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Clearing Sidewalks of Snow, Sleet, and Ice - Deadlines, Enforcement, and City Clearing
For the purpose of changing the time allowed to clear snow, sleet, and ice from sidewalks after a weather event ends; requiring a Public Works inspector to post a notice of violation; authorizing the Director of Public Works to clear a sidewalk that remains uncleared and charge the owner of the abutting property a snow-clearing fee; and generally relating to the clearing of snow, sleet, and ice from sidewalks.
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City Council of the
City of Annapolis
Ordinance 24-26
Introduced by: Alderman Huntley
Co-sponsored by:
Referred to:
• Environmental Matters Committee
• Transportation Committee
AN ORDINANCE concerning
Clearing Sidewalks of Snow, Sleet, and Ice -
Deadlines, Enforcement, and City Clearing
FOR the purpose of changing the time allowed to clear snow, sleet, and ice from sidewalks after a weather event ends; requiring a Public Works inspector to post a notice of violation; authorizing the Director of Public Works to clear a sidewalk that remains uncleared and charge the owner of the abutting property a snow-clearing fee; and generally relating to the clearing of snow, sleet, and ice from sidewalks.
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, the following portions of the Code of the City of Annapolis, 2026 Edition:
• Section 14.04.060 (Clearing sidewalks of snow, sleet, and ice)
• Section 14.04.070 (Violations, citations, and appeals)
SECTION I: BE IT ESTABLISHED AND ORDAINED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the Code of the City of Annapolis shall be amended to read as follows:
Title 14 - STREETS, SIDEWALKS, PUBLIC PLACES, AND SMALL CELL SYSTEMS
Chapter 14.04 - Sidewalks
Section 14.04.060 - Clearing sidewalks of snow, sleet, and ice.
A. Snow, Sleet, and Ice Removal Criteria.
1. Property owners or occupants with a sidewalk adjacent to their property must remove any snow, sleet, or ice from that sidewalk within three hours after the precipitation has stopped.
2. If snow or sleet stops falling between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., it must be cleared by 11:00 a.m. the following morning.
3. The cleared sidewalk area must be at least four feet wide or the full width of the sidewalk, whichever is smaller.
B. Failure to Clear, Clean or Maintain.
1. If property owners or occupants do not remove snow, sleet, and ice from the sidewalk adjacent to their property, they may receive a notice of infraction.
2. The notice will be placed on the front door or entrance of the property and delivered to the property owner’s listed address by certified mail.
3. If the snow, sleet, and ice are not removed by 8:00 a.m. the following day after receiving the notice, the Director of Public Works is authorized to arrange for the necessary cleaning, clearing, and maintenance of the subject sidewalk remaining uncleared.
A. Definitions. In this section, the following words have the meanings indicated.
1. “Accumulation” means the total depth, in inches, of snow, sleet, and ice from a weather event, as reported by the National Weather Service for Annapolis or, if that report is not available for a weather event, another source that the Director of Public Works designates in writing and posts on the City’s website.
2. “Weather event” means a period of snow, sleet, or freezing rain that begins and ends as reported by the official accumulation source designated by the Director of Public Works.
B. Duty to Clear.
1. The owner or occupant of property shall remove snow, sleet, and ice from the sidewalk abutting their property.
2. The cleared sidewalk area shall be at least four feet wide or the full width of the sidewalk, whichever is smaller, and down to the pavement.
C. Time to Clear.
1. End of Weather Event. Except as provided in paragraph 2, the sidewalk shall be cleared within:
a. 8 hours after the weather event ends, if the accumulation is less than 4 inches; or
b. 24 hours after the weather event ends, if the accumulation is 4 inches or more.
2. Nighttime End of Weather Event. If the weather event ends between 5:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., the time allowed to clear, as provided in paragraph 1, will commence at 5:00 a.m.
D. Notice of Violation and City Clearing.
1. Violation Notice. If a sidewalk is not cleared within the time required under subsection C, a Public Works inspector shall post a notice of violation at the front door or entrance of the property.
2. City Clearing.
a. If the sidewalk is not cleared by the first 8:00 a.m. after the notice of violation is posted, the Director of Public Works may arrange for the City or a contractor to remove the snow, sleet, and ice.
b. The owner of the abutting property shall be billed a snow-clearing fee in the amount established annually by resolution of the City Council. The fee is separate from any fine under § 14.04.070.
E. Adjustment of Snow-Clearing Fee.
1. The Director of Public Works may adjust the snow-clearing fee for a residential property owner who is 65 years old or older, qualifies for low-income relief, or has other relevant circumstances that warrant an adjustment.
2. A request for adjustment shall be filed with the Director within 30 days after the bill is mailed.
3. The decision of the Director shall be final and binding.
Section 14.04.070 - Violations, citations, and appealsEnforcement.
A. Violations. Any person who violates this chapter is guilty of a municipal infraction and is subject to a fine as established by annual resolution of the City Council. A citation may be issued by the designated responsible department in accordance with established protocols pursuant to § 1.20.040.
B. Citations.
1. Property owners who have received notice from the City regarding failure or refusal to keep the sidewalks clean, clear, and well-maintained, will be considered to have committed a municipal infraction, and a citation may be issued by the responsible department.
2. If there is a public health, safety, or welfare issue that requires the immediate cleaning or clearing of a sidewalk, the Director may take action to clear the sidewalk. In such cases, a fee will be imposed, as determined annually by the City Council.
3. The Director may seek reimbursement as part of the municipal infraction case brought in court, pursuant to § 1.20 General Penalty and Municipal Infractions, requesting the court issue an order to the owner to reimburse the City for the costs associated with the abatement activity.
4. The Director may adjust the reimbursement amount for residential property owners who are 65 years old or older, qualify for low-income relief, or have other relevant circumstances that warrant such an adjustment.
C. Appeals.
1. A person aggrieved by the decision of the Director of Public Works as to the necessity of cleaning, clearing, and properly maintaining their sidewalks may appeal to the Board of Appeals, whose decision shall be final.
2. An appeal shall be filed with the City Clerk within 30 days following the issuance of the notice to install or repair has been given by the Director.
SECTION II: AND BE IT FINALLY ESTABLISHED AND ORDAINED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that this ordinance shall take effect upon passage.