Allentown, PA Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)
Key Facts
- Clearing deadline
- 10 hours after snow/sleet/rain stops
- Minimum cleared width
- 3 feet
- Base ticket fines
- $25 or $100
- Late penalty (days 11-20)
- $10 or $25 added
- Citation fine after 20 days
- Up to $1,000
- Appeal window
- 10 days to Bureau of Recycling and Solid Waste
Summary
Allentown property owners must clear snow and ice from the sidewalk within 10 hours after snow, sleet or rain stops falling, as measured by the National Weather Service at ABE Airport. A three-foot-wide cleared path satisfies the duty, and violators face escalating fines under Chapter 545.
All persons owning, controlling or occupying any private property, premises, lot or tract of land adjoining or fronting upon any of the streets of the City shall remove snow and ice from the sidewalk area or footway of such premises within 10 hours after it shall have ceased snowing, sleeting or raining as reported by the National Weather Service at the ABE Airport. It shall be considered compliance with this section if a cleared portion three feet in width shall have been made upon such sidewalk or footpath.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4995055; v49 updated 2026-06-26; through 06-26-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 545-3 of the Codified Ordinances places the clearing duty on every person owning, controlling or occupying private property that adjoins or fronts a City street. The clock starts when snowing, sleeting or raining ceases, not when the storm began, and compliance requires only a three-foot-wide cleared portion of the walk, not the full width. The ordinance also bars two related dumping practices: no one may shovel snow from private property into the street right-of-way, and no one may push sidewalk snow into the portion of the street used for vehicle travel.
D suspends the removal duty in areas where curbside parking is prohibited, unless the spot is a travel lane or there is no private property available to receive the cleared snow. Enforcement runs through the Bureau of Recycling and Solid Waste and public officers, who issue a notice of violation or a violation ticket under Section 545-6. Section 545-8 lets a ticketed owner appeal to the Bureau of Recycling and Solid Waste within 10 days, where a Hearing Officer working with the Bureau of Engineering can uphold, deny or modify the ticket and any associated fine.
Violations & Fines
Tickets run $25 or $100. Paying within 10 days and waiving a hearing satisfies the violation in full. Miss that window and a $10 penalty (on the $25 ticket) or $25 penalty (on the $100 ticket) attaches for days 11 through 20; nonpayment past 20 days triggers a citation carrying a fine of up to $1,000 under Section 545-10. Each day a violation continues can be charged as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of the sidewalk do I have to clear?
Can I push snow into the street?
What happens if I ignore the first ticket?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Allentown
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