Snow & Sidewalk Clearing
Property Maintenance
Your responsibility to clear snow and ice from sidewalks next to your property, including deadlines after a snowfall and penalties for not clearing.
How Snow & Sidewalk Clearing Rules Differ by Place
Lowell, MA: Lowell Snow and Ice Sidewalk Clearing
Heavy RestrictionsLowell property owners must clear snow and ice from sidewalks abutting their property within a set period after a storm ends, with fines for noncompliance during harsh winters.
Medford, MA: Medford Sidewalk Snow and Ice Removal Deadline
Heavy RestrictionsMedford requires the owner, tenant, occupant or agent of any property abutting a sidewalk to clear snow and ice within eight daylight hours after snowfall stops or a snow emergency…
Somerville, MA: Somerville Snow Sidewalk Clearing
Heavy RestrictionsSomerville requires abutters to clear sidewalks within 6 hours of daytime snowfall ending or by 10 am if the storm ended overnight. Fines escalate and the city can clear and bill the…
Riverside County, CA: Snow Sidewalk Clearing in Riverside County
Few RestrictionsUnincorporated Riverside County has no ordinance requiring property owners to clear snow from sidewalks. Most of the county is low-desert and inland valley where measurable snow is…
Sacramento County, CA: Property Maintenance: Snow Sidewalk Clearing
Few RestrictionsSnow is extremely rare in the Sacramento Valley. No county sidewalk snow removal ordinance exists. Owners must keep sidewalks free of debris and hazards under Streets and Highways Code…
San Bernardino, CA: Sidewalk Clearing Duties in San Bernardino
Few RestrictionsSan Bernardino rarely sees snow, so there is no shoveling ordinance. Owners are still responsible under Streets and Highways Code 5610 for keeping the abutting sidewalk safe and clear…
Snow & Sidewalk Clearing Rules by State
Statewide law governs this topic in many states. Each entry links to that state's full page.
Colorado
Some RestrictionsColorado's Premises Liability Act sets statewide landowner duties regarding snow and ice. Specific clearing timelines remain a local ordinance matter under home rule across Colorado.
Connecticut
Some RestrictionsConnecticut state law shifts liability for sidewalk snow and ice from municipalities to abutting property owners when local ordinances require clearing, establishing uniform statewide…
Illinois
Few RestrictionsThe Illinois Snow and Ice Removal Act shields residential property owners from liability for natural accumulations cleared in good faith, applying uniformly statewide.
Iowa
Some RestrictionsIowa Code section 364.12 universally authorizes cities to require abutting property owners to remove snow, ice, and accumulations from sidewalks. The statute creates statewide tort…
Massachusetts
Some RestrictionsFollowing Papadopoulos v. Target (2010), Massachusetts property owners owe a duty of reasonable care to remove snow and ice. Municipalities may set sidewalk clearing rules.
Michigan
Some RestrictionsMichigan's natural accumulation doctrine generally protects property owners from slip-and-fall liability for snow on adjacent sidewalks, while leaving local snow-clearing ordinances…
Ohio
Few RestrictionsOhio common law gives abutting property owners no general duty to remove natural snow accumulation, though municipalities may impose statutory sidewalk-clearing duties locally.
Cities & Counties with Snow & Sidewalk Clearing Rules
445 locations
California
Massachusetts
Michigan
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