Borough of Carlisle Snow & Ice Procedures

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the snow plow get to my street?

It is not possible to give a definitive answer to when the plows will be on your street, but you can be assured that crews will continue to work to make all roads safe and passable.

Plowing begins once there is at least two inches of snow on the ground. It takes approximately eight hours for Borough crews to complete the plowing of two lanes of traffic over the entire Borough street network. The primary roadways that carry traffic to and through the Borough are addressed first. Next will be secondary routes, courts, and cul-de-sacs, followed by Borough-owned buildings and parking facilities. Avenues are then addressed.

Once all Borough streets are open to traffic, crews will work to plow each street back as close to the curb as possible. This may take an additional six to eight hours. Be patient; crews are working hard and will eventually get to your road.

Who is responsible for removing snow and ice from sidewalks?

In order to promote safe sidewalks during winter months, the owner, occupant, or tenant of every property in the Borough of Carlisle is required to remove all snow and ice from sidewalks with 24 hours from the end of the weather event. The tenant of a property shall be responsible for the removal if the property is a single unit property. In all other situations, the owner is the responsible individual.

Any owner, occupant, or tenant who fails to remove snow and ice within 24 hours may be fined up to $1,000.

Who do we call to report a sidewalk that has not been cleared?

If you see ice or snow that has not been cleared from sidewalks within 24 hours of the storm’s end, please call our Community Development Department at 717-240-6930 and our Codes Officers will investigate.

Why do your plows always push snow into my driveway?

Snow plows are designed to move large amounts of snow quickly-unfortunately they cannot maneuver in such a way to avoid pushing snow at the end of driveways. Our crews are not intentionally dumping snow back onto your cleared driveway. We suggest that whenever possible, you refrain from shoveling until the plows have passed or shovel to the right of the driveway if you are facing the street. This helps reduce the amount of snow pushed back in front of your driveway. This graphic from PennDOT offers suggestions for how to clear your driveway to minimize the amount of snow that may get pushed back in front of your driveway.

snow plow diagram

Why does snow get thrown onto my sidewalk when the plows come through?

As mentioned in the previous question, crews make an effort to plow snow on each street back as close to the curb as possible. Unfortunately, that means that snow may unintentionally get pushed back onto your sidewalk. We recommend clearing your sidewalks after the plows have been through your area.

After the plows came through, there is still snow and/or ice on the road. Why isn't it cleared to the pavement?

When plowing, our goal is to make the roads passable, not to clear them to the bare pavement. Once a street has been plowed and salted, the interaction of the salt and car traffic works to melt the remaining snow cover. Streets with less traffic will remain snow covered longer.

Can I throw the snow I'm shoveling back into the street?

No. Shoveling snow back into the street is prohibited by Borough Ordinance § 223-16.

I live in an apartment complex. Why have you not cleared our area?

The Borough of Carlisle does not clear snow from private property or streets that are not Borough-owned. You must contact your property management company regarding snow removal in these areas.

Is there anything I can do the help out the plowing crews?
  • Please move your vehicle off the street if possible. This allows our crews to get as close to the curb as possible.
  • Remove basketball hoops, recycling containers, and any other obstacles from the curb or driveway entrances.
  • If you spot a fire hydrant covered with snow by your property, you can help us by removing the snow. By helping clear snow around hydrants, it ensures that emergency personnel can access them in the event of an emergency.
  • Snow can clog storm drains, resulting in street flooding during rain events or periods of snow. If you are shoveling and see a blocked storm drain, you can help us by taking the time to clear it. The Borough has 990 stormwater inlets to clear and any assistance during winter weather events is welcomed!
Carlisle Borough Committed to Excellence in Community Service
Carlisle Borough 53 West South Street 717-249-4422 Mon-Fri: 7:30am - 4:30pm