Snow Removal Laws by State 2025

No
33
Yes
17
State
State Has Snow Removal Law
Snow Removal Law Details
Alaska Flag
AlaskaYes
  • Property owners are required to maintain their driveways and in most areas, the approach roads to their properties.
  • Tenants may be responsible for removing snow from privare areas.
Colorado Flag
ColoradoYes
  • The owners of buildings, stores, and any other public places are responsible for removing snow and ice to enable safe access to their property.
  • Snow cannot be cleared onto a public highway.
Connecticut Flag
ConnecticutYes
  • Owner or resident is responsible for snow removal on adjacent public walkways and public gutters.
  • Some cities require the owner also salt or sand the sidewalk and provide timeframes for when snow removal must occur.
  • Owners may be liable if snow is cleared and an accident occurs.
Delaware Flag
DelawareYes
  • The state assumes responsibility for clearing sidewalks along public roadways, however property owners in some towns and counties will still need to meet local requirements for removing snow.
Idaho Flag
IdahoYes
  • The owner of a building (home, business, church, etc) is to keep their sidewalks clear of snow every day.
  • Cities may charge private property owners for the cost of snow removal.
Illinois Flag
IllinoisYes
  • Residents and property owners are encouraged to remove snow from sidewalks and public walkways.
  • Anyone who removes snow shall not be held liable for injuries that occur as a result of snow or snow removal.
Iowa Flag
IowaYes
  • Property owners must clear snow from adjacent sidewalks within a reasonable time after a snowstorm.
  • The entire width of the sidewalk must be cleared down to the concrete.
Maine Flag
MaineYes
  • Residents and residential property owners have 12 hours to remove snow or ice after a storm has ended, in Portland, MI
  • Snow removal operators may not deposit, shovel, blow, or plow snow onto or next to a public highway or road.
Massachusetts Flag
MassachusettsYes
  • Property owners and landlords are responsible for managing all snow and ice on their property and keeping all entrances, exits, and pathways safe and operable.
  • Snow cannot be cleared onto a state highway.
Michigan Flag
MichiganYes
  • Snow, as well as ice, shall be removed from sidewalks in order to reduce the likelihood of injuries to pedestrians.
Minnesota Flag
MinnesotaYes
  • Snow and ice must be removed within 24 hours from public sidewalks.
  • Snow cannot be cleared onto any highway.
Nebraska Flag
NebraskaYes
  • In cities of over 100,000 people, property owners must clear snow from adjoining sidewalks.
  • Owners must also clear the snow from mailboxes and fire hydrants on their property.
New Hampshire Flag
New HampshireYes
  • Sidewalks on public roads are maintained and cleared of snow and ice by the municipality at no additional cost to property owners.
New Jersey Flag
New JerseyYes
  • Single-family homeowners have no duty to clear snow or ice from their property and will only be held liable to injury claims if they make the snow condition more dangerous than what occurs naturally.
  • Multifamily property owners must clear snow and ice from public walkways and sidewalks on and in front of their property.
New York Flag
New YorkYes
  • Municipal ordinances require property owners to remove snow and ice from walkways and sidewalks outside their property to ensure pedestrian safety. If there is a bus stop or fire hydrant in front of their property, they must also clear the surrounding sidewalks.
Pennsylvania Flag
PennsylvaniaYes
  • Property owners and occupants have a legal duty to shovel sidewalks within a specified time after a storm has ended. Failing to do so may result in a fine. City ordinances specify a time frame and how wide the path must be when removing snow.
Rhode Island Flag
Rhode IslandYes
  • All snow must be removed by the property owner from a path not less than three (3) feet in width of the entire border in or on said street, highway, or public place, from "around any fire hydrant on the sidewalk in front of said building or lot," from "the opening of any catch basin in the sidewalk of said building or lot," and from "pedestrian-access ramps cut into street curbs bordering said building or lot."
Alabama Flag
AlabamaNo
Arizona Flag
ArizonaNo
  • In some cities in Arizona, local laws require owners, lessees, or residents to remove snow from public walkways bordering their property within 24 hours. Additionally, it is illegal to park on city streets and alleys during snow removal operations. These regulations depend on the specific local ordinances in each city.
Arkansas Flag
ArkansasNo
  • No state snow-removal law. Owners may be liable if snow is cleared and an accident occurs.
California Flag
CaliforniaNo
  • The act of putting snow or other materials on a public right-of-way is a violation of CVC 23112 and Section 724 of the California Streets and Highways Code, and is a misdemeanor.
Florida Flag
FloridaNo
Georgia Flag
GeorgiaNo
  • No state snow-removal requirements. However, if an individual does shovel snow, it may not be placed in any public road, street, or walkway.
