Sterling Heights, MI Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)
Key Facts
- Deadline
- 24 hours after snowfall
- Enforced by
- code officer / police
- Non-compliance
- city abates, bills owner
- Unpaid costs
- become a lien on property
- General penalty
- up to $500 fine
Summary
Sterling Heights property owners must clear snow and ice from abutting public sidewalks within 24 hours of it falling, per the city's Snow Removal Ordinance in Macomb County, Michigan.
No person shall permit any snow or ice to remain on the public sidewalks in the front, rear or sides of any house, premises, building, lot or parcel of land owned, occupied or controlled by him or her longer than 24 hours after the same has fallen or formed. Whenever any snow or ice has fallen or formed on any such sidewalk, the person shall, within 24 hours after the same has fallen or formed, remove all snow or ice so far as is practicable and reasonable to allow the pedestrian use of such sidewalk. The City Manager may establish regulations for exempting public sidewalks in the rear of a house, premises, building, lot or parcel of land from the requirements of this section. (1978 Code, § 31-35; Ord. No. 378, § 4, 5-3-05) ** 48-36. ABATEMENT OF SNOW OR ICE OBSTRUCTIONS. **
(A) When an owner or occupant fails to comply with the requirements of this section, and the public sidewalk(s) in the front, rear, or sides of the owner's or occupant's house, premises, building, lot, or parcel of land remain obstructed with snow and/or ice, a city employee authorized by the code enforcement official or Police Chief may affix a tag upon a conspicuous location on the property. The tag shall advise the owner or occupant of the property that the accumulation of snow and/or ice upon the adjoining sidewalks constitutes a violation of this article, and must be abated within 24 hours. The tag shall also state that if the owner or occupant shall fail to comply
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-46: Local legislation current through Ord. 509, passed 5-19-26).
Full Breakdown
Sterling Heights' Snow Removal Ordinance (Code § 48-32 et seq.) requires owners and occupants to remove snow or ice from public sidewalks fronting, beside, or behind their property within 24 hours after it falls or forms. If it isn't cleared, a code enforcement official or the Police Department may tag the property with a 24-hour abatement order; if still uncleared, the city hires a contractor to remove it and bills the owner, with unpaid costs becoming a lien against the property collected through the next tax roll. Violations also carry the Code's general penalty of up to a $500 fine.
Violations & Fines
Ignoring a snow-removal tag lets the city abate the ice itself and bill the owner; unpaid abatement costs become a lien on the property, and Code violations can draw a misdemeanor fine up to $500.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Sterling Heights residents have to clear sidewalk snow?
What happens if I don't shovel my sidewalk in Sterling Heights?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sterling Heights
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Snow & Sidewalk Clearing in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Macomb County handle snow & sidewalk clearing.