Massachusetts Landlord Snow Removal Law: Plain Guide

Not legal advice. We are a snow service, not a law firm. Rules change and facts matter. Ask your attorney and your insurer about your building.

1. The owner's duty is reasonable care

Since the 2010 decision in Papadopoulos v. Target Corp., 457 Mass. 368, Massachusetts law no longer treats natural and unnatural buildup of snow and ice differently.¹ Whoever owns or occupies land must take reasonable care for people who are lawfully there.²

What is reasonable depends on the facts. Jurors are asked to weigh all the circumstances and decide whether an ordinarily prudent person in the defendant's position would have taken steps the defendant did not take to prevent the accident.³ A slip does not by itself prove the owner was careless: the fact that an accident happened is not, by itself, proof of negligence.⁴

2. Exits and stairs: the state sanitary code

In a multi-unit residence, the owner must keep every means of egress in a safe, operable condition at all times.⁵ For exterior stairways, fire escapes, egress balconies and bridges, the owner must keep them free of snow and ice.⁶ A housing provider is responsible for keeping shared paths of egress clear of snow and ice, including exterior shared stairways, parking lots, ramps and sidewalks.⁷

3. When a tenant can be made responsible

Under the same section, an occupant is responsible for keeping snow and ice off a means of egress under their exclusive use and control.⁸ That holds only when a written rental agreement clearly identifies the occupant's responsibility.⁹ This is narrow. A shared stair, shared walk or shared driveway is not under one tenant's exclusive control. A lease clause may also not protect the owner from a claim by someone who is hurt. Ask an attorney before you rely on one.

4. Sidewalks: set by each town

A city or town may require that snow and ice be removed from its sidewalks.¹⁰ Most snow and ice removal rules are set by the city or town, so check its ordinances.¹¹ Towns differ on how many hours after the snow stops, who must clear and the fine. Here is what we found for the towns we serve. Confirm with your town before a storm.

