Winston-Salem, NC Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)
Key Facts
- Who's responsible
- Tenant/occupant first, then owner
- Snow removal deadline
- Within 2 hours after snowfall ends
- Overnight snowfall deadline
- By 12:00 noon next day
- Penalty
- Class 3 misdemeanor, up to $500
- Governing section
- Code of Ordinances § 74-12
Summary
In Winston-Salem, the tenant or occupant of any property bordering a street with an abutting sidewalk must keep that sidewalk clean, including clearing snow or sleet within two hours after it stops falling.
The tenant or occupant, or, if there is no tenant, the owner, agent or custodian, of any building or lot or parcel of land bordering on any street in the city on which there is a sidewalk abutting shall keep such sidewalk in front of and adjoining such property clean. After any fall of snow or sleet such tenants, occupants, owners, agents or custodians shall, within two hours after the snow or sleet shall have ceased to fall, remove or cause such snow or sleet to be removed from the sidewalk of their respective premises.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102 | Personnel: Supplement 96 | Water and Sewer: Supplement 56 | Solid Waste: Supplement 15).
Full Breakdown
Section 74-12 of the Winston-Salem Code puts sidewalk upkeep on whoever occupies the property, not the city: the tenant or occupant, or the owner, agent or custodian if there's no tenant, must keep the sidewalk fronting their lot clean at all times. After snow or sleet, that same person has two hours from when it stops falling to clear it, or until noon the next day if it stopped overnight. Cleared snow can't be pushed into the roadway in a way that blocks the street or interferes with city or neighboring property owners' own clearing efforts.
Violations & Fines
Violating any part of section 74-12 is a class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4, punishable by a fine of up to $500.00 per offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to clean the sidewalk in front of my house in Winston-Salem?
How fast do I have to clear snow off my sidewalk?
Can I push cleared snow into the street?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winston-Salem
Compare Winston-Salem to another location·View the North Carolina sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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