Alright, let’s talk about something that hits close to home for a lot of us this time of year. Woke up the other morning, pulled back the curtains, and bam – everything buried in snow. Looked like a postcard, real pretty, until my eyes drifted down to the sidewalk in front of my place. Completely covered. My first thought, probably like yours sometimes, was “Ugh, do I really have to shovel that?”
I mean, seriously, who owns the sidewalk anyway? It feels like public space, right? Cars drive on the street maintained by the city, people walk on the sidewalk… seems logical the city would clear it. But I had this nagging feeling, maybe from some past winter grumbling or seeing neighbors out there, that it wasn’t that simple.
So, I actually decided to figure it out for real this time.
I didn’t just guess. I went digging, not in the snow yet, but online. Looked up my local town’s ordinances. Took a bit of clicking around on the official website, you know how those government sites can be sometimes, not always the easiest navigation. Had to find the section on public works or code enforcement, something like that.
And guess what I found? Yep. Pretty clear rules stating property owners (or sometimes renters, depends on the lease I guess) are responsible for clearing the public sidewalk bordering their property. Not just clearing it whenever you feel like it, either. There was a specific timeframe, usually something like 24 hours after the snowfall stops. Sometimes it’s even shorter, like 12 hours, or specific times like ‘by 9 am the next day’.
They even mentioned why – it’s for safety. Makes sense. You don’t want people slipping and falling, breaking a hip, especially older folks or people with mobility issues. I remember last year my elderly neighbor, Mrs. Gable, basically couldn’t leave her house for two days because someone down the street just ignored their sidewalk. It becomes an ice rink real fast.
So, the short answer I found for myself was a definite yes. It’s usually the homeowner’s or resident’s job. It’s one of those lovely responsibilities that comes with having a place.
Honestly, it’s a drag. Getting bundled up, finding the shovel (mine always seems to hide in the back of the garage), and then the actual work. Especially when it’s that heavy, wet snow. My back is usually complaining by the end of it. But, knowing it’s actually required, and thinking about people needing to use the sidewalk safely, kind of changes the perspective. It’s not just about avoiding a potential fine (which is also a thing in some places), it’s about being part of the community, I suppose. Doesn’t make the shoveling any warmer, but hey, at least now I know for sure. Gotta grab that shovel.
