Shovel Snow or Get Fined: What Massachusetts Property Owners Need to Know

Last weekend's snowstorm may be in the rearview mirror, but the cleanup is not. If you're a Massachusetts property owner, you need to clear ice and snow from sidewalks near your property or you could face fines.

While there is no statewide law requiring residents to shovel their sidewalks, local ordinances do govern snow and ice removal.

According to NewsCenter 5, in Boston, a 42-inch-wide path must be cleared within three hours after snowfall ends (or after sunrise for overnight snow). Fines up to $200 for failure to clear public access paths, and penalties can be assessed for pushing snow into the street.

In Worcester, property owners have 10 hours to clear sidewalks or face a $75 daily fine.

According to a Patriot Ledger report, Quincy does not require people living in Residential A, B, or C neighborhoods to shovel sidewalks. Businesses, however, are required to do so and can be fined if they fail to clear them.

While municipalities recognize that individuals are not necessarily responsible for snow on their neighbors' sidewalks, most ordinances require residents to shovel the sidewalks abutting their property. In the city of Watertown, for example, an abutting sidewalk is defined as “any sidewalk that is bordering one's yard, fence, driveway, or other property line.” A Springfield ordinance includes any abutting fire hydrants or curb cuts.