Sheboygan, WI Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)
Key Facts
- Clearing deadline
- 48 hours after the precipitation ceases
- Who must clear
- Owner, occupant or person in charge; owner of an unoccupied dwelling or lot
- Ice that cannot be removed
- Keep sprinkled with salt, sand or another chemical ice remover
- City charge if it clears the walk
- Costs plus 30 percent, with a minimum charge of $10.00
- Forfeiture
- $25.00 to $250.00 plus costs (section 110-1(2))
- Unpaid charges report
- First Monday of each November, then onto the tax roll
Summary
In Sheboygan, the owner, occupant or person in charge of a building, and the owner or person in charge of an unoccupied dwelling or lot, must clear snow and ice from the adjoining sidewalk within 48 hours after the precipitation ceases. Ice that cannot be removed must be kept sprinkled with salt, sand or another chemical ice remover.
(a) The owner, occupant or person in charge of any building fronting upon or adjoining any street and the owner or person in charge of an unoccupied dwelling or lot fronting any street shall clean the sidewalk in front of or adjoining such building or unoccupied lot or dwelling, as the case may be, of snow and ice from such sidewalk within 48 hours after the precipitation that caused the accumulation of such snow and ice on the sidewalks ceases. (b) When ice has formed on any sidewalk that it is difficult or impossible to remove, the person referred to in subsection (a) of this section shall keep the sidewalk sprinkled with salt, sand or any other chemical ice remover. ... Such costs, plus an additional charge of 30 percent thereof for equipment repair, supervision and other general expenses and an additional minimum charge of $10.00 for hand shoveling and mechanized work for snow removal from sidewalks, shall be charged to the owners of each of such lots or parcels of land.
Full Breakdown
Section 110-278(a) of the Sheboygan Municipal Code names who must shovel. The duty falls on the owner, occupant or person in charge of any building fronting upon or adjoining any street, and on the owner or person in charge of an unoccupied dwelling or lot fronting any street. Each must clean the sidewalk in front of or adjoining the building, lot or dwelling of snow and ice within 48 hours after the precipitation that caused the accumulation ceases. The clock runs from the end of the snowfall or other precipitation, not from when it began.
Subsection (b) covers ice that has formed so hard that it is difficult or impossible to remove. In that case the same person must keep the sidewalk sprinkled with salt, sand or any other chemical ice remover. Section 110-277 adds a related duty: the owner of any building must cause the pipes conducting water from the eaves to be built so as not to spread the water over the sidewalks.
If the owner does not act, the city does the work and bills the property. Section 110-279 provides that the cost of clearing snow and ice from sidewalks is paid out of the city's general fund and then reimbursed by charges assessed against the owners of the lots and parcels abutting the cleared portions. Under section 110-280, the department of engineering and public works keeps an accurate account of the hourly equipment rental and labor costs for each lot or parcel, adds a 30 percent charge for equipment repair, supervision and other general expenses, and applies an additional minimum charge of $10.00 for hand shoveling and mechanized work. The department renders statements to the property owners as soon as practicable.
Unpaid charges follow a fixed calendar. Section 110-281 requires the department to file a report with the common council and the city finance director/treasurer on or before the first Monday of each November listing the snow and ice removal charges remaining unpaid. Unless the council orders otherwise, those charges are entered in the tax roll against the lots or parcels involved and collected as other taxes are collected.
Violations & Fines
Under section 110-1(2), a violation of section 110-278 carries a forfeiture of not less than $25.00 or more than $250.00 plus the costs of prosecution, with imprisonment of up to 30 days in default of payment. Separately, when the city clears the walk, section 110-280 charges the owner the department's costs plus 30 percent and a minimum charge of $10.00, and unpaid charges go onto the tax roll under section 110-281.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to clear snow from my sidewalk in Sheboygan?
Who has to shovel if the house is vacant?
What if the ice is too hard to remove?
What does the city charge if it clears my sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sheboygan
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