St. Joseph County, IN Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)
Key Facts
- Deadline
- Clear sidewalk snow/ice within 24 hours
- Clearing width
- Full paved width of the sidewalk
- Multi-unit liability
- Ground-floor occupant, else owner
- Depositing snow on streets/hydrants
- Prohibited (§54.04)
- Contractor liability
- Owner/occupant stays responsible
- Penalty cap
- $2,500 per IC 36-2-3, via §10.99
Summary
In unincorporated St. Joseph County, Code Section 54.03 gives the owner or occupant of every lot a 24-hour deadline to clear snow and ice from adjacent sidewalks after it falls, to the sidewalk's full paved width. The same section keeps sidewalks free of leaves, grass, sand, dirt and debris year-round, and pins liability on the ground-floor occupant in multi-unit buildings.
(A)The owner or occupant of any lot or parcel of land lying within the county shall keep all sidewalks adjacent to the lot or parcel of land free from any leaves, grass, snow, ice, sand, gravel, dirt, or other debris during all seasons of the year. In addition, after any snowfall, the owner or occupant shall remove any snow and/or ice which accumulates on such sidewalk or which obstructs such sidewalk to the full paved width of the sidewalk within 24 hours after such snow and/or ice has fallen or accumulated thereon.(B)Where dwellings contain more than one occupant, the person occupying the front lower floor, commonly called the ground floor, shall be liable for the removal of the snow, and where premises are unoccupied or where for any reason the occupant fails or refuses to remove the snow, it shall be the duty of the owner of the lot or parcel of land to remove the snow.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 3).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 54, General Maintenance Within the Public Right-of-Way, places the snow-clearing duty squarely on the property owner or occupant. " Subsection (B) assigns responsibility inside multi-unit dwellings: the occupant of the "front lower floor, commonly called the ground floor," is liable for removal, and if the premises are vacant or the occupant refuses, the duty falls back on the property owner. 02 separately requires owners or occupants of abutting property to keep private entrances, driveways, curbs and approaches in repair and clear of anything that would obstruct highway, vehicle or pedestrian traffic, extending after any public right-of-way improvement to sidewalks and tree lawns as well.
04 bars pushing or depositing snow or ice onto a fire hydrant, sidewalk, street, roadway or transit loading area, though windrowing snow onto a public roadway or curb while clearing it is expressly allowed; hiring a snow-removal contractor doesn't shift that liability, since the property owner or occupant remains responsible if the contractor dumps snow somewhere prohibited. 99, authorized by IC 36-1-3-8(a)(10) and capped at $2,500 per IC 36-2-3.
Violations & Fines
Missing the 24-hour window carries the county's general penalty under Section 10.99: a fine for a first violation set in the county's schedule of fines and fees, a further fine for each subsequent violation, and each day snow or ice is left on the sidewalk can be treated as a separate violation. That fine authority comes from IC 36-1-3-8(a)(10) and is capped at $2,500 per IC 36-2-3.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to clear snow from my sidewalk in unincorporated St. Joseph County?
Who is responsible for snow removal in a multi-unit building?
Can I push my sidewalk snow into the street?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Joseph County
Compare St. Joseph County to another location·View the Indiana property maintenance overview
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