New Rochelle, NY Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)

Charter Section 197(b) sets a same-day noon deadline: every owner of an occupied or unoccupied lot must remove new ice and freshly fallen snow from the adjoining sidewalk before 12:00 noon and keep it cleaned at all times. Unlike sidewalk repair defects, which trigger a written notice and a 30-day cure period under Section 197(d)-(e), snow and ice violations skip that step: Section 197(d) lets the City proceed straight to cleaning the sidewalk and curb by contract or by using City forces and equipment without first serving notice on the owner.

The Department of Public Works keeps records of the cost of that work and, after cleaning is done, serves the owner a notice under Section 197(e) specifying the cost and an additional ten-percent administrative fee for inspection and other incidental costs. That notice also tells the owner of the right to a hearing before the Commissioner of Public Works, obtained by written request to the City within 10 days of the notice date. If the owner still does not pay, Section 197(g) makes the cost plus the 10 percent fee a lien against the property, and unpaid amounts are added to the next City property tax levy where they bear interest and are collected like other City taxes.

Section 197(i) bars any damages suit against the City for failing to remove snow or ice, while Section 197(j) makes the owner, not the City, liable to anyone injured because the sidewalk was not cleared.