When snow is predicted, the Highway Maintenance Division closely monitors weather updates and creates an action plan based on reports from multiple agencies.
Once the plan is in place, county vehicles are dispatched to inspect road conditions. Spot salting is applied to bridges and elevated roadways as necessary. Salt is then applied to all primary and major residential roads in the county, based on the forecast and effectiveness.
During snowfall, county and contract snowplows prioritize keeping primary and major residential roads passable. Plowing typically begins when snow reaches a depth of 1 to 3 inches, especially if conditions suggest little to no melting.
After the snow stops, the focus shifts to clearing the roads down to bare pavement. However, weather conditions such as the type of snow, wind, and temperature can affect the speed of clearing. Even after plowing, areas with compacted snow from traffic may remain, as plows cannot fully remove it. Salt or sand may be applied to improve traction.
We ask for your patience! Roads are cleared based on priority, and the process is reviewed at the end of each season. The Highway Maintenance Division works tirelessly, with over 930 county-maintained roads to clear. Please note that the county does not plow state-owned roads or roads that are privately owned or maintained by homeowner associations (HOAs).
Please allow our staff approximately 12 hours after the last snowfall to clear the roads. If your road has not been plowed after this time, please contact our Highway Maintenance Division at 410-535-0905 or complete the form below. Our crews are working as quickly as possible—thank you for your patience.
Mailboxes damaged by snow displaced during plowing will not be replaced by Calvert County. However, if your mailbox is knocked over or damaged directly by a Calvert County snowplow, it will be replaced with a standard USPS-approved mailbox. Service request for repair or replacement of damaged mailboxes due to snowplowing, mowing or other operations must be received within two weeks of maintenance activity on the road in which damage occurred.
County will not be held responsible for mailboxes which are damaged due to weight of heavy snow whereby the snowplow or county vehicle does not make contact with the mailbox. For detailed information on mailbox policy, view the Calvert County Road Ordinance.
Note: Mailboxes specific to neighborhoods with HOA-required mailboxes cannot be replaced; only standard USPS-approved mailboxes will be installed.
If any object is placed in the County right of way, it is done so at the person’s own risk, as the object may be damaged in the course of Roads maintenance operations. Calvert County Government will not be responsible for sand, salt, snow, or incidental damage to turf, driveways, irrigation systems, or any landscaping improvements, including fencing and invisible dog fences, located within public right-of-ways or easements. Any related repair will be the responsibility of the adjacent property owners and/or occupants. The removal of any snow deposits in driveways and mailbox areas that may result from plowing operations will be the responsibility of the adjacent property owner and/or occupant.
Driveway enhancements, fences, basketball hoops, sports goals, skateboard ramps, wheel stops, boulders, wood landscaping ties, concrete bricks, private signs, sprinkler systems, and all other miscellaneous structures that create a fixed obstruction in the public right of way are prohibited.
Our trucks can't plow if vehicles are parked on the street. The fewer vehicles on the street, the better the job plows can do. It also reduces the chances of your car being plowed in, splashed with salt or damaged. To help prevent delays or vehicle damage, always park your vehicles in the driveway when a storm is predicted!
Clearing snow from driveways, entrances and sidewalks is the responsibility of the property owner. Please note, we cannot plow your driveway. If you have a driveway, please use it. The fewer vehicles on the street, the better the job plows can do. It also reduces the chances of your car being plowed in, splashed with salt or damaged.
To prevent the snowplow from pushing snow back into your driveway after you've cleared it, shovel the snow to the right (while facing the street) onto your yard, not onto the street. Watch the video above to learn more!
Your cooperation helps keep our streets safe and accessible for all. Thank you!
The snow removal section of the Calvert County Sidewalk Policy outlines the responsibilities for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks:
Property Owner Responsibility:
Property owners or occupants must remove snow from the entire length of the sidewalk within 24 hours after a snow event or within 72 hours if there is significant snow (over 4 inches).
Snow can be deposited along the sidewalk near the curb, but owners must ensure it is cleared properly.
County Action:
If snow is not removed within the required time frame, the County will intervene and follow enforcement procedures.
Penalties:
Failure to comply with the snow removal requirement can result in fines. Fines for non-compliance range from $50 for a first violation, up to $100 for subsequent violations, with the County potentially charging for snow removal services after the third violation.
This policy ensures that sidewalks remain safe and accessible during winter weather.