Taunton, MA Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies in
- business, central business, highway business districts
- Daytime snow deadline
- 4 hours after it stops falling
- Overnight snow deadline
- 11:00 a.m. next day
- Ice removal deadline
- 24 hours after forming
- Maximum fine
- $50 per violation
Summary
Owners of property bordering a sidewalk in a business, central business or highway business district must clear the full width of snow within four hours of daytime snowfall ending, or by 11:00 a.m. the next day if it stopped overnight. Ice must come off within 24 hours of forming. Violators face a $50 fine per violation.
The owner of any building or lot of land bordering on any sidewalk on any public or private way located in any area designated as a business district, central business district or highway business district by any zoning ordinance of the City shall cause the snow and ice to be removed from such sidewalk. The owner shall remove snow from the entire width of the sidewalk. If the snow ceases falling in the day it shall be removed within four hours thereafter, and if it ceases falling in the nighttime it shall be removed before 11:00 a.m. of the succeeding day, and all ice formed upon any sidewalk in such streets as may be so designated, or otherwise deposited thereon, shall be removed within 24 hours after the same is so formed or deposited unless within such time the sidewalk is otherwise rendered safe for travel. The penalty for the violation of this section shall be a fine not in excess of $50 for each violation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4508986; v12 updated 2025-09-22; through 09-22-2025).
Full Breakdown
Section 383-15 targets Taunton's commercial corridors specifically: the duty applies to the owner of any building or lot bordering a sidewalk on a public or private way located in an area zoned as a business district, central business district, or highway business district. Within that zone, the owner must clear the entire width of the sidewalk, not just a narrow path. the following day. Ice gets a longer window, 24 hours from when it forms or is deposited, unless the sidewalk is otherwise rendered safe for travel within that time by other means such as sanding or salting.
The section was most recently amended December 17, 2024, and the fine for violating it is capped at $50 for each violation. A related section, 383-16, separately bars anyone from shoveling or plowing that removed snow back onto a street or public place, with escalating fines of $50, $200 and $300 for a first, second and third or later offense, plus an extra $250 for a commercial snow-removal vehicle that does so for hire. Roof snow is covered too: Section 383-17 gives a tenant, occupant or owner just three business hours to clear snow and ice from a roof that slopes toward a street.
Violations & Fines
Failing to clear the full sidewalk width within four hours after daytime snowfall stops, by 11:00 a.m. after overnight snowfall, or failing to remove ice within 24 hours of it forming, is a violation of Section 383-15 punishable by a fine of up to $50 for each violation. Property owners in a designated business, central or highway business district bear this duty, not the City.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Taunton business owners have to clear sidewalk snow?
What is the fine for not shoveling a Taunton sidewalk?
How fast must ice be removed from a Taunton sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Taunton
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Snow & Sidewalk Clearing in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Bristol County handle snow & sidewalk clearing.