Kalamazoo, MI Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)

Section 33-18, added by Ordinance No. 2093 on August 19, 2024, replaced the City's older snow ordinances and puts a firm 48-hour clock on sidewalk clearing. Under Subsection A, the owner of any property in the City is responsible for removing accumulated snow and ice from the public sidewalk adjacent, abutting, or adjoining that property and keeping the walk in a safe condition. Subsection B spells out the mechanics: removal must occur within 48 hours of accumulation, snow and ice must be cleared to the full width of the sidewalk down to bare pavement, and the surface must be treated with sand, salt, or a similar material to prevent slippery conditions.

Subsection C separately bars owners from depositing snow or ice from roofs, parking lots, driveways, or other off-street areas onto a public street, alley, sidewalk, or crosswalk. If an owner misses the deadline, Subsection D lets the City Manager or a designee, through City employees or contractors, remove the snow and treat the walk, then bill the owner for the cost plus an administrative fee; an unpaid bill becomes a lien collected the same way as real property taxes. Depositing snow or ice onto a public street, alley, or crosswalk is a municipal civil infraction carrying a $100 fine plus court-imposed costs. The City is required to publish an annual fall notice of these duties in a local newspaper and on the City's website.