Lynnwood, WA Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)
Key Facts
- Duty holder
- abutting property owner
- Governing section
- LMC 12.12.040
- Cure period after notice
- 45 days
- Maximum fine
- $250.00 per offense
- City remedy
- city clears it and liens property
Summary
Lynnwood puts the job of keeping sidewalks clear of ice and snow on the abutting property owner. Letting a sidewalk stay iced or snowed over is treated as a public nuisance, and an owner who does not clear it within 45 days of notice faces a fine of up to $250.00 per offense.
Sidewalks and/or walkways shall be maintained by the abutting property owner, free and clear of ice and snow, all vegetation, and free of all materials which are not a part of surfacing material fixed by the construction design standards of the department of public works. ... Failure of the abutting property owner to maintain, repair or reconstruct adjacent sidewalks, planting strips and transition strips in accordance with this chapter is declared a public nuisance. Any abutting property owner failing to abate the nuisance within 45 days of notice of the same shall be subject to a fine of up to $250.00 for each offense. The court hearing violations of this chapter may consider each day the abutting owner fails to abate such a nuisance after notice to be a separate violation.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3512, passed May 26, 2026).
Full Breakdown
040 makes the abutting property owner responsible for maintaining the sidewalk or walkway in front of their property, including keeping it free and clear of ice and snow, vegetation, and any material that is not part of the surfacing fixed by public works construction standards. The city does not clear residential frontage sidewalks itself; that duty sits with the adjoining owner year-round. 080 requires it to mail written notice to the party who pays real estate taxes on the abutting property, describing the problem and setting a reasonable correction deadline.
If the owner still has not cleared the hazard, the director can either have the city do the work and place a lien against the property for the full cost, including attorneys' fees, or bring a superior court action seeking a judgment for those costs plus fees. 00 for each offense, and a court hearing the case may treat every additional day of noncompliance after notice as a separate violation, so the exposure compounds the longer snow or ice is left on the walk.
Violations & Fines
Failing to keep the abutting sidewalk clear of ice and snow is a declared public nuisance under LMC 12.12.090. An owner who does not abate it within 45 days of written notice faces a fine up to $250.00 per offense, and each additional day of noncompliance can be charged as a separate violation. The city may also do the clearing itself and lien the property for its costs plus attorneys' fees under LMC 12.12.080.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to shovel the sidewalk in Lynnwood, the city or the homeowner?
How long do I have to clear snow before Lynnwood fines me?
What happens if I never clear the snow after Lynnwood notifies me?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lynnwood
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Snow & Sidewalk Clearing in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Snohomish County handle snow & sidewalk clearing.