Waukesha, WI Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)

Sec. 12 makes the owner, occupant, or person in charge of a dwelling, building, or even an unoccupied lot fronting a street responsible for clearing the adjoining sidewalk of snow and ice to its full width within 12 hours after the snow stops falling, and for keeping it free of ice buildup afterward. If ice can't reasonably be removed due to weather, the owner must salt or sand it and clear it fully once conditions allow. The same duty extends separately to curb ramps at intersections and crosswalks, to designated Metro bus pads, and to snow around fire hydrants.

If the responsible party doesn't clear it in time, the Department of Public Works can do it and bill the cost under a published Cost Schedule, maintained on the City's website and printed annually in the official newspaper, as a special charge collected with property taxes. A designated Public Works employee is authorized to issue citations under Sec. 08. Owners are also barred from letting eaves or sump pump discharge spread water over the sidewalk, and a separate section, Sec. 123, bars pushing snow from your property onto a public street, parking lot, or sidewalk, or onto a neighbor's property without permission.