Sidewalk Snow Removal Districts Established

Beginning January 3, 2012 property owners within identified snow removal districts will be required to clear the adjacent public sidewalks of snow and ice within 24 hours of a declaration made by the Public Works Director.

After a winter storm, notice that the sidewalk clearance requirements are in effect will be issued through local media outlets and the City's website.

Ordinance Highlights

• Snowfall event--a two-inch snowfall triggers the requirement to remove public sidewalk snow.
• Freezing rain event--property owners are required to remove ice or apply abrasive material after an accumulation of ice, sleet or freezing rain.
• Area of coverage--the ordinance is effective in the University District, Downtown District, and South Philo Road District. (Click here to view the maps or ordinance to see which sidewalks are included.)
• Responsibility--each property owner within the three districts is responsible for snow and ice removal on the public sidewalks adjacent to their property, including sidewalk ramps.
• Clearance width--sidewalks must be cleared to a width of 48 inches or the width of the sidewalk, whichever is less.
• Notification--the Public Works Director shall provide public notice when sidewalks need to be cleared.
• Time to clear--property owners have 24 hours after the announcement by the Public Works Director to clear sidewalks adjacent to their property.  The declaration will typically be made near the completion of City street snow plowing activities.
• Violation--if adjacent property owners fail to comply with the ordinance, the City may clear the sidewalk and bill the property owner, with fines and administrative fees applied.
• Shoveling snow into streets--the ordinance also prohibits the shoveling, blowing or plowing of snow from sidewalks, parking lots and other properties onto City streets.  This prohibition applies city-wide, not just within the defined snow removal districts.