Cleveland, OH Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)

Cleveland Codified Ordinances Section 509.04 declares it unlawful for any owner or occupant of property abutting a public sidewalk to allow snow or ice to remain on the sidewalk in a condition dangerous to pedestrians. Although Cleveland's ordinance does not specify a numerical deadline, the city interprets compliance as removal within approximately 24 hours after the cessation of snowfall, and the Department of Building and Housing applies that standard in enforcement. Owners must clear the full width of the sidewalk and treat ice that cannot be removed with salt, sand, or other abrasive. Pushing or blowing snow into the street is prohibited. Civil slip-and-fall liability is governed by Ohio's "no-duty natural accumulation" rule (Brinkman v. Ross), which generally protects owners from liability for natural snow and ice unless an unnatural accumulation is shown — but commercial owners and those who shovel partially can lose that protection. The city encourages neighbors and family members to assist elderly and disabled residents.