Snow Emergency

Did you know that property owners are required to clear sidewalks within 24 hours of the end of a snowfall? It’s true! Per City ordinance, property owners are required to clear any snow and ice on sidewalks abutting their property so that sidewalks are accessible for everyone to use during the winter months. Property owners who don’t clear their sidewalks are at risk of property tax assessments for noncompliance.

Sidewalk Removal Requirements:

• Remove all ice from sidewalks. Sprinkling sand can help prevent people from slipping.
• Pile snow on your yard. It is against the law to shovel snow into streets and alleys.
• If you have a corner property, clear curb cuts at corners and crosswalks to the street gutter.
• Shovel the sidewalks on all sides of your property. The full width of the sidewalk should be clear of snow and ice.

Residents can report sidewalk issues by visiting https://rpr-duluthmn.hub.arcgis.com/. Select the type of complaint as either a public or private sidewalk and complete the rest of the form. Complaints require an exact address to be processed effectively.

Enforcement Process:

When the Life Safety Division processes sidewalk snow removal complaints, the inspector will send a seven-day compliance letter to the owner or responsible party. The seven-day timeline is to account for postal delivery times. On the compliance day, an inspector will revisit the property. If the snow has not been cleared, a third-party contractor will be contacted to remove the snow. All costs for snow removal will be charged to the owner or property.

Please note that if a new snowfall occurs, all re-checks and enforcement will be pushed back twenty-four hours from the end of the most recent snowfall.