Tacoma

Location

Washington

Pierce County

About

Tacoma’s hilly grid rises from Commencement Bay through the North End, Stadium District, Proctor, and Hilltop, and that elevation change is exactly what makes its occasional snow tricky. Marine air off the bay keeps most winters mild, but when cold does settle in, the steep residential streets near Point Defiance Park and the bluffs above the water hold ice long after flatter neighborhoods have cleared, so our snow and ice work here is as much about grade as it is about accumulation.

We provide plowing, shoveling, ice melt application, and de-icing across Tacoma’s neighborhoods and commercial corridors, from Proctor and Stadium District business blocks to South Tacoma retail lots and the sloped driveways of North End homes, keeping steep approaches and shaded steps passable during a cold snap.

Snow and ice in Tacoma, by the numbers

5.6 insnow in an average season

1.6days a year with 1 in or more of snow

31freezing nights, Oct–Apr

1.57plow events in an average season

3.05light-snow days that need deicing

Biggest storms since 2005

Feb 12–15, 2021: 11.0 in total, 6.0 in on the biggest day
Jan 15–20, 2012: 10.7 in total, 4.5 in on the biggest day
Feb 8–12, 2019: 9.7 in total, 5.0 in on the biggest day

Tacoma sidewalk rule: It shall be the duty of every person having charge or control of any premises located within the City of Tacoma to remove or cause to be removed from the public walks along the side or in front of the premises all snow or ice which may have formed or been… TMC 9.16.050

NOAA station records and NWS reports, 2005-2026.

Snow removal prices in Tacoma

Starting prices for Tacoma (travel zone C). Final price depends on size, slope and snow depth.

Homes

Two-car driveway incl. front walk and steps, per visit	from $330
Single-car driveway incl. front walk and steps, per visit	from $220
Deicing application, per visit	from $100
Seasonal plan, two-car (up to 4 visits)	from $825
Seasonal plan, single-car (up to 4 visits)	from $550
Ice plan add-on, per season	from $365

Prices approved Oct 2026. See your city's page for its exact prices.

Businesses and HOAs

Plow truck with driver (Ram 3500)	$250 / hour
Plow and spreader truck with driver (Ram 5500)	$325 / hour
Compact track loader with operator (Kubota SCL1000)	$175 / hour
Crew member (shoveling, sidewalks, hand work)	$110 / person-hour
Ice melt, bagged	$45 / 50 lb bag
Bulk salt, applied	$300 / ton
Trip charge for Tacoma (zone C)	$350 / dispatch

Prices approved Oct 2026. See your city's page for its exact prices.

Seasonal plans are priced from Tacoma's snow history: about 1.57 plow visits in an average season.
Visits beyond a plan's limit are half the per-visit price.
Service starts at 1 inch of accumulation.

Popular services in Tacoma

Local Notes

The Pierce County seat and a major port city on Commencement Bay of Puget Sound.

Site Conditions

Tacoma’s terrain ranges from near-sea-level flats along Commencement Bay to steep hillside streets in the North End and above the Narrows, so grade drives everything: sloped driveways and stairways refreeze on shaded pitches, and freeze-thaw cycles glaze the older brick and concrete common in the Stadium District. Snow stays occasional, but ice lingers on north-facing hills.

Seasonal Considerations

Winter storms here are infrequent but can hit the hills harder than the waterfront, so we watch the elevation bands across the city and time our response to the steepest, most shaded streets first. After the snow, marine fog and long lows keep sloped pavement slick, making repeat de-icing on Tacoma’s hillside driveways more important than sheer plowing volume.

Common Project Types

Common jobs include clearing steep North End and Proctor driveways, treating storefront walks in the Stadium and Old Town districts, plowing South Tacoma commercial lots, and hand-clearing the many stairways and terraced entries that come with Tacoma’s hillside lots. Seasonal ice management covers the recurring refreeze on shaded grades.

Property Styles

Tacoma’s housing runs from historic North End homes with terraced steps to condos, townhomes, and mixed-use buildings downtown, so we adapt to narrow hillside driveways, shared stairs, and larger commercial frontages alike, using smaller equipment where the grade and older pavement demand a lighter touch.

Local Materials & Plants

On Tacoma’s older concrete and brick we favor a magnesium chloride blend that is gentler on aging surfaces and the mature street trees around Wright Park, and we keep spread rates low near heritage plantings. Plow paths are marked to protect the terraced garden beds and lawn edges on the hillside lots common in the North End.

Planning Your Project

We map each Tacoma property by grade and exposure, scheduling the steepest, most shaded driveways and stairways first and pre-treating hillside approaches before a forecast freeze. For commercial clients in Proctor and downtown we log entrance priorities and ice-melt storage points so crews move efficiently once a storm arrives.

Snow removal in Tacoma: common questions

How much does snow removal cost in Tacoma?

For homes, a single-car driveway with front walk and steps starts at $220 per visit. A two-car driveway starts at $330. Deicing starts at $100 per visit. Businesses and HOAs are billed hourly, and Tacoma is travel zone C, with a $350 trip charge per dispatch.

How much snow does Tacoma get in a typical winter?

Tacoma averages 5.6 in of snow a season, and only 1.6 days a year reach 1 in or more. There are about 31 freezing nights from Oct to Apr. The biggest storm since 2005 was Feb 12-15, 2021, with 11.0 in total.

What is the sidewalk snow rule in Tacoma?

Tacoma Municipal Code TMC 9.16.050 sets a deadline of 24 hours for sidewalk clearing. Our crews can handle walks and steps for homes, and crew members for businesses and HOAs are $110 per person-hour. Service starts at 1 inch of accumulation. Call 206-809-9669 to arrange it.

Should I choose a seasonal plan or pay per visit in Tacoma?

Seasonal plans are priced from Tacoma's history of about 1.57 plow visits in an average season. A single-car plan starts at $550 and a two-car plan at $825, each for up to 4 visits. Extra visits cost half the per-visit price. Call 206-809-9669 for a quote.

Plan ahead for Tacoma’s hill-and-bay winters with snow and ice service tuned to steep North End grades and shaded downtown walks, so an occasional cold snap doesn’t leave your slopes and stairways glazed over.

206 809 9669