Being a good citizen means shoveling snow

Like it or not, clearing your sidewalks of snow is the law. It’s probably better to think of it as common courtesy. The City puts it this way:

“Many of our neighbors rely on a clear sidewalk to get to and from work or school, or to access the school bus. When a sidewalk has not been cleared of snow and/or ice, pedestrians may be forced to walk in the road, causing a dangerous situation for both the pedestrian and the driver of a vehicle.”

City code requires every property owner or occupant to maintain the adjacent sidewalks in good condition. Commercial properties are responsible for snow shoveling/de-icing the adjacent sidewalks within six hours of daylight following the snowfall or ice event. This includes sidewalks adjacent to an empty lot.

As you clear your sidewalks, remember to remove snow in the bulb-out area and all the way to the street. Connect to your neighbor so there is no gap between your property and theirs. This will vastly improve connectivity and make for a safer town for everyone to enjoy.

The City asks that we refrain from using ice melt or similar products that contain salt because they can damage sidewalks. The City uses bird seed or sand as an alternative method for keeping the sidewalks safe and accessible.