Snowy Winter Leads to Twice as Many Sidewalk Clearing Complaints

The fine for a first-time offense was approximately $124, with every subsequent offense leading to a $187 fine. Those fines do not include additional snow removal fees for cases in which the City had to remove the snow for the property owner. In those cases, the minimum snow removal charge is $153, but can be as high as $196 if sand and salt also need to be applied to the area. Snow removal fees are billed to the property owners. If the fees are not paid, they are added on to the property owner's property tax bill as a special assessment. 

As a reminder, the Building Inspection division does not issue warnings before issuing a citation for failure to clear snow and ice from a sidewalk in a timely manner due to covered walkways being a public safety hazard. The best way to make sure you know the deadline to clear your sidewalk is to sign up for the City of Madison's Snow Removal Updates e-mail list.

Property Reminders for Spring

Winter is not the only season when property owners need to make sure public walkways are clear and safe to navigate. These are things to keep in mind as we continue to move into the spring and summer months: 

• Grass and other plants need to stay clear of public walkways so they do not create tripping hazards or other dangers to pedestrians. 
• Erosion — including gravel, sand or mulch — must also be kept clear of public sidewalks. 
• Grass cannot be allowed to grow to more than 8 inches in height.
• Non-woody garden or landscaping plants are allowed to be planted in the public terrace area between the roadway and property line. Again, these plants are not allowed to grow into the path of the walkway. Plants are also not allowed to be placed within 6 feet of a fire hydrant. 
  • Learn more about what is allowed to be planted in the terrace
• The City maintains trees planted in the terrace, but trees on private property are the owner's responsibility. Branches growing over a sidewalk need to be at least 7 feet above the ground. If branches grow over a street, they must be at least 12 feet above the ground. 
• Any compost bins on your property must be at least 3 feet away from any building on the property and at least 3 feet away from the lot line. Compost bins cannot be taller than 5 feet and no larger than 125 cubic feet. 

Additional Information and Resources