Use the Who Plows my Street web page to determine if the County is responsible for treating (plowing or salting) your street. 

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation Highway Services Division is responsible for maintaining over 5,000 lane miles in Montgomery County. However, other County departments, outside agencies, and governmental jurisdictions or municipalities also have responsibility for treating and plowing roads, driveways, parking lots, sidewalks, etc.... Visit the Who Else Clears Snow web page for more information.

All Interstates and State maintained numbered roads such as I-270, US 29, MD 97, or MD 355 are cleared by the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA). Check the Maryland State Highway Administration web site for information about snow removal status.  Submit an online Service Request to the Maryland State Highway Administration or call them at 301-513-7300.

All State-maintained (numbered roads) in the County are cleared by the Maryland State Highway Administration. Other departments, outside agencies, and governmental jurisdictions also have responsibility for plowing. They include the Montgomery County Department of Transportation's Transit Services Division, which clears the busiest bus shelters and stops; the Montgomery County Board of Education; the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission; the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro); municipalities and homeowner’s associations. Commercial parking lot owners plow their own properties and are prohibited from moving snow into the street. Visit the  Who Else Clears Snow web page for more information.

Yes. Before the snow falls, emergency and major roadways are pretreated with salt brine, a solution of salt and water. Salt brine prevents ice and frost from forming, makes snow removal easier and reduces the amount of salt needed to treat pavement after the snowfall. During the snowstorm, plowing begins when there is 3 inches of snow on the streets. To view a chart detailing the County's snow response plan see the  Winter Weather Operations Response Plan web page.

When the snow starts to fall, the County will treat (salt) bridges, elevated roadways, major County roads and primary routes. Once the snow accumulates to 3 inches or more, the County will begin to plow roads and will continue salting operations. 

All major County roads and primary routes are continuously plowed, salted, and kept clear to bare pavement while it's snowing. This ensures that, in case of an emergency, every County resident is within one-half mile of a cleared road. Neighborhood streets are not plowed until the snow ends.

Crews ensure all County emergency roads and primary routes are cleared to bare pavement in order to provide emergency access to neighborhoods. Once emergency and primary routes are clear, then residential or neighborhood streets are plowed with at least one pass and spot sanded as necessary. Residential streets are made passable, but are not cleared to bare pavement. Crews also spread abrasives on hills, intersections on residential streets, and on roads around schools, and clear storm drains.

The goal is to make neighborhood or residential streets passable, not necessarily to clear them to bare pavement.

Crews work continuously around the clock until all 5,000 lane miles of County-maintained streets are passable. The type of snow (wet or powdery), pavement temperature, ambient air temperature, neighborhood characteristics, and wind conditions affect how quickly snow can be removed. Here are some general guidelines:

• It takes about 16 hours following the end of a three-inch snowfall to plow and/or treat every County road once
• After a 10-inch snowfall, you can expect major County roads to be cleared within 24 to 36 hours. At that time, one pass should have been made through neighborhood streets
• After a 15-inch snowfall, crews should complete snow plowing in about 35 to 40 hours
• After a 24-inch snowfall, crews should complete the work in about 48 to 60 hours

Go to the County's Storm Operations Status web page or call 311 or (240-777-0311).

Go to the  Storm Operations Status web page to determine if your street and/or service area has been plowed. If the status indicates that your street or service area has been completed, but you believe your street has been missed, submit a missed street service request by clicking the Submit a Missed Street button. 

Prominent red and white signs designate certain roads as snow emergency routes that must be kept clear throughout storms for police, fire, and other emergency vehicles. Both the State of Maryland and Montgomery County have snow emergency routes and, by listening to news broadcasts, you can find out when a snow emergency plan has been declared. Note that the State and County do not always declare snow emergencies at the same time. 

When the State or County designate a snow emergency, it's illegal to drive without snow tires, mud/snow radials or chains or to park on snow emergency routes.

Major arterial roads connecting subdivisions or business districts, such as Democracy Boulevard or Shady Grove Road.

Main collector streets through subdivisions, such as Lamberton Drive, Dufief Drive, and Flower Hill Way.

All other side streets that are County-maintained and are not designated as an emergency or primary route.

The County has a workforce of 200 employees with 175 pieces of snow removal equipment that can be immediately expanded to include contractors with additional equipment, depending on the need. Staff work around the clock until all County maintained streets are passable. 

Call the Police and Fire Departments at 911 only in life-threatening emergencies or for emergency Fire and Rescue services. The Police and Fire Departments will contact the Highway Services Division if an emergency vehicle needs assistance to maneuver on a snow or ice-covered street.

Call 311 (240-777-0311) or the Police Non-Emergency Number at 301-279-8000.

County Code Sec. 49-17 requires residential, commercial, and of multi-unit apartment building property owners to clear their public sidewalks, driveways, and entrances within 24 hours of the end of a snowstorm. MCDOT also clears more than 60 miles of sidewalks along County-owned right-of-ways. Help keep our communities and neighbors safe by doing your part. If your neighbor is elderly or disabled, you can assist them by clearing their sidewalks and checking on them during storms. Residents who wish to report an unshoveled sidewalk can call 311 (240-777-0311). Reports must include an exact address.

You may submit MC311 service requests to:

• Report property damage (i.e... damaged driveway, fence, or vehicle) believed to be caused by a County snow plow
• Report a damaged mailbox believed to be caused by a County snow plow
• Report grass damage due to a snow plow

Please review the County's Snow Removal Claims Guidelines prior to submitting your service request.

Try to wait to shovel the end of your driveway until crews have made one pass. We recommend parking your car in your driveway, if you have one. Crews can do a much better job clearing your street of snow without maneuvering around parked vehicles. When shoveling, stand facing the street and shovel snow to the right into the yard instead of into the street. This helps reduce the amount of snow the plow may re-deposit across driveway entrances.

Trees that have fallen on utility lines should be reported to the local utility company:

• First Energy/Potomac Edison 1-888-544-4877 (Allegheny)
• BG&E 1-800-685-0123
• PEPCO 1-877-737-2662 (and press two)

Report “hot” wires or sparking wires, especially those across roadways, by calling 9-1-1.

Report downed trees on County property to the County’s Department of Transportation by calling 311 (240-777-0311 from outside the County) or the Police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000. An MC311 customer service request can also be generated on-line by using the links below:

• Tree limb fallen on ground (Non-Emergency)
• Report a downed tree or limb that is blocking a roadway (Emergency)

Trees that have fallen on private property are the responsibility of the property owner.

The County’s Office of Consumer Protection advises homeowners to deal with established tree removal businesses only, and to call Consumer Protection first to check on a business complaint record. Consumer Protection can be reached at 311 (240-777-0311 from outside the County).

Report downed wires, especially if they are "hot" or sparking wires and/or if they are across roadways, by calling 9-1-1.