Commercial Snow Removal and Ice Management Across Greater Boston and the North Shore
Leahy Landscaping, Inc. proudly delivers commercial snow and ice removal services to property managers across the North Shore & Greater Boston including Marblehead, Salem, Swampscott, Lynn, Gloucester, Beverly, and surrounding towns.
Our experienced team is on standby 24/7 throughout the winter season, ready to deploy state-of-the-art equipment to keep your property safe and accessible.
We specialize in maintaining corporate campuses and multi-unit residential properties, ensuring the safety of employees, customers, and residents alike.
Our Commercial Snow Services include:
24/7 commercial snow removal and plowing near you
Parking lot snow removal and hauling
Industrial snow plow service for warehouses, schools, and retail centers
Sidewalk and walkway clearing for safe foot traffic
On-call storm response and seasonal snow contracts
Ice Management & Salting Services
Ice management is just as critical as plowing. We offer ice removal services and salting programs designed to reduce slips and liability during winter weather.
Our teams monitor conditions throughout each storm to prevent refreeze and black ice on driveways, walkways, and parking lots.
We offer:
Commercial ice removal and de-icing
Salting services
Ice Management and Prevention
24-hour monitoring during storm events
Snow Shoveling
24/7 Emergency Storm Response
A major New England storm doesn’t wait for business hours, and neither do we. We maintain a 24/7/365 state of readiness with on-call crews and a dedicated storm-watch team.
If your current provider fails to show up or the storm is more than you can handle, our fleet is ready to be dispatched. We offer urgent, one-time emergency snow removal services for commercial properties, HOAs, and industrial lots to clear critical access roads, unblock entrances, and get your operations back online safely.
Sidewalk & Walkway Clearing
A plowed parking lot is only half the job. Your biggest liability risk is often the foot traffic from the car to the front door. We deploy dedicated sidewalk clearing crews who operate separately from our plows to ensure all pedestrian areas are safe and accessible.
Our hand-work and de-icing services focus on:
Storefronts & Main Entrances
Public Walkways & Sidewalks
Stairways & Ramps
Emergency Exits & Fire Escapes
Important North Shore, MA
Snow & Ice Removal By-Laws
Marblehead
In Marblehead, MA, Town By-Law Chapter 162, Article III prohibits any person from depositing “any snow and/or ice on or against … any sidewalk or roadway.” Violators face a penalty of $50 for each offense.
Swampscott
In Swampscott, MA, General By-Laws (Article V, Section 4) state that the owner of any building or lot abutting on a street with a sidewalk must clear snow and ice within 12 hours after the snow ceases for non-residential properties. Placing snow or ice on any portion of a street or sidewalk that has been cleared is prohibited. The penalty: first offense is a warning; second and subsequent offenses: $50.00. (Swampscott, MA General By Laws)
Salem
In Salem, MA, property owners must remove snow and ice from bordering sidewalks within 6 hours after snowfall ends or the town’s snow emergency lights go off, whichever is later. Fines are listed at $25 for first offense, $75 for second, $100 for third+. (Patch.com)
Newburyport
City of Newburyport: Property owners must remove snow and ice from adjacent sidewalks “within six hours after the snowing ends, or before noon if the snow ends during the night.” A fine of $50 per event is specified. (Newburyport Snow & Ice Plan)
Nahant
By-law states that during snow or ice removal on public streets, the town’s Superintendent of Public Works may remove any vehicle interfering; the owner is liable for removal and storage costs. (Nahant Police By Laws)
Manchester‑by‑the‑Sea
Its snow and ice control policy notes that it is against the law (Ch. 85 Sec. 7B and Town by-law Ch. 85 Sec. 5) to push, plow or block sidewalks/roadways when clearing property.
Many cities and towns impose fines or deadlines for snow removal as well. (For example, in Boston commercial sidewalks must be cleared within 3 hours after a storm.) Failing to clear could mean violating local ordinances or state law.
