY 1
County Road 15		HWY 1	County Road 70
County Road 64		County Road 15	County Road 9
County Road 72	Owl Canyon Road	HWY 287	County Road 19
County Road 70	Owl Canyon Road	County Road 19	I-25
County Road 17	Taft Ave.	County Road 14	County Road 16
County Road 5 (Portions)		County Road 30	HWY 14
County Road 26	Crossroads Boulevard	County Road 3	County Road 1
County Road 1	County Line Road	HWY 34	County Road 26

 

Larimer County will not respond to requests for nighttime snow and ice control services for locations other than those identified above unless that request is from a law enforcement or emergency management agency in support of an active emergency response situation.

1. At a minimum, Larimer County will normally apply de-icing/traction material on steep hills, curves and at intersections.  Additionally, special attention will be paid to school zones, acceleration/deceleration lanes, heavy traffic areas, and other areas with known problems.  Continuous application of de-icing/traction material will only be done, when in the opinion of the Road and Bridge Director, it is necessary to provide a reasonably safe driving surface for the average motorist or it is deemed a cost or schedule advantage.  The application of de-icing/traction material may be suspended during periods of heavy snowfall because the material is quickly covered and may be removed as additional plowing occurs.

2. Postal regulations require residents to clear snow in front of mailboxes to allow for mail delivery.  When deemed necessary by the Road and Bridge Director, Larimer County will address problem areas such as access to mailboxes only after the weather event has ended and all Level 1-4 roads are open to traffic. 

3. Given the vast expanse of Larimer County and the possible diverse weather conditions, all motorists are expected to have their vehicles equipped with adequate snow tires and/or tire chains, warm clothes, water, blankets and food during inclement weather.

4. In order to achieve the Levels of Service described above, snow and ice control equipment must remain active on each snow route.  Therefore, as a matter of practice, Larimer County will not provide towing services for private vehicles which are stuck in the snow or have run off the road.  Motorists are expected to engage the services of a commercial tow company to assist in freeing the vehicle. 

In rare circumstances, such as when the road is entirely blocked by a stuck vehicle or the safety of the motorist is in question if assistance is not provided, Larimer County may provide assistance with towing if requested by the motorist.  Prior to towing assistance being provided, the motorist will be required to sign a Release of Liability form provided by Larimer County.

5. Larimer County will not be responsible for any damage to newspaper delivery boxes, or mailboxes unless they are physically struck by County equipment.  It is the property owners responsibility to ensure that paper boxes and mailboxes are properly placed and marked and are sturdy enough that they will not be damaged or destroyed by snow being thrown from passing snowplows.

6. Colorado Revised Statute 43-5-301 prohibits plowing, blowing, shoveling, storing or otherwise depositing snow from private properties onto or across a public road or right-of-way; including the roadside ditch.  Property owners, renters, and private snow removal operators are expected to store snow from driveways, sidewalks and parking lots on the property and not in the roadway or the right-of-way.  This practice reduces hazards on the roadway and helps to ensure proper drainage into the storm sewer system when the snow melts.  Violations are considered misdemeanors, but civil penalties may also apply if the placement of snow creates a hazard to motorists or pedestrians such as slippery areas; frozen ruts or bumps; drainage problems; drifting; sight obstructions; and hindered accessibility.

7. Larimer County will not plow private roads or private driveways except in the case of a life-threatening emergency.  Snowed-in Larimer County residents who experience a life-threatening emergency should call 911.  The Larimer County Sheriff’s Department will work with Road and Bridge to get emergency vehicles through. 

8. Larimer County assumes no responsibility for the removal of snow deposited in or across driveways as a result of snow removal operations.  A windrow or berm of snow may be deposited in or across driveways both during initial plowing operations and again during widening and mop up operations. 

9. Decisions regarding a change in winter service level will be made by the Road and Bridge Director.  Consideration of requests for change will only occur when submitted via a completed “Request For Change Of Winter Service Level” form.  Forms are available from the Road and Bridge Department. 

 

Snow Emergency

A snow emergency is a declaration by the Board of County Commissioners in concert with the County Manager, Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, Larimer County Office of Emergency Management, and the Road and Bridge Department. 

A snow emergency may be declared in all; or specific areas of the County.  During a snow emergency, all roadways within the declared area, are closed to non-emergency personnel.  No one should be driving during these conditions unless it is absolutely necessary to travel or a personal emergency exists.  Those traveling on roads may face life threatening conditions and could be subject to prosecution.

During a Snow Emergency, snow removal operations will be limited to those roads identified on the Emergency Snow Route Map.  Normal Levels of Service do not apply during a Snow Emergency.

During a Snow Emergency, all available resources will be utilized to service those roads identified on the Emergency Snow Route Map before resources are diverted to the remaining County Roads. 

Larimer County Road and Bridge will work closely with the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office to support emergency response operations throughout the County.

 

This policy was initially approved by the Board of Larimer County Commissioners on January 2, 1990 and last approved for revision on October 10, 2022.