Michigan's natural accumulation doctrine generally protects property owners from slip-and-fall liability for snow on adjacent sidewalks, while leaving local snow-clearing ordinances enforceable as municipal civil infractions.
Michigan common law follows the natural accumulation doctrine, recognized in cases like Buhalis v Trinity Continuing Care, holding that property owners typically owe no duty to remove naturally accumulated snow and ice from public sidewalks. However, MCL 691.1402a (governmental immunity) requires municipalities to maintain sidewalks in reasonable repair, with a limited two-inch sidewalk-defect rule. Cities may adopt local snow-removal ordinances under home rule authority, requiring property owners to clear adjacent sidewalks within a set time after snowfall. Violations are typically municipal civil infractions, not personal injury liability.
Municipal civil infractions ranging $50-$500 per violation; cities may charge contractor clearing costs to property tax bills.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Kent County, MI
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Kent County, MI
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Kentwood, MI
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Kent County, MI
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Kent County, MI
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Kent County.
See how Kentwood's snow & sidewalk clearing rules stack up against other locations.
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