Snow Removal and Ice Control

Snowplowing and ice control on county roads within the City of Lakeville is the responsibility of Dakota County - download their map of county roads and highways (PDF).

Dakota County has 1,100 lane miles of paved roads and plow with 26 tandems, on 13 plow routes. There are times when three blades will also be on those roads.

The Highway Manager/Maintenance Operations will make decisions concerning scheduling and the procedures to be followed for snow and ice removal events. Scheduling and the procedures to be followed will be based upon consideration of the following factors: weather reports, type of precipitation, air temperature, time of year, road surface temperature, time of day, and also past experience in dealing with snow and ice removal.

The County will have available snow and ice removal equipment on the roadways generally by 3 a.m. after an overnight snow or ice even and will have all the lane miles of paved roadway attended to for snow and ice removal at least once by 8 a.m. In addition, the Cedar Avenue Transitway will be attended to for snow and ice by 5 a.m. after an overnight snow or ice event. They will have all available snow and ice removal equipment deployed for snow or ice removal until 5 p.m. following a previous overnight and continual daytime snow or ice event. They will deploy an average of three tandem snowplows between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. following a previous overnight and continual daytime snow or ice event, if conditions warrant.

When there is an accumulation of approximately two or more inches of snow, plowing will begin to keep streets passable. Plowing will follow the annually prepared snow removal and ice control route map (PDF). Although, if icy or rapidly accumulating snow conditions exist, operations may start earlier at the discretion of the Director of Public Works and the Streets Superintendent.

To see locations of plows in real time during a snow event, check out our interactive snowplow map.

For more information on snow removal and ice control on City streets, download our policy (PDF).

The City plows pedestrian sidewalks and trails according to the pedestrian/trail snow removal route maps.

• Streets Department trail snow plowing routes (PDF)
• Parks Department trail snow plowing routes (PDF)

Pushing snow onto sidewalks is an unfortunate consequence of plowing any street, so we ask for your patience with getting certain City sidewalks plowed.

Residents are required to clear sidewalks abutting their property so pedestrians are able to walk safely on these sidewalks. Property owners must remove snow or ice from sidewalks within 48 hours after the last snow or ice has been deposited. Keep in mind, that for long events, snow must be continually removed within 48 hours of the last snowfall. For more information, see City Ordinance 7-3-8.

Snow that accumulates in the downtown area may need to be manually removed. If there is more than 12 inches of snow accumulation in piles, Public Works will schedule a time to remove the piles by pushing the snow out to the street and using snow blowers to load it into trucks.

This typically happens during nighttime hours for pedestrian and vehicle safety. Notifications of this event are placed on the City's social media platforms, as well as on two large digital signs that alert drivers of the ongoing operations on either end of the downtown area.

Inspect your mailbox and post to make sure they are able to survive our Minnesota winters, keeping in mind that snow will be pushed up to them by snowplows that are clearing your street. Is the mailbox secure? Does it lean or extend into the street? Does it have cracks or is it rotting? Download our mailbox installation guidelines (PDF) for information on how to properly install a mailbox.

If one of our snowplows hits your mailbox, it is our responsibility to replace it or reimburse you up to $125 to replace it yourself (within six months of the damage). However, we cannot be responsible for repairs to any mailboxes, posts or paper delivery boxes that are not installed or constructed properly. For more information, download our Mailbox Replacement Policy (PDF).

Only mailboxes actually hit by a City snowplow will be the responsibility of the City to replace or reimburse. We will not be responsible for damage to mailboxes or support posts caused by snow or ice coming in contact with the mailbox.

If your mailbox has been damaged by one of our snowplows, send us an email or call us at 952-985-2710.

Boulevard Turf Repair Practice

1. Damage Reporting

While city plow operators strive to minimize impacts on boulevards, turf damage can occasionally occur during snow removal. Residents are encouraged to report any suspected plow-related damage to the Public Works Department by June 1 of each year.

2. Inspection and Verification

Once the snow has fully melted and the ground has thawed, the City will inspect reported areas. Repairs are typically scheduled for late spring when weather conditions are most favorable for grass growth.

3. Restoration Standards

For verified damage caused by City equipment, the Public Works Department will provide the following restoration services:

• Placement of pulverized black dirt to level the area.
• Application of high-quality grass seed.
• Application of a starter fertilizer to encourage germination.

4. Exceptions

The City does not provide restoration for turf damage caused by salt or de-icing chemicals. Additionally, the City is not responsible for repairing or replacing private installations located within the public right-of-way, including but not limited to:

• Sprinkler heads and irrigation systems.
• Electronic dog fences.
• Any other private structures, landscaping, or utility markers.