Don’t Shirk Your Shoveling: Massachusetts Rules for Sidewalk Snow Removal

As fall transitions to winter in New England, it's time to get out your shovels and get ready for the season's snowfall. Various municipalities in Massachusetts have varying rules about clearing snow from sidewalks. Brush up on some of these mandates for the following Massachusetts cities before the snow flies.

According to the City of Boston's website, property owners must clear curb ramps and sidewalks within three hours of the end of snowfall. In the event of overnight snow, curb ramps and sidewalks must be cleared within three hours after sunrise.

Individuals are asked to clear a path at least 42 inches wide for people using wheelchairs and pushing strollers.

Fines for failure to remove ice and snow from public sidewalks are $200 per incident for commercial property owners, $100 per incident for residential property owners with more than 16 units, and $50 per incident for residential property owners with 16 or fewer units.

A City of Cambridge ordinance requires that ice be removed from sidewalks within six hours of its formation. Snow needs to be removed within 12 hours of the end of snowfall if it occurs during the day or before 1 p.m. if it happens at night.

The fine for failing to comply with Cambridge's sidewalk clearance ordinances is $50 per day of noncompliance.

The City of Salem's snow-clearing ordinance requires property owners to remove snow and ice from bordering sidewalks within six hours after snowfall ends or Salem's snow emergency lights are turned off, whichever comes later.

If snow stops falling and the snow emergency lights are turned off at night, property owners must remove snow before noon. If individuals neglect to do so, they will be fined $25 for the first offense, $75 for the second offense, and $100 for the third and subsequent offenses.

All property owners or occupants are responsible for keeping the sidewalk in front of and adjacent to their property clear of ice and snow.

A City of Worcester ordinance requires property owners to clear a 4-foot-wide path to allow safe pedestrian travel within 10 hours of the end of a snowfall. Individuals are also asked to clear curb ramps at corners that abut property.

The fine for failing to comply with Worcester's sidewalk snow removal ordinance is $75 per day.