Town	Sidewalk rule	Verified	Sources and quotes
Melrose	The city plows roads and several designated sidewalk routes, but it says property owners are responsible for clearing the sidewalk next to their own property. The city's snow pages do not list a residential shoveling deadline or fine. Check with the City of Melrose for the current rule.	Check with the town	Melrose page
Malden	Owners must clear the sidewalk next to their property. The clock starts when snow stops or the city declares the end of snow operations. Buildings with fewer than 5 units have 24 hours; businesses and buildings with 5 or more units have 12 hours. Clear 36 inches (42 preferred). The city flyer lists fines: for fewer than 5 units a warning, then $100, then $150; for commercial or 5+ units $100, $200, then $300.	Yes	Malden page
Medford	Owners, tenants and occupants of land that touches a sidewalk must clear it within 8 daylight hours after snow stops. The city snow page gives 8 daylight hours for snow and a recommendation to treat ice within 6 hours. Fines are $50, $100, then $200 for the third and later offenses.	Yes	Medford page
Stoneham	The town code requires only buildings along listed downtown streets (Central Square, parts of Franklin and Main streets) to clear sidewalks: within five hours if snow stops in the daytime, or before 1 p.m. the next day if at night. No general duty for home sidewalks was found. Anyone clearing snow must not put it on the sidewalk or public way; the DPW page says that carries a fine of up to $200.	Yes	Stoneham page
Wakefield	Under the town bylaw, owners of commercial property and multi-family buildings must clear the sidewalks next to them within 24 hours after the storm ends. The bylaw text read sets $200 per violation. Single-family homeowners are not covered by this rule.	Yes	Wakefield page
Saugus	The town bylaws we read have no rule requiring owners to clear sidewalks. They do bar throwing snow from private property onto public streets ($25, Sec. 602.03) and depositing snow on any public or private way (Sec. 601.02). Check with the town about any newer rule.	Yes	Saugus page
Reading	Right now the town has no requirement for owners to shovel public sidewalks; the DPW plows over 50 miles of them, up to 72 hours after a storm, and shoveling is optional. A proposed bylaw (Article 6) goes to Town Meeting in November 2026. As drafted, homes would have 24 hours after a storm and businesses 12 hours, with a warning first, then $100, then $200. It would start Jan. 1, 2027 if passed.	Yes	Reading page
Lynnfield	The town says property owners must keep the sidewalk in front of their property clear of snow and ice. No deadline or fine for the shoveling duty is stated on that page. Moving snow or ice from private land onto streets, sidewalks or common land is banned by By-Law Chapter 4, Sections G and H, with fines of $20 to $50 per day.	Yes	Lynnfield page
North Reading	Businesses must clear the sidewalk next to their property. For homes the town only asks owners to clear the sidewalk in front of their homes. Bylaw 158-9 also bars putting snow or ice onto a cleared street or sidewalk, with fines of a warning, then $50, then $100.	Yes	North Reading page
Everett	The owner of land or a building next to a sidewalk must clear it, to at least 36 inches wide, within 12 hours of the city formally ending the snow emergency. The city guide says fines may be issued but gives no amount, and waivers are available for older residents and people who cannot shovel.	Yes	Everett page
Revere	Check with the city. The city clears selected school routes, some downtown sidewalks and city property, and the winter page names no resident shoveling deadline or fine. It does say snow from driveways may not be pushed into the street (Ordinance 12.04.350).	Check with the town	Revere page
Chelsea	Property owners and tenants must clear abutting sidewalks within 24 hours after the snow stops, to a width of at least 24 inches. The city snow page does not state a fine; check with the city for the penalty.	Yes	Chelsea page
Winthrop	The owner or tenant of property next to a sidewalk must remove snow and ice. The town ordinance PDF (as summarized) allows snow to stay no more than 6 hours between sunrise and sunset, with fines of $25, $50 and $100 for the first, second and third offense. Snow from a sidewalk or drive may not be put in the street.	Yes	Winthrop page
Charlestown	Property owners must clear sidewalks and curb ramps within 3 hours after snow stops (within 3 hours after sunrise if it snowed overnight), with a path at least 42 inches wide. Fines for not clearing: $50 for residential buildings with 16 or fewer units, $100 for residential buildings with more than 16 units, $200 for commercial. Each day counts as a separate violation, and pushing snow into the street is also fined.	Yes	Charlestown page
East Boston	Property owners must clear sidewalks and curb ramps within 3 hours after snow stops (within 3 hours after sunrise if it snowed overnight), with a path at least 42 inches wide. Fines for not clearing: $50 for residential buildings with 16 or fewer units, $100 for residential buildings with more than 16 units, $200 for commercial. Each day counts as a separate violation, and pushing snow into the street is also fined.	Yes	East Boston page
Cambridge	Owners must remove snow within 12 hours after it stops falling in the daytime, or before 1pm if it fell overnight. Ice must be removed within 6 hours of forming. The fine is $50 a day for each day of non-compliance.	Yes	Cambridge page
Somerville	Owners must clear sidewalks and ramps next to their property within six daylight hours after snow stops, to at least 36 inches wide, any time it snows. Fines for one- to three-unit houses are $100, $200 and then $300; for commercial or larger buildings $150 then $300.	Yes	Somerville page
Winchester	Under the town bylaws, owners of property open to the public or used for commercial enterprise must clear the sidewalk next to it within five hours between sunrise and sunset on a business day, with a fine of not more than $10 per offense, each day a separate offense. The bylaw does not apply to property used solely for residential purposes, and Winchester News reports that homeowners are exempt. A candidate has said he plans to propose a resident shoveling bylaw; we could not confirm that one was adopted.	Yes	Winchester page
Woburn	Woburn Code 12-37 requires abutters to clear only named downtown sidewalks (parts of Main St, Montvale Ave, Pleasant St and Common St) within 2 hours of the snow stopping in daytime, or before 10 a.m. after night snow, with a penalty up to $50. For other streets the city only asks residents to clear their sidewalk if able. Check with the city; the code copy we read is from 2017.	Check with the town	Woburn page
Arlington	Town bylaws (Title III, Article 1) require sidewalks next to property to be cleared after a storm. Homes (residentially zoned land) get 8 hours between sunrise and sunset, enough width for two people to pass, with a $25 per day fine (Section 24). Apartment and multi-unit condo owners and businesses get the first 3 hours between sunrise and sunset, full width, with a $50 per day fine (Sections 25 and 26). The town may clear the sidewalk and bill the owner.	Yes	Arlington page
