Loudoun County, VA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)
Key Facts
- Duty holder
- Abutting occupant, owner, or person in charge
- Removal deadline
- 6 hours after snow/ice stops
- Overnight snow deadline
- 12:00 noon next day
- Sunday snow deadline
- 12:00 noon Monday
- Government-closure extension
- Additional 48 hours
- Civil penalty
- $100.00 if not abated in 24 hours
- Enforcing agency
- Planning and Zoning, Zoning Enforcement Division
Summary
In unincorporated Loudoun County, the occupant, owner, or other person in charge of a property must clear snow and ice from any publicly owned or maintained sidewalk adjoining that property within six hours after snowfall stops. Overnight snow must be cleared by noon the next day, and Sunday snow by noon Monday.
Removal Required. Every occupant, owner or other person in charge of any occupied property in the County which has a sidewalk or a footway of stone, brick, gravel, cinder, wood or other substance, when such sidewalk or footway is publicly owned or maintained, and is adjoining and touching the property in front, rear or either side thereof, shall have all snow and ice, and any combination thereof, removed from such sidewalk or footway within six (6) hours after such snow or ice, or a combination thereof, has ceased falling... This section shall not apply within any incorporated town.
Full Breakdown
01 places the maintenance duty for public sidewalks squarely on the abutting property occupant, owner, or other person in charge, not the County's road crews. Any sidewalk or footway of stone, brick, gravel, cinder, wood, or other substance that is publicly owned or maintained and touches the property's front, rear, or side must be cleared of snow and ice within six hours after the precipitation ceases. If the snow or ice stops falling overnight, the deadline shifts to 12:00 noon the following day, and if it stops on a Sunday, the responsible party has until 12:00 noon the following Monday.
01(b) allows covering it instead with sand, ashes, or a similar substance to keep it safe for pedestrian travel within the same time window. Two exceptions exist: owners or occupants who are 65 or older, or who have a physical or mental disability preventing compliance, are excused if they have made reasonable efforts at alternative means of compliance; and if snow or ice closes Loudoun County Government offices, the responsible party gets an additional 48 hours. Enforcement rests with the Loudoun County Department of Planning and Zoning, Zoning Enforcement Division, or another department the County Administrator designates.
01(e) states the section does not apply within any incorporated town, so Leesburg, Purcellville, Hamilton, Middleburg, Round Hill, Hillsboro, and Lovettsville each set their own sidewalk-clearing rules under their town codes; this county provision governs only the unincorporated area.
Violations & Fines
Failing to abate a snow or ice obstruction within 24 hours of a violation notice triggers a $100.00 civil penalty under § 1022.99, imposed per Ordinance 16-07. The penalty is a straight civil fine rather than a criminal misdemeanor, and it applies only after the 24-hour cure window following notice of noncompliance has run, giving the responsible owner or occupant a defined grace period to clear the walk before the fine attaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for clearing snow from a public sidewalk in Loudoun County?
Does this sidewalk snow removal rule apply in Leesburg or Purcellville?
What happens if I cannot remove ice without damaging the sidewalk?
Is there an exception for elderly or disabled residents?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Loudoun County
Compare Loudoun County to another location·View the Virginia sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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