The Real Costs of Skipping Professional Snow Removal
for North Shore, MA Property Managers
Slippery walkways and icy parking lots are a leading cause of winter injuries. According to the CDC, over 1 million Americans are injured every winter from falls on ice and snow, with 17,000+ of those injuries fatal.
For a property manager, one bad fall on your premises can mean a costly lawsuit or workers’ comp claim.
In fact, SFM Mutual Insurance reports “the average winter slip-and-fall lost-time claim to be between $50,000 and $55,000. The costs — direct and indirect — mount quickly and can’t be ignored.”
One legal survey notes typical slip-and-fall settlements average between $10,000 and $50,000. And a study by Zurich Insurance shows the average public claim for snow/ice slip/fall is about $15,132, with the average employee claim about $35,132.
These figures underscore how expensive “going cheap” on snow removal can be if an accident occurs.
Snow-related closures can cost cities and businesses a fortune. Independent economic analysis shows a single snow day costs Massachusetts about $265 million in lost activity—mostly wages—while severe seasons have topped $1 billion in losses.
Keeping up with snow removal keeps tenants, employees, and customers happy – no one wants to trudge through snow or worry about slipping on their way into a store or office.
In short, professional snow services protect the well-being of everyone on the property and the reputation of the property manager.
| Metric | Figure | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual U.S. injuries from snow/ice falls | 1,000,000+ injuries; 17,000+ fatal | High baseline risk; a single incident on your property can be costly. | CDC |
| Average winter slip-and-fall lost-time claim | $50,000–$55,000 | One claim can outweigh a full season’s professional snow contract. | SFM Mutual Insurance |
| Typical slip-and-fall settlement range | $10,000–$50,000 | Even “average” cases are expensive; documentation & prevention matter. | Legal survey |
| Average public slip/fall claim (snow/ice) | $15,132 | Represents non-employee incidents (customers/visitors). | Zurich Insurance |
| Average employee slip/fall claim (snow/ice) | $35,132 | Direct impact on workers’ comp and staffing. | Zurich Insurance |
| Economic cost of a single Massachusetts snow day | $265,000,000 (statewide) | Closures and reduced activity hit revenue; staying open matters. | Independent analysis |
Let’s look more at legal liability protection: Since a landmark 2010 Massachusetts court ruling, property owners can be held liable for injuries caused by snow and ice on their property – gone are the days when you could ignore “natural accumulations.”
The ruling in Papadopoulos v. Target Corp. made it clear that all MA property owners (commercial and residential) have a legal duty to exercise reasonable care in keeping their property safe from snow and ice hazards.
Failing to do so can result in costly lawsuits if someone is injured.
By hiring a professional snow service, you dramatically reduce the chance of accidents and liability on your property.
Snow or ice can shut operations, costing businesses a large share of daily revenue (state-level losses run into hundreds of millions).
Fewer accidents means fewer lawsuits and insurance claims which offers a direct boost to your bottom line and peace of mind.
Just as important, reputable snow contractors document their work (timestamps, logs, or photos), providing evidence that your property was maintained safely. This documentation can be a lifesaver if a liability claim does arise, demonstrating you took “reasonable steps” to keep the premises safe.
Winter Weather Trends: How Massachusetts Snowfall Impacts Operations
The North Shore of Massachusetts is no stranger to harsh winter weather. This coastal region sees significant snowfall each year, alongside the threat of nor’easter storms that can rapidly bury the area in snow. To appreciate why proactive snow removal is so critical here, let’s look at some local climate data and storm history.
Boston-Area Annual Snowfall
North Shore communities typically get anywhere from about 40 to 60 inches of snow per winter on average. For example, Marblehead’s 1991–2020 climate normals show roughly 39 inches of snow annually.
Just a bit north, Newburyport averages about 61.9 inches per year. Salem sits in between with estimates in the ~45–50 inch range. In any case, these figures are well above the U.S. average and even a bit above the Massachusetts state average (~51″). In practice, this means property managers can expect numerous plowable snow events each season – and occasionally extremely snowy winters far exceeding the average (Boston’s record 2014–2015 winter brought over 110″ of snow!).
