Under Cambridge ordinance and MGL c.85 s.5, property owners must clear snow and ice from abutting sidewalks within specified hours after a storm ends. Fines escalate with repeat violations.
Cambridge Municipal Code requires owners and occupants of property abutting a public sidewalk to remove snow within 12 daylight hours after snowfall ends, and ice must be treated with sand or melt within 6 hours. A minimum clear path of at least 42 inches must be maintained, and snow cannot be pushed into the street, bike lanes, crosswalks, curb ramps, or bus stops, which is separately prohibited by MGL c.85 s.5. Corner property owners must also clear curb ramps. Fines start at $50 for residential violations and $100 for commercial, escalating per day until corrected. The Department of Public Works maintains a map of priority sidewalks and may abate failures and bill the owner.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Cambridge, MA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
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