Middleton, WI Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)

The duty covers the entire width of the sidewalk and any handicap ramps, plus clearing snow from a fire hydrant on or directly adjacent to the property down to four inches below its lowest outlet cap. The twenty-four-hour removal clock does not start until the snowfall or precipitation event has actually stopped, unless the storm runs continuously or intermittently for more than twenty-four hours, in which case snow and ice must be cleared at least once every twenty-four hours throughout the event. If ice cannot be removed right away, it must be sprinkled with salt, sand or a combination of the two until removal is possible.

Subsection (2) separately bans depositing, or ordering the deposit of, snow or ice onto any sidewalk, roadway or street, so shoveling driveway snow onto the public walk is its own violation. If an owner, occupant or person in charge fails to remove snow or ice within twenty-four hours of a City Engineer notice, the City Engineer may remove it and bill the cost as a special charge on the next annual tax roll under Wis. 0627. A second violation in the same season requires the owner to confirm future compliance with the City Engineer; without a response, the City Engineer can clear snow at the property at any time for the rest of the season without further notice.