So over the snow: Your guide to NYC’s post-blizzard clean up
- How to track the snow plows, report an uncleared sidewalk, or become a paid shoveler
No more old-fashioned winters, thanks. We’ve seen enough. A plow digs out a West Village street after a blizzard in 2016.
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A blizzard has frosted the city like a cake with more than a foot of snow but you’re probably thinking about what comes next: When will my street be plowed? How can I dig out my car without killing my back? And what should I do with all the bread and milk in my house?
It can be hard to enjoy snow in New York City when you know all too well what the aftermath looks like: gray, cement-like piles on the sidewalk littered with trash and ugh—dog poop. (Pick up the poop, people. Snow does not magically erase poop.)
But there is something awe-inspiring about today’s storm that commands attention to the here and now. My home overlooks the Prospect Expressway, and instead of the constant sound of vehicles, I hear nothing but the occasional gust of wind. Our house is muffled by snow drifts pressed into the window screens and it feels like we’ve been dropped into a far more northern place on the globe.
The city is also quieter thanks to a ban on non-essential traffic, announced yesterday as part of Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani’s declaration of a local state of emergency. To the delight of public school students, Mayor Mamdani also announced a traditional snow day, meaning no remote instruction, and suspended alternate side parking.
The snow will end soon and the good news is that spring will be here in a month. Here's what else you need to know about recovering from NYC's historic blizzard.
When do I have to clear my sidewalk?
Property owners are responsible for shoveling their sidewalks. If that’s you, you need to clear a path that is at least four feet wide so that pedestrians can safely pass. Remove snow from around fire hydrants and sidewalk curb-cuts—but you’re not supposed to put it in the street. Good luck with finding a place to put it.
When snow stops falling during the daytime, you have four hours to clear your sidewalk or face fines up to $250. There are longer grace periods when the snow stops overnight.
To report a sidewalk that hasn’t been cleared, go to 311 online. And if you want to get paid for being an emergency snow shoveler, pay starts at $19.14 an hour and increases to $28.71 per hour after the first 40 hours worked in a week.
When will my street be plowed?
NYC said it would begin plowing streets at 6 a.m. with sanitation workers working 12-hour shifts; deploying 700 salt spreaders and thousands of plows. According to a statement, DSNY said it has called in hundreds of pieces of hired equipment and thousands of paid emergency snow shovelers, far earlier than in prior snow events, and is using new strategies and data tracking to better clear crosswalks and bus stops.
Want to know more about how plows work, including why plows push snow to the right (to avoid blocking the oncoming left lane) and what snow spreaders are spewing (a mix of rock salt and calcium chloride) check out some snow response FAQs at DSNY. And you can go to PlowNYC for real time information on the last time a plow was on your street.
How do I find someone to dig out my car?
Need help with the back-breaking job of digging out your car? You could post on social media to see if anyone is looking to make some money.
Or you could turn to the apps: Shovler allows you to request on-demand snow removal for your car, driveway, or sidewalk. With TaskRabbit, you can book a "Tasker" for snow removal services, including digging out your car.
When will my trash be picked up?
Because the same sanitation workers plowing the streets are responsible for picking up your trash, recycling and composting, collection will be delayed following this storm. DSNY is asking residents with Monday recycling to hold materials for the following week. Follow DSNY on social media to stay up to date: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, and Twitter/X.
How do I keep my floors clean?
If you’re not already enforcing a shoe-free apartment, a NYC snowstorm may make you a convert, unless you like cleaning up wet snow and salt-coated shoe prints. A large baking sheet near your door works great to catch melting ice from your boots.
What to do with all the bread and milk?
If you succumbed to panic shopping for bread and milk your best bet is make french toast but do yourself a favor and trying baking it on a sheet pan in the oven. I promise it will turn out great and is much easier than cooking it on top of the stove. Work smarter not harder.
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