Simply put, the North Shore gets enough snow each winter that having a removal plan is a necessity, not a luxury.
Frequent Storms and Nor’easters: Coastal Massachusetts often bears the brunt of powerful nor’easters – winter storms with high winds and heavy precipitation.
These storms can unload a month’s worth of snow in a day or two. For instance, at the end of January 2022, a classic nor’easter (dubbed a “bomb cyclone”) struck the region.
The National Weather Service reported widespread totals of 1 to 2 feet of snow across the North Shore in that single weekend storm . Individual town reports included about 20 inches in Marblehead and 26 inches in Swampscott from that event – over two feet in 24 hours!
This level of snowfall can cripple a property if not addressed immediately.
Snow drifts, buried sidewalks, and impassable lots happen fast. And notably, blizzard conditions (high winds + snow) were observed in multiple North Shore locations (Beverly, etc.) during that storm , complicating removal efforts with blowing snow and zero visibility.
For property managers, these kinds of storms underscore why having professional crews on call 24/7 is so important.
When a nor’easter hits, you need all hands on deck to clear continuously and keep ahead of accumulation – which is exactly what commercial snow contractors do.
Customer Reviews
What Sets Us Apart
40+ Years of Local Experience
We’ve been clearing snow across the North Shore since 1984. Our long-term clients in Swampscott, Marblehead, Salem, and Lynn count on us for dependable, professional service every winter.
24/7 Storm Response
Winter storms don’t follow business hours. Our crews are on call day and night with trucks, loaders, and salting equipment ready for fast deployment on Boston's North Shore.
Fully Insured
We’re fully insured and committed to keeping your property compliant, safe, and accessible at all times.
Commercial Snow Coverage
From business lots in Swampscott to large facilities in Lynn, we customize snow management plans that fits your property’s layout, traffic flow, and risk level.
Commercial Snow & Ice Management FAQs
Do you offer 24/7 emergency snow plowing for businesses?
Yes. Leahy Landscaping provides 24/7 commercial snow removal and ice management. Our crews monitor weather systems around the clock. Whether the storm hits at 2:00 PM or 2:00 AM, our trucks are dispatched immediately to ensure your parking lots and walkways are clear and safe before your business opens.
What happens if it snows on a holiday like Christmas?
Snow doesn’t take a holiday, and neither do we. Our commercial snow contracts cover every single day of the winter season, including Christmas, New Year’s, and Thanksgiving. If there is a storm on a major holiday, our crews will be on-site servicing your property as usual.
Do you provide de-icing and salting services?
Yes. Plowing pushes the snow, but ice control keeps the pavement safe. We maintain a fleet of salters fully stocked with bulk salt and treated de-icing agents. We pre-treat surfaces before the storm to prevent ice bonding and post-treat after plowing to melt residual snow, ensuring blacktop visibility.
What areas on the North Shore do you serve for snow removal?
We currently manage commercial snow contracts for properties in Lynn, Swampscott, Marblehead, Salem, Peabody, Danvers, and the surrounding North Shore communities. Our equipment yards are locally staged to ensure rapid response times to these specific towns.
Do you provide commercial snow removal near me?
Yes, if your property sits in one of the communities we cover. On the North Shore: Lynn, Swampscott, Nahant, Marblehead, Salem, Beverly, Peabody, Danvers, Saugus, Lynnfield, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester, Essex, Ipswich, Hamilton, Rowley, Newburyport and Haverhill. We also hold commercial snow contracts in Boston and Cambridge.
Give us the address when you call — (781) 581-3489. If you’re outside the area we’ll tell you.
- Marblehead, MA
- Swampscott, MA
- Nahant, MA
- Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA
- Salem, MA
- Lynn, MA
- Saugus, MA
- Lynnfield, MA
- Newburyport, MA
- Boston, MA
- Cambridge, MA
- Haverhill, MA
- Hamilton, MA
- Danvers, MA
- Saugus, MA
- Beverly, MA
- Peabody, MA
- Rowley, MA
- Wenham, MA
- Ipswich, MA
- Gloucester, MA
