Hamburg Village, NY Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)

The snow rules sit in the Public Sidewalks article of Chapter 203, adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Hamburg. Subsection (E) sets the clock: snow and ice shall be removed within 24 hours after the end of a snowfall. Commercial frontage carries a second, stricter standard. Sidewalks in front of commercial establishments and along commercial parking lots must be kept free of snow and ice at all times between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., with no grace period.

The duty falls on the owner or occupant of the premises fronting or abutting the street (§ 203-26(B)), who is also liable for injury or damage caused by failing to remove snow, ice or other obstruction, or by negligence in doing so.

Subsection (F) covers ice that has frozen so hard it cannot be removed without injury to the sidewalk. Within the same time limit it must be strewn, and kept strewn, with sand, salt or other suitable commercial snow and ice melting products so it is no longer dangerous to life and limb. As soon as practical afterward the sidewalk must be completely cleared of snow, ice and the materials strewn on it.

Where the snow goes matters too. Subsection (C) bars anyone from plowing, shoveling, sweeping or piling snow, ice or other materials in or on a sidewalk, street or public highway so as to interfere with the safety and convenience of public travel. Subsection (D) bars moving snow or ice from your parcel onto another parcel without the express permission of that parcel's owner. Subsection (G) requires owners or occupants of buildings next to public sidewalks to take measures to protect the public from falling snow, ice or water from those buildings.