Medford, MA Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)

Section 74-114(a) puts the snow-clearing duty on whoever abuts the sidewalk: the owner, tenant, occupant, or agent of any land or building abutting a sidewalk or walking path shall remove the snow and ice to provide a minimum passage of 36 inches for pedestrians, and must also clear snow within 36 inches of any fire hydrant abutting that sidewalk so the hydrant stays accessible. The deadline is tight: removal must happen within eight daylight hours after the snow stops falling or a snow emergency has been lifted, whichever is later, though the city may extend that deadline at its discretion.

The section carves out one exception, for snow an owner cannot reasonably remove because a private, municipal or state vehicle plowed an excessive amount onto the sidewalk while clearing the street, as determined by the code enforcement officer. Subsection (b) separately bars anyone from throwing or putting snow or ice into a city street. Enforcement runs through the code enforcement officer or a designee, under § 1-13 and M.G.L.A. c. 40, § 21D, with a non-criminal fine schedule set out in subsection (c): $50.00 for a first offense, $100.00 for a second, and $200.00 plus the cost of removal, set by the Commissioner of Public Works, for a third or subsequent offense.

After a third violation within five years, the Department of Public Works may clear the snow itself at the property owner's expense and place a lien on the property for the cost, with the city treasurer authorized to prosecute and settle claims with the mayor's approval.