Belmont	Belmont's General Bylaws require paved public sidewalks next to residential property to be cleared and made safe for walking. Residents have until 8:00 p.m. the day after the storm ends. Businesses have 12 hours after snow stops. The bulletin gives no fine; call the Code Enforcement Officer at 617-993-2657.	Yes	Belmont page
Burlington	Check with the town. We did not find a bylaw that makes homeowners shovel the sidewalk. The Highway Division plows or blows the sidewalks after the roads are done. The bylaws bar putting snow or ice onto a street.	Check with the town	Burlington page
Wilmington	The bylaw puts the sidewalk duty on the owner or occupant of a place of business, who must clear it within 24 hours after a snow or ice storm, with a fine of up to $50. For homes, the DPW asks owners to clear the sidewalk in front of their property.	Yes	Wilmington page
Bedford	Check with the town. No resident sidewalk-clearing rule was found in the General Bylaws read. The bylaws bar putting snow, beyond small amounts, on a public sidewalk or street the town has already cleared, with a $100 fine. The town starts with school routes, aiming to clear sidewalks within about 3 days.	Check with the town	Bedford page
Lexington	The town's winter brochure says Lexington's bylaws do not require residents to clear sidewalks in residential neighborhoods, but strongly encourages it. In commercial and industrial districts, owners may not leave snow or ice that blocks pedestrians for more than four hours between sunrise and sunset (General Bylaw 100.3 A).	Yes	Lexington page
Lowell	Lowell's code (Chapter 243, Sec. 243-3) requires the owner or person in charge of a building or lot bordering a public way to clear snow and ice from the sidewalk within 12 hours after the snow stops falling or the ice forms, or before 1:00 p.m. the next day if it stops or forms after 6:00 p.m. The code does not state the fine on that page; it is set in the city's fee schedule, which we did not read. City DPW clears only some sidewalks.	Yes	Lowell page
Chelmsford	The town asks residents and businesses to clear the sidewalk in front of their property and to use sand or deicer on ice. The town's posted rules state no deadline and no fine for this. The DPW plows town sidewalks and says it tries to finish within 4 days after a storm.	Yes	Chelmsford page
Dracut	Check with the town. No resident sidewalk-clearing rule was found in the bylaws read. The bylaws do bar putting snow on a public road or sidewalk where it blocks traffic or plowing, or on a hydrant, without written consent from the Director of Public Works.	Check with the town	Dracut page
Tyngsborough	Check with the town. No resident sidewalk-clearing rule was found. Article 38 of the town by-law bars putting snow, beyond incidental amounts, on a public sidewalk, street or way the town has already cleared; the fine is $50 for the first offense and $100 for each one after.	Check with the town	Tyngsborough page
Westford	The town does not do winter maintenance on sidewalks and encourages residents to clear the sidewalk in front of their property. The 2025 General Bylaws have no resident clearing deadline or fine. Snow may not be placed on a street or sidewalk the town has already cleared.	Yes	Westford page
Billerica	Property owners must clear the sidewalk next to their property within 24 hours from the end of the storm after the town has cleared the street, and keep it passable until the snow is gone. The fine is $10 per offense, and each day is a separate offense.	Yes	Billerica page
Tewksbury	Check with the town. No resident sidewalk-clearing rule was found in the town's posted rules. The Highway & Forestry Division clears town sidewalks, and the bylaws bar leaving snow on a traveled public way or sidewalk where it blocks traffic or plowing, or on a hydrant.	Check with the town	Tewksbury page
Andover	The FAQ read says that in the downtown Central Business District, property owners are responsible for snow and ice removal on sidewalks. It states no residential sidewalk duty. Town crews start sidewalks only after road clearing is done. Check with the town for the residential rule.	Check with the town	Andover page
Lynn	Under the city's snow removal ordinance (2015 amendment), owners of a residential building with six or fewer units must clear the sidewalk within 10 hours after sunrise or after snowfall ceases. Commercial, mixed-use and larger residential buildings (more than six units) get 3 hours between sunrise and sunset. Clear the full paved width or at least 42 inches, including curb cuts and ramps. Fines are $50 for the first violation, $100 for the second and $300 after that, and each day is a separate offense. No one may shovel or throw snow from their property or sidewalk onto city streets (same fines).	Yes	Lynn page
Swampscott	The town's snow emergency notices say property owners are responsible for cleaning snow from adjoining sidewalks to avoid being ticketed. Check with the town for the deadline and fine.	Check with the town	Swampscott page
Marblehead	We found no town rule on how fast owners must clear sidewalks. Town notices only say snow and ice may not be put on a fire hydrant, sidewalk or roadway. Check with the town.	Check with the town	Marblehead page
Nahant	We found no town sidewalk shoveling rule. A 2021 Town Meeting article to require owners to clear sidewalks was voted down (46 for, 203 against). Check with the town.	Check with the town	Nahant page
Salem	Owners must clear sidewalks and curb ramps within 6 hours after snow stops in the daytime, or before noon if it stops at night. Fine: $25 for the first offense. Salem pages disagree on later fines: $75 and $100, or $50. Snow may not be shoveled or thrown back into the street ($75 first fine, then $150 and $200).	Yes	Salem page
Beverly	Owners of property next to a sidewalk, including curb ramps, must clear snow 6 hours after snowfall ends (daytime snow) or by 1 pm the next day (overnight snow), and make the sidewalk safe within 6 hours after it becomes icy. The fine is $25, and each further 24 hours is a new $25 fine. Pushing snow into streets or sidewalks is banned. Hardship exemptions are available.	Yes	Beverly page
Peabody	Check with the city. We could not find a citywide rule on the city website that makes homeowners shovel the sidewalk, and the online city code could not be read.	Check with the town	Peabody page
Danvers	Check with the town. We did not find a bylaw that makes homeowners shovel the sidewalk. The bylaws do bar putting snow and ice onto a street. The town DPW plows 38 miles of sidewalks.	Check with the town	Danvers page
Middleton	Check with the town. The town snow page covers only town buildings' sidewalks, which crews clear after the roads. It does not say what homeowners must do.	Check with the town	Middleton page
Topsfield	Check with the town. We did not find a Topsfield rule on shoveling the sidewalk. The Highway Department says the town has about 25 miles of sidewalks.	Check with the town	Topsfield page

