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Port Townsend, WA Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Duty holder
Abutting property owner or occupant
Must clear
Snow, ice, mud, obstructions, defects
Civil penalty
$250.00 per day of violation
Timing
"At all times": no stated grace period
Governing chapter
PTMC 12.12.030, enforced via Ch. 1.20

Summary

Property owners and occupants abutting a public sidewalk in Port Townsend must keep it clear of snow, ice, and mud at all times, or risk a $250-per-day civil penalty under the city's enforcement code.

It shall be the responsibility of every occupant or owner of property abutting upon a public sidewalk to maintain the sidewalk at all times in a condition that is fit and safe for purposes of public travel and is free of any and all obstructions or defects, including, but not limited to, snow, ice, and mud.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3364, passed May 18, 2026).

Full Breakdown

PTMC 12.12.030 puts the sidewalk-clearing duty on the abutting property owner or occupant, not the city: the sidewalk must be maintained "at all times" in a condition fit and safe for public travel and free of obstructions or defects, expressly naming snow, ice, and mud. The code sets no grace period after a storm, the duty is continuous. Because Title 12 (streets and sidewalks) falls under the city's general code enforcement chapter per PTMC 1.20.003(F), an uncleared sidewalk can draw a correction notice and, if ignored, a civil penalty of $250.00 for each day the violation continues, plus recoverable abatement costs.

Violations & Fines

Failing to clear snow, ice, or mud after notice risks a $250-per-day civil penalty under PTMC 1.20.075, plus the city's abatement costs, which can be filed as a lien against the property.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Port Townsend give a set number of hours to clear sidewalk snow?
No. PTMC 12.12.030 requires the sidewalk kept clear "at all times": the code states no grace period after snowfall before the clearing duty applies.
What happens if I don't clear my sidewalk?
The city can issue a notice to correct; an unresolved violation draws a $250-per-day civil penalty under PTMC 1.20.075, plus abatement costs recoverable as a property lien.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Port Townsend

Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsVacant Lot MaintenanceSome RestrictionsProperty BlightSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Wildlife FeedingSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: Wildfire ZonesSome Restrictions

All Port Townsend rules

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