Michigan's natural accumulation doctrine generally protects property owners from slip-and-fall liability for snow on adjacent sidewalks, while leaving local snow-clearing ordinances enforceable as municipal civil infractions.
Michigan common law follows the natural accumulation doctrine, recognized in cases like Buhalis v Trinity Continuing Care, holding that property owners typically owe no duty to remove naturally accumulated snow and ice from public sidewalks. However, MCL 691.1402a (governmental immunity) requires municipalities to maintain sidewalks in reasonable repair, with a limited two-inch sidewalk-defect rule. Cities may adopt local snow-removal ordinances under home rule authority, requiring property owners to clear adjacent sidewalks within a set time after snowfall. Violations are typically municipal civil infractions, not personal injury liability.
Municipal civil infractions ranging $50-$500 per violation; cities may charge contractor clearing costs to property tax bills.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
St. Clair Shores, MI
St. Clair Shores Code of Ordinances Section 22-26 (Noise) prohibits sounds that disturb the peace and comfort of neighboring properties. Subsection (5) speci...
Macomb County, MI
Animal hoarding is treated as cruelty and neglect under Michigan law and is investigated by Macomb County Animal Control. Failing to provide adequate care je...
Macomb County, MI
Macomb County's Best Practices bar confining or keeping wild animals without municipality approval, and permitted exceptions are limited to accredited zoos a...
Macomb County, MI
Macomb County government does not regulate backyard composting. Michigan law encourages composting as an alternative to landfilling yard waste, and nuisance ...
Macomb County, MI
Macomb County government does not regulate artificial turf on residential property. Whether synthetic lawn is allowed, and any setback, drainage, or coverage...
Macomb County, MI
Macomb County government does not restrict planting native species, and Michigan's noxious-weed law expressly protects milkweed. The County and MSU Extension...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Macomb County.
See how St. Clair Shores's snow & sidewalk clearing rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.