Snow removal in Medina County, Ohio, covers driveways, parking lots, sidewalks and salting in every city, village and township in the county. Send one request and a local contractor who works your part of the county follows up with a quote.
Medina County had 182,470 residents at the 2020 census, with the county seat in Medina and Brunswick as the largest city. Wikipedia lists four cities (Brunswick, Medina, Wadsworth and part of Rittman), seven villages and 17 townships across about 423 square miles, and the Census Bureau keeps current figures on its Medina County QuickFacts page.
That spread runs from suburban subdivisions near the Cuyahoga County line to farm townships along the Wayne County line, so snow work here ranges from two-car driveways and retail lots to long rural lanes. The town pages below cover each community's own rules, and this page covers what is true county-wide: who plows which road, where the heavier snow falls and how to get alerts.
Cities and communities served in Medina County
Does northern Medina County get more snow?
Northern Medina County generally gets more snow than the south. The Medina County Engineer says areas north of State Route 18 usually see more snow than areas south of it, and that flat, open ground is prone to blowing snow drifting back onto roads.
Forecasters at News 5 Cleveland and Cleveland 19 place northern and central Medina County in Northeast Ohio's secondary lake-effect snowbelt, with the heaviest lake-effect coming on winds straight from the north. Towns such as Brunswick, Hinckley and Valley City sit in that northern band, while Seville and Lodi are well to the south.
Who plows which roads in Medina County?
Each kind of road has its own crew, and none of them clear private property. Here is how the county splits it up:
- County roads (323 miles): the Medina County Highway Department, under the County Engineer, 330-764-8780.
- Township roads (about 500 miles across 17 townships): each township's road or service department, answering to its trustees.
- City and village streets: that city or village.
- State routes and interstates: the County Engineer directs these to ODOT, 330-723-0091.
- Driveways, parking lots, private roads and walks: the property owner, association or tenant, usually through a private contractor.
The county repairs or replaces a mailbox damaged by a county plow, or pays up to $35 for materials. Townships set their own mailbox rules, so check your town's page. Mileage figures come from the County Engineer.
Are there local snow rules to know about in Medina County?
Snow rules are set town by town, not county-wide. The City of Medina requires owners and occupiers next to a sidewalk to keep it free from snow, and Brunswick requires private plow contractors to register with the city each season.
Seville bans street parking during a declared snow emergency, Montville Township restricts street parking during general snow emergencies, and Hinckley Township has a three-inch snow ban on township roads. Each town page lists its rule with the source.
About Medina County
Medina County was created in 1812 and organized in 1818, and it is named for Medina in Saudi Arabia. The land was part of the Connecticut Western Reserve, bought by the Connecticut Land Company in 1795, and Lodi, first settled as Harrisville in 1811, is described as the county's oldest settlement.
Today the county is part of the Cleveland metropolitan area, bordered by Cuyahoga County to the northeast, Summit to the east, Wayne to the south, Ashland to the southwest and Lorain to the northwest. I-71, I-76 and I-271 cross it, with I-71 meeting I-76 at Seville and I-271 beginning at I-71.
Wikipedia's 2020 list of top employers is led by Westfield Insurance, Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital and Medina County government, followed by school districts, MTD Products, Sandridge Food Corporation, Discount Drug Mart and Carlisle Brake and Friction. Those employers need lots and walks open on storm mornings, the same as the county's homes.
The Medina County Park District, set up in 1965, manages 6,353 acres in 18 parks and trails. The County Engineer's warning about wind-blown snow applies most on flat, open ground, such as the drained Harrisville Swamp farmland south of Lodi.
Weather and climate in Medina County
Medina County has a humid continental climate, with no long-term NOAA snowfall normal published for the county itself. The two nearest airport stations bracket it: Akron-Canton (CAK) averages 47.2 inches a season and Cleveland Hopkins (CLE) averages 63.8 inches under the 1991 to 2020 normals, each with about 45 days of measurable snow (Current Results, NOAA data).
January is the snowiest month at both stations, with 13.4 inches at CAK and 18.4 at CLE. Within the county, the County Engineer uses State Route 18 as the practical split, with more snow generally falling north of it. The NWS Cleveland snowfall climatology has the station records.
ZIP codes and area codes in Medina County
ZIP codes served (each opens in Google Maps):
Area codes: 330, 234, 440, 436
Snow Removal services in Medina County
Commercial Snow PlowingParking lots, retail plazas, office lots and drive lanes plowed at the snow depth you choose.Commercial Snow Plowing details
Driveway Snow PlowingResidential driveways plowed after each snowfall, per visit or on a seasonal plan.Driveway Snow Plowing details
Salting and De-IcingRock salt and ice melt applied to lots, drives and walks to prevent and break up ice.Salting and De-Icing details
Sidewalk Snow RemovalPublic sidewalks, entrances, steps and ramps shoveled or blown clear and treated.Sidewalk Snow Removal details
HOA and Subdivision Snow RemovalPrivate subdivision roads, condo lots, mailbox areas and common walks for associations.HOA and Subdivision Snow Removal details
Seasonal Snow ContractsOne price for the winter, or per-push rates in writing: compare before the first snow.Seasonal Snow Contracts detailsSnow Removal questions about Medina County
- Who do I call about a snowy county road in Medina County?
