Updated October 25, 2026 · Snow Removal · By Mike Harmon, Owner & Licensed Applicator
If you manage a commercial property in Hamilton County, sign your snow removal contract in October or early November, before the first real snow. Indianapolis averages about 25 inches of snow a year, and most of it falls from December through February. Here's how snow contracts work, what to ask before you sign, and how to keep your lot safe all winter.
Need a snow plan for this winter?
We plow and salt commercial lots, HOA common areas, and apartment communities across Hamilton County.
How Much Snow Hamilton County Gets
The National Weather Service's official snowfall normals for Indianapolis (1991 to 2020) put the yearly average at 25.5 inches:
| Month | Average snowfall |
|---|---|
| November | 0.8 inches |
| December | 6.4 inches |
| January | 8.8 inches |
| February | 6.0 inches |
| March | 3.2 inches |
Those are averages. Some winters bring a handful of small events, and some bring one big storm that dumps half a season's snow in two days. A good contract covers both.
Sign Your Contract Before the First Snow
Snow companies plan their routes and crews before winter starts. Once a route is full, a provider can't add more properties without slowing down everyone already on it. If you wait until the first forecast, you're picking from whoever still has room.
Signing in October or early November also gives your provider time to walk the property and mark curbs, islands, drains, and fire hydrants before snow covers them.
How Commercial Snow Contracts Are Priced
Most commercial snow contracts in our area use one of three setups:
- Seasonal: a fixed price for the whole winter, no matter how much it snows. Your budget is predictable.
- Per push: you pay each time the lot is plowed. You pay less in a light winter and more in a heavy one.
- Time and materials: you pay for equipment hours plus the salt used. This is most common for large or irregular sites.
Salt and sidewalk clearing are often priced separately from plowing, so make sure you know what's included.
What a Trigger Depth Is
The trigger depth is the amount of snow that starts service. A common trigger is 2 inches, but it can be set lower for properties that need to stay clear all the time, such as medical offices and assisted living communities. Sidewalks and salt can have their own triggers. Once snow reaches the agreed depth, crews go out automatically. Nobody has to call.
Salt Has Temperature Limits
Rock salt is the cheapest and most common deicer, but it slows down in deep cold. University and state guidance, including Oklahoma State Extension and Minnesota's pollution control agency, puts rock salt's practical limit at about 15°F, and that's the pavement temperature, not the air temperature. Below that, salt works very slowly. Calcium chloride and magnesium chloride keep working at much colder temperatures.
That's why a good ice plan changes with the weather: treating before a storm so ice doesn't bond to the pavement, salting after the plow, and switching products when it gets very cold. Rock salt is also hard on plants, so keep it off landscape beds and lawns.
Plan Where the Snow Goes
Snow has to be piled somewhere. Decide before winter where the piles go. Keep them away from:
- Storm drains, so meltwater can drain and doesn't refreeze across the lot
- Accessible parking spaces and ramps
- Entrances, fire lanes, and hydrants
- Corners where a pile blocks drivers' view of traffic
Keep Records of Every Visit
Ask your provider to log every visit: the date, time, snow depth, what was plowed, and what was salted. If someone slips on your property, those records show the lot was maintained. Keep your own notes too, especially when you call in an extra visit.
Questions to Ask Before You Sign
- What is the trigger depth for plowing, sidewalks, and salt?
- How soon after the trigger will crews arrive, and will the lot be clear before we open?
- Are sidewalks, entrances, and salt included or extra?
- What products do you use when it's very cold?
- How do you handle weekends, holidays, and overnight storms?
- Do you carry commercial liability insurance? Ask for the certificate.
Commercial Snow Removal FAQ
When should I sign a commercial snow removal contract in Indiana?
In October or early November, before the first real snow. Providers plan routes before winter, and the best ones fill up early.
How much snow does Hamilton County get?
The National Weather Service's normal for Indianapolis is 25.5 inches a year. January averages the most, at 8.8 inches, followed by December at 6.4 and February at 6.0.
What is a snow trigger depth?
It's the amount of snow that starts service, often 2 inches. Once snow reaches it, crews go out automatically without a phone call. It can be set lower for properties that need to stay clear at all times.
Does rock salt work in very cold weather?
It slows down a lot when the pavement is colder than about 15°F. Calcium chloride and magnesium chloride keep working at much lower temperatures.
Do you plow residential driveways?
No. Sprout's snow removal is for commercial properties, HOAs, and apartment communities.
Sprout Lawn & Landscape provides commercial snow removal and year-round grounds maintenance in Noblesville, Carmel, Westfield, Fishers, and surrounding Hamilton County communities. Request a quote or call (317) 900-7151.