Thornton, CO Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)

Section 70-106(a) states it is unlawful for 'any owner or the agent or the tenant of such owner of any lot, block, or parcel of land within the city to allow any snow, sleet, ice, or other obstruction to accumulate or remain upon any sidewalk adjoining such lot, block, or parcel of land within the city for longer than 24 hours from the time of the last accumulation.' Subsection (b) separately bars depositing snow, sleet, or ice 'onto a public street or sidewalk or against any fire hydrant or official traffic control device' or in a way that blocks drainage. Subsection (c) requires the owner, agent, or tenant to remove sanding materials left on sidewalks after city snow and ice control operations, unless the city maintains that stretch itself. Subsection (e) extends the same 24-hour clock to accessible parking spaces, access aisles, and passenger loading zones, and separately bans storing sanding or deicing materials on those spaces.

If the deadline passes, Section 70-106(d) lets the director remove the obstruction 'at the cost of the owner or agent or tenant.' Section 70-117(b) goes further, declaring any accumulation left in violation a public nuisance that the city may clear and bill to the property, with notice sent by regular mail; unpaid assessments are collected the same way as other city charges under Section 38-453. Section 70-117(a) sets the general penalty at the rate fixed by Section 1-8(a) of the code, and treats each day the snow or ice remains as a separate offense, so a multi-day lapse can generate multiple citations rather than one.