Yakima, WA Parking Rules: Snow Removal Parking Rules (2026)

Yakima's sidewalk snow-removal rule sits in YMC Chapter 8.88 (Snow and Ice Removal). Every owner or occupant of any property located within the city which is adjacent to a public sidewalk is responsible for the removal of snow and ice which may fall or accumulate on the sidewalks immediately adjacent to the primary entrance of said property. Property owners or occupants must make a reasonable effort to have the sidewalks immediately adjacent to the primary entrance cleared of snow and ice by nine a.m. of every day after snowfall - a notably stricter window than the twenty-four-hour rule used in many other cities. In the event snow and ice accumulates so that it is not practical to remove, the owner or occupant must provide for the dispersal of sand or other suitable material upon said sidewalk to allow safe use, recognizing that during heavy storms complete removal may not be feasible. It is a civil infraction to place snow and/or ice removed from sidewalk areas into the public rights-of-way, alleys, city streets, pathways or thoroughfares - shoveling snow back into the street is independently prohibited because it impedes plow operations and creates a hazard. If a sidewalk is not cleared by nine a.m. the next morning after a snowfall, the responsible owner or occupant may be assessed a civil infraction fine of up to fifty dollars, and each day is a new infraction, so persistent non-compliance can accumulate quickly. On the city-controlled side, Yakima Streets and Traffic Operations runs a tiered snow-and-ice control program covering arterials, collectors, school bus routes, and residential streets in priority order. Enforcement of the sidewalk rule is by Yakima Code Compliance and Police; report concerns through the City of Yakima or via the Yakima Police Department non-emergency line at (509) 575-6200.