- County roads are handled by the Medina County Highway Department under the County Engineer, at 330-764-8780. Township roads go to the township, state routes and interstates to ODOT at 330-723-0091, and private drives and lots need a private contractor.
- Can one contractor handle properties in several Medina County towns?
- Many snow contractors run routes that cross town lines, so a business with lots in Medina, Brunswick and Wadsworth can ask for one quote covering all of them. List every address in the request, with the time each one must be open. See commercial snow plowing.
- Is Ohio's snow and ice liability rule the same across the county?
- Ohio courts have held that property owners generally have no common-law duty to remove natural accumulations of snow and ice, but a local ordinance, a lease or contract, or careless snow removal can change that. Rules differ by city and village, so ask an attorney or insurer about your own property.
- Who can declare a countywide snow emergency in Medina County?
- In Ohio a county sheriff can declare a countywide snow emergency to limit travel. On February 3, 2022, for example, Cleveland 19 reported Medina County under a Level 2 snow emergency. Village and township parking bans are separate rules, so check your town page as well.
- How do I get winter weather alerts for a Medina County address?
- The Medina County Emergency Management Agency runs Medina County Emergency Alerts, a free service that sends calls, texts or emails based on the address you register. Weather warnings are an opt-in choice and go out when your address falls inside a National Weather Service warning. Help with sign-up is at 330-722-9240.
- What happens if a county plow damages my mailbox?
- Call the County Highway Department at 330-764-8780. A representative takes the address and sends someone to check, and the county either repairs the box, replaces it with a standard mailbox and post, or pays up to $35 for materials. City, village and township plows follow their own policies.
- Which part of Medina County gets the heaviest snow?
- The north. The County Engineer says areas north of State Route 18 generally get more snow, and local forecasters put northern and central Medina County in the secondary lake-effect snowbelt. Owners there may want to compare a seasonal snow contract with per-push pricing because storms come more often.
- How much snow does Medina County average each winter?
- The county has no NOAA snowfall normal of its own. The two nearest airport stations average 47.2 inches a season at Akron-Canton and 63.8 inches at Cleveland Hopkins under the 1991 to 2020 normals, so most of the county falls between them, with more north of State Route 18.
- Which ZIP codes are covered in Medina County?
- Requests are welcome from every Medina County ZIP code: 44212, 44215, 44233, 44235, 44251, 44253, 44254, 44256, 44258, 44273, 44274, 44275, 44280, 44281 and 44282. Some of those are post office box ZIPs, so use your street address on the form.
- What area codes are used in Medina County?
- Most Medina County numbers use area code 330 or its overlay 234; zip-codes.com counts 21 county prefixes in that area against 4 in area code 440, which has the overlay 436. Ten-digit dialing has been required for 330 and 234 since 2000, so enter the full number on the form.
- Do Medina County townships plow their own roads?
- Township roads are the job of each township, governed by its trustees, and together they cover about 500 miles. The County Engineer serves as engineer for all 17 township boards. Driveways off township roads are private, which is where driveway snow plowing comes in.
- Who handles snow on I-71, I-76 and I-271 in Medina County?
- Interstates and state routes are ODOT's roads, and the County Engineer sends questions about them to ODOT at 330-723-0091. Businesses along those interchanges still need their own lots cleared, which a private contractor quotes through commercial snow plowing and salting and de-icing.
- Can rural Medina County properties with long lanes request plowing?
- Farms and rural homes in townships such as York, Granger and Guilford can use the same request form. Give the lane length, any gates or turnarounds and where piled snow can go. Open fields mean drifting, so ask how return visits are priced.
- Can homeowner associations in Medina County request snow removal for common areas?
- Associations can request plowing of private streets, clubhouse lots and shared walks on one quote, with each property's details listed. Board members should state who approves extra visits. See HOA snow removal and sidewalk snow removal for what to include.
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Sources: Medina County government · U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Medina County, Ohio · Wikipedia: Medina County, Ohio · Medina County Engineer: highway FAQ · Medina County Engineer · Medina County Emergency Alerts (EMA) · Cleveland 19: snow emergencies, Feb. 3, 2022 · Cleveland 19: the secondary snowbelt · News 5 Cleveland: where the snowbelts are · Snowfall normals (Current Results, NOAA data) · NWS Cleveland: Akron-Canton snowfall climatology · Wikipedia: Akron, Ohio climate · ZIP codes of Medina County · Area code 234 (overlay of 330) · Area code 440 (overlay 436) · Brunswick: snow plow operators · Montville Township service FAQ · Hinckley Township roads and service · Wikipedia: Area codes 330 and 234 (ten-digit dialing)
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