Snow Removal

If City Streets are slick or unsafe due to snowy or icy conditions, please contact the Davis County Sheriff's Office at 801- 451- 4150.  They will dispatch the Fruit Heights City Public Works department.  
Click to read Snow Removal Guide



Overview


The city's goal regarding snow removal is to provide timely snow removal and safe access for residents in the event of severe weather. To accomplish this, we need everyone's assistance and cooperation.

The City of Fruit Heights maintains approximately 25 miles of roads. City streets are maintained by the Fruit Heights City Public Works Department.  Service is provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week. After-hours staff is limited but will respond if dispatched out by the Davis County Sheriff's Office.  The Fruit Heights City staff is committed to providing safety for city and its residents.
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Since safety is the first priority, school zones, steep roads, and main roadways are plowed first. After these areas are cleared, streets are plowed according to volume of traffic, subdivision streets, cul-de-sacs, and then dead-end streets. If the storm is continuous and heavy, the plows will continue to open the main roadways and school zones as necessary, returning to the lower priority streets when possible.  Snow removal can take city crews up to 24 hours after a snow event has ended for some of the less populated city streets.  

Equipment and Materials Used by the City

  • (2) ten wheel dump trucks with sanders and plows.
  • (3) one-ton trucks with sanders and plows.  
  • Salt mixture.

Placing Snow in Roadway

Residents are asked to please refrain from removing snow or ice from individual private property/driveways and placing it back out into the street. This practice makes it difficult to keep roads cleared, and in so doing creates dangerous conditions for all motor vehicles.


Snow Plow Safety

  • Drive slowly and be patient.  
  • Never pass a snow plow by driving on the shoulder or going around a snow plow. Give plow blades plenty of room along the center line of the roadway.
  • Snow plows frequently stop and back up. If you are driving bumper to bumper, you are probably in the snow plow's blind spot, this is an accident just waiting to happen. Give snow plows plenty of room to work in every direction.
  • Driving into the cloud that a snow plow kicks up can make it difficult to see and can create a “whiteout” condition.  PLEASE, be very careful around snow plows.
  • Do not allow children to play on or near the street when snow plowing is in progress.
  • Do not allow children to play on or around the snow piles that are produced during snow removal. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How does the City's street snow removal program work?

A. Fruit Heights' snow removal program is designed to help keep the city's roadways as safe and accessible as possible both during and after snowstorms. Since safety is the first priority, school zones, steep roads, and main roadways are plowed first. After these areas are cleared, streets are plowed according to volume of traffic, subdivision streets, cul-de-sacs, and then dead-end streets. If the storm is continuous and heavy, the plows will continue to open the main roadways and school zones as necessary, returning to the lower priority streets when possible.  Snow removal can take city crews up to 24 hours after a snow event has ended on some of the less populated city streets.  

Q. Are sidewalks plowed by the City?

A. Residents are responsible to clear snow and ice from the sidewalks adjacent to their own properties. This should be done as soon as possible after a storm to allow the sunshine to melt the ice from the sidewalk. Leaving snow on sidewalks to freeze during the night makes it more difficult to remove the ice and creates unsafe conditions for pedestrians. 

Q. The snowplows push snow into my freshly cleared driveway. Isn't there a better way to clear the streets to show some consideration to city residents?

A. Unfortunately, there isn't a better way to clear streets. The snow has to go somewhere, and to make our roads safe, that “somewhere” is the side of the road. Snowplow blades are designed to push snow to the side of the road. Homeowners are asked to wait until the street is cleared prior to cleaning out the drive approach, when possible. Just a reminder that it is illegal to throw or push snow into any street. This can make the road more dangerous for cars and snowplows. You are encouraged to move the snow onto your own property.

Q. Which roads are not plowed by the City?

  • Private roads are to be maintained by the homeowner association or a private entity. (If you have questions regarding whether your street is public or private, contact your HOA or the City of Fruit Heights)
  • State roads are plowed by UDOT (Utah Department of Transportation).
Q. When do plowing and/or salting commence?

  • Snowfall accumulation of two inches or more, or if conditions warrant.
  • Accumulation of drifting snow.
  • Ice and/or freezing rain that affect road conditions.
Once any of these conditions exist, the goal is to have all main roadways plowed within five hours. Intersection cleanup and the plowing back of snow banks occur as needed. Normally, plow operators will begin plowing at 5:00 a.m. to have the major streets plowed before the morning rush hour. If conditions warrant, plow operators may begin to remove snow before 5:00 a.m.