Hawaii Flag
HawaiiNo
Indiana Flag
IndianaNo
  • Local regulations in some areas prohibit obstructing roadways, and pushing or shoveling snow into the street could be considered an obstruction. Additionally, property owners and occupants in these localities are required to clear sidewalks adjacent to their property, ensuring a 5-foot wide path is maintained. These rules are not statewide but depend on the specific local ordinances.
Kansas Flag
KansasNo
  • In Wichita, KS property owners must shovel snow and ice from public sidewalks for face a fine and a misdemeanor.
Kentucky Flag
KentuckyNo
  • Property owners are responsible for removing snow from walkways within 4 hours after daylight and after falling snow has ceased in Lexington, KY.
Louisiana Flag
LouisianaNo
Maryland Flag
MarylandNo
  • Depending on the city, residents have 12-72 hours to remove snow from public sidewalks.
Mississippi Flag
MississippiNo
  • No state regulation regarding snow removal from public sidewalks by owners.
  • Some cities have a snow removal reimbursement program that reimburses residents for hiring contractors to remove snow from streets.
Missouri Flag
MissouriNo
  • Most Missouri cities require property owners to clear any sidewalks on the public streets alongside their property within a reasonable time after snow or ice storms.
Montana Flag
MontanaNo
  • City ordinances require residents to clear public walkways, driveways and sidewalks of snow and ice within 24 hours.
  • Residents and business owners are encouraged to shovel snow from sidewalks and driveway openings back onto their property instead of the streets.
Nevada Flag
NevadaNo
  • The burden is on property owners to keep their properties, and the adjoining public sidewalks, free and clear of snow, ice, and other dangerous conditions.
New Mexico Flag
New MexicoNo
  • In some cities, property owners must shovel their sidewalks after each snowstorm to ensure safe pedestrian access. Snowplows may make multiple passes, pushing snow onto already cleared sidewalks, which the property owner must clear again. These rules are not statewide but depend on local ordinances.
North Carolina Flag
North CarolinaNo
  • Cities like Asheville, NC have a local ordinance that states property owners are required to clear the sidewalks abutting their property of ice before 10AM each day in which the temperature exceeds 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
North Dakota Flag
North DakotaNo
  • In Fargo, ND, the Street Department maintains approximately 34 miles of City sidewalk and will clear sidewalk snow and ice following a storm. However, in Bismarck, ND residents are required to clear all snow and ice from their sidewalks and crosswalks.
Ohio Flag
OhioNo
  • No official state law requires homeowners to remove snow.
  • However, several local ordinances do require owners or residents to remove snow from public sidewalks.
Oklahoma Flag
OklahomaNo
  • An ordinance in Tulsa, OK states that property owners and residents must remove snow from public sidewalks on their property within 24 hrs after snowfall.
Oregon Flag
OregonNo
  • State law says the home or property owner is responsible if someone slips or falls and is injured on an icy or snowy sidewalk.
South Carolina Flag
South CarolinaNo
South Dakota Flag
South DakotaNo
  • No specific state laws regarding snow removal from sidewalks around residential properties.
  • The state empowers municipalities and governing bodies to determine ordinances and laws.
Tennessee Flag
TennesseeNo
  • Property owners are expected to take steps to remove snow and ice within a reasonable time after it has formed or accumulated.
Texas Flag
TexasNo
  • No specific state laws regarding snow removal from sidewalks around residential properties.
  • The state empowers municipalities and governing bodies to determine ordinances and laws.
Utah Flag
UtahNo
  • No specific state laws regarding snow removal from sidewalks around residential properties.
  • The state empowers municipalities and governing bodies to determine ordinances and laws.
Vermont Flag
VermontNo
  • No specific state laws regarding snow removal from sidewalks around residential properties.
  • The state empowers municipalities and governing bodies to determine ordinances and laws.
Virginia Flag
VirginiaNo
  • Depending on the amount of snow (0-6 inches or 6+ inches), property owners have 24-72 hours to remove snow from public walkways.
Washington Flag
WashingtonNo
  • In some cities and towns, the property owner is responsible for the maintenance of sidewalks or may delegate this responsibility to the tenant, occupant, or lessee by written agreement. Each locality has its own specific rules.
West Virginia Flag
West VirginiaNo
  • No specific state laws regarding snow removal from sidewalks around residential properties.
  • The state empowers municipalities and governing bodies to determine ordinances and laws.
Wisconsin Flag
WisconsinNo
  • No specific state laws regarding snow removal from sidewalks around residential properties.
  • The state empowers municipalities and governing bodies to determine ordinances and laws.
Wyoming Flag
WyomingNo
  • No specific state laws regarding snow removal from sidewalks around residential properties.
  • The state empowers municipalities and governing bodies to determine ordinances and laws.