Property Owners Must Clear Sidewalks
Property owners are required by City Ordinance to remove snow from sidewalks next to their property or business within 12 hours of daytime snowfall and before 1 p.m. when it has fallen overnight. They must also remove or melt all ice within 6 hours of the time it forms.
There is a $50 fine for each day of non-compliance. If you are away, it is still your responsibility to ensure that someone clears sidewalks next to your property. Remember to:
- Shovel your sidewalk on all sides of your property, down to bare pavement
- Make the path wide enough for someone using wheelchair, walker or stroller (at least 3 feet, preferably 4 feet).
- When digging out your car, think about how you pile snow: don’t create new problems in the street or sidewalk.
- Clear ramps at corners and crosswalks
- Chop or melt all ice
- Keep street drains clear of snow
- Consider helping neighbors who may have difficulty clearing their walk.
- Clear snow around any Fire Hydrants near your house.
If you are disabled and/or elderly and qualify as a low-income resident, you may be eligible for an exemption. Call the Cambridge Council on Aging, 617-349-6220 (voice) or 617-349-6050 (TTY) to learn more.
For more information, visit www.cambridgema.gov/snow.
A new feature on this site will allow you to report unsafe sidewalks.
