Lakewood, CO Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)

Section 9.31.010, "Snow removal," states in full: "The owner, agent, lessee, tenant, or occupant of any property within the city shall remove all snow and ice as is reasonably possible from all public sidewalks and bikeways adjacent to their property no later than 24 hours following the last accretion of such snow or ice." The clock starts at the last accretion, meaning the end of a storm or a fresh dusting on top of old snow resets the 24-hour window, not the original snowfall.

A companion rule in Section 9.31.020 closes off the obvious workaround: it is unlawful to deposit or cause to be deposited any snow or ice "onto a public street, roadway, sidewalk, walkway, bikeway, or any designated emergency access lane, or against any fire hydrant, official traffic control device or appurtenance," so shoveling a driveway's snow into the street or piling it against a hydrant is its own violation, separate from a late sidewalk.

For notice purposes, Section 9.31.030 treats the person listed as owner with the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder as the party the city serves by certified mail, though the city can also personally serve the owner, agent, lessee, tenant or occupant directly. Both the Police Department and the Public Works Department have "all necessary power and authority to enforce" the chapter under Section 9.31.040, so a citation can come from either agency.

The penalty in Section 9.31.050 is set below the citywide default: "a fine not less than $25.00 and no more than $300.00," and "each day of a continuing violation shall be deemed to be a separate violation," so an uncleared walk during a multi-day cold snap can generate a new fine daily rather than one flat citation.