Queens County, NY Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)

Queens property owners are legally responsible for clearing snow and ice from the sidewalks abutting their property under NYC Administrative Code 16-123. The law requires clearing within 4 hours after snow stops falling between 7 a.m. and 4:59 p.m., within 14 hours after snow ending between 5 p.m. and 8:59 p.m. (so effectively by 11 a.m. the next day), and for snow ending between 9 p.m. and 6:59 a.m., owners must clear by 11 a.m. that next day. A clear path must be maintained at least 4 feet wide on the sidewalk so pedestrians and wheelchair users can pass. Ice must be treated with sand, salt, ash, or approved ice melt where it cannot be removed; shoveled snow cannot be placed into the street or onto corner pedestrian ramps. Under NYC Admin Code 7-210 the property owner is also civilly liable for slip-and-fall injuries on uncleared sidewalks except for owner-occupied 1 to 3 family residential properties used exclusively for residential purposes, which retains a narrow exception to tort liability but not to the clearing requirement itself. DSNY enforcement inspectors issue summonses, with fines of 100 to 150 dollars for first offense for small residential properties and up to 350 dollars for larger or repeat offenders. Snow removal accessibility is critical on Queens arterials like Queens Boulevard, Northern Boulevard, Union Turnpike, and Rockaway Beach Boulevard, as well as corner properties along bus routes. Commercial properties and houses of worship also must clear adjacent sidewalks.