Snow Removal and Lawn Care in Decorah, Iowa

Decorah asks owners to clear sidewalks within 24 hours after a snow event, and declares a snow emergency automatically when an inch or more falls.

What the City of Decorah says about sidewalks

• Clear sidewalks within 24 hours following a snow event.
• Don't push snow into the street, alley or a parking lot.
• These points come from the city's snow removal FAQ, posted in 2022.

Street parking and plowing

• A snow emergency is automatic when 1 inch or more of snow falls.
• The city uses even/odd parking rules during snow removal; see the city FAQ for which side to park on.

Hiring help in Decorah

If you hire a company, make sure the agreement covers the public sidewalk (and, on a corner lot, the side walk and curb ramps), says how soon they'll come after the snow stops, and matches the city's deadline above. Ask what de-icer they use: Iowa State University Extension says rock salt works best above 15°F and that salt buildup can injure turfgrass, trees and shrubs. Our guide to choosing a snow removal company has a full checklist.

Iowa has no state license for snow removal. For lawn treatments, anyone in the business of applying pesticides (including weed and insect control) to other people's property needs an IDALS commercial applicator license; each listing below shows what we could verify.

We list only companies we could verify on their own websites, so this list is short. If you know a local company we've missed, it can be added once its own site shows it serves Decorah and offers snow removal or lawn care.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to clear my sidewalk in Decorah?

Within 24 hours following a snow event, according to the City of Decorah's snow removal FAQ.

When is a snow emergency declared in Decorah?

The city's FAQ says a snow emergency is automatic when 1 inch or more of snow falls, and explains its even/odd parking rules.

Does a lawn care company in Decorah need a license?

Not for snow removal or mowing: Iowa has no state license for those. A company that applies fertilizer with weed control, insect control or other pesticides to your lawn needs an IDALS commercial applicator license. Each listing on this page says whether we found a matching, unexpired company record.

Guides for Decorah homeowners

• Hiring helpHow to Choose a Snow Removal Company in IowaPer-push vs. seasonal snow removal, what to get in writing, red flags from the Iowa Attorney General, and why snow removal needs no state license in Iowa.Read the guide →
• Lawn careHow to Protect Your Lawn From Salt Damage This WinterHow de-icing salt hurts Iowa lawns and shrubs, which ice melts do less damage, how much to use, and how to flush salt in spring, from ISU Extension.Read the guide →
• Lawn careHow to Winterize Your Lawn in IowaISU Extension's fall lawn calendar for Iowa: final mowing height, when to stop mowing, late-fall fertilizer, broadleaf weeds, leaves and snow mold.Read the guide →
• Snow removalSnow Removal in Des Moines: Sidewalk Rules, Plowing and Getting HelpDes Moines sidewalk snow rules from the city: the 48-hour deadline, penalties, parking during plowing, salt tips and local snow removal companies.Read the guide →
• Snow removalSnow Removal in Waukee: The 24-Hour Rule, Parking Ban and Local HelpWaukee's 24-hour sidewalk snow rule, the snow emergency parking ban, fines in city code, de-icing tips for new concrete, and local snow removal companies.Read the guide →