West Haven, CT Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)

Chapter 195 of the West Haven Code, the Sidewalk Snow and Ice Removal Ordinance, was adopted by the City Council on 11-12-1985. Its stated purpose in § 195-2 is to restore safe and convenient walking conditions in West Haven as rapidly as possible following winter storms.

The duty falls on the person responsible, defined in § 195-3 as the owner, tenant, occupant or other entity, corporate or personal, that is responsible under the law for maintenance of the premises. Premises means any lot or parcel of land, occupied or unoccupied, with a dwelling or nondwelling structure or none. A sidewalk is any walk or path along the side of a street or public facility reserved by custom for pedestrians.

Section 195-4 sets the deadline. Within 24 hours after the cessation of any snow, ice or sleet storm, the person responsible must remove the accumulation from any sidewalks included on or adjacent to the premises. If it cannot be removed after reasonable effort, the person responsible must spread an abrasive substance, such as sand, at intervals frequent enough and in quantities sufficient to keep the sidewalk safe for pedestrian travel.

Enforcement belongs to the Chief of Police. Any police officer can personally serve a notice of violation on the person responsible or attach it in a conspicuous place on the premises (§ 195-5). If the sidewalk is not cleared or made safe within eight hours of service or posting, and the Chief of Police determines that a hazardous condition exists, the Chief can order the Director of Public Works to remove the accumulation or spread abrasive at the expense of the person responsible. A bill must be delivered within 10 business days of the action, and unpaid expense becomes a lien on the adjoining premises if a certificate of lien is recorded in the office of the City Clerk within 60 days from the date the bill was presented (§ 195-6).

A related rule in § 195-8 bars anyone removing snow from property from placing it on a street, sidewalk or other public way in a manner or to an extent that unreasonably impedes or inconveniences the traveling public.