Haltom City, TX Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)

Haltom City, like most North Texas municipalities, does not impose a snow and ice removal duty on private property owners for the public sidewalks adjacent to their lots. Snow and ice events are infrequent in Tarrant County, typically occurring only a handful of days per year during occasional winter storms, and widespread mandatory clearing ordinances are not in place. There is no city ordinance or state law that requires Haltom City residents or businesses to shovel, plow, salt, or otherwise remove snow or ice from public sidewalks. Clearing is voluntary and encouraged for the safety of pedestrians and postal carriers. Property owners who choose to salt or sand should use pet-safe and plant-safe products where possible; calcium chloride and magnesium chloride are less damaging than rock salt to concrete and landscaping. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 75.001 and the limited-duty principle applied by Texas courts reduce exposure for owners who voluntarily attempt to clear. Under Texas law and general premises liability principles, a natural accumulation of ice and snow does not ordinarily create premises liability for the owner absent affirmative conduct that increases the danger. Commercial property owners have a slightly higher duty to invitees on private walks on their own property, such as between the sidewalk and the building entrance or inside shopping center parking lots. The Texas Department of Transportation and Haltom City Public Works clear major thoroughfares and bridges during freezes, focusing on priority routes first. Residents should avoid travel during ice events, and Haltom City typically announces office closures and delayed trash collection via the city website and local news. Broken or heaved sidewalks that create tripping hazards (independent of weather) remain a separate property maintenance issue and may be cited; owners are typically responsible for sidewalk repair abutting their lots in Texas.