Melrose

Sidewalk rule: The city plows roads and several designated sidewalk routes, but it says property owners are responsible for clearing the sidewalk next to their own property. The city's snow pages do not list a residential shoveling deadline or fine. Check with the City of Melrose for the current rule.
Verified: Check with the town

Cited rule on the Melrose page

Malden

Sidewalk rule: Owners must clear the sidewalk next to their property. The clock starts when snow stops or the city declares the end of snow operations. Buildings with fewer than 5 units have 24 hours; businesses and buildings with 5 or more units have 12 hours. Clear 36 inches (42 preferred). The city flyer lists fines: for fewer than 5 units a warning, then $100, then $150; for commercial or 5+ units $100, $200, then $300.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Malden page

Medford

Sidewalk rule: Owners, tenants and occupants of land that touches a sidewalk must clear it within 8 daylight hours after snow stops. The city snow page gives 8 daylight hours for snow and a recommendation to treat ice within 6 hours. Fines are $50, $100, then $200 for the third and later offenses.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Medford page

Stoneham

Sidewalk rule: The town code requires only buildings along listed downtown streets (Central Square, parts of Franklin and Main streets) to clear sidewalks: within five hours if snow stops in the daytime, or before 1 p.m. the next day if at night. No general duty for home sidewalks was found. Anyone clearing snow must not put it on the sidewalk or public way; the DPW page says that carries a fine of up to $200.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Stoneham page

Wakefield

Sidewalk rule: Under the town bylaw, owners of commercial property and multi-family buildings must clear the sidewalks next to them within 24 hours after the storm ends. The bylaw text read sets $200 per violation. Single-family homeowners are not covered by this rule.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Wakefield page

Saugus

Sidewalk rule: The town bylaws we read have no rule requiring owners to clear sidewalks. They do bar throwing snow from private property onto public streets ($25, Sec. 602.03) and depositing snow on any public or private way (Sec. 601.02). Check with the town about any newer rule.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Saugus page

Reading

Sidewalk rule: Right now the town has no requirement for owners to shovel public sidewalks; the DPW plows over 50 miles of them, up to 72 hours after a storm, and shoveling is optional. A proposed bylaw (Article 6) goes to Town Meeting in November 2026. As drafted, homes would have 24 hours after a storm and businesses 12 hours, with a warning first, then $100, then $200. It would start Jan. 1, 2027 if passed.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Reading page

Lynnfield

Sidewalk rule: The town says property owners must keep the sidewalk in front of their property clear of snow and ice. No deadline or fine for the shoveling duty is stated on that page. Moving snow or ice from private land onto streets, sidewalks or common land is banned by By-Law Chapter 4, Sections G and H, with fines of $20 to $50 per day.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Lynnfield page

North Reading

Sidewalk rule: Businesses must clear the sidewalk next to their property. For homes the town only asks owners to clear the sidewalk in front of their homes. Bylaw 158-9 also bars putting snow or ice onto a cleared street or sidewalk, with fines of a warning, then $50, then $100.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the North Reading page

Everett

Sidewalk rule: The owner of land or a building next to a sidewalk must clear it, to at least 36 inches wide, within 12 hours of the city formally ending the snow emergency. The city guide says fines may be issued but gives no amount, and waivers are available for older residents and people who cannot shovel.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Everett page

Revere

Sidewalk rule: Check with the city. The city clears selected school routes, some downtown sidewalks and city property, and the winter page names no resident shoveling deadline or fine. It does say snow from driveways may not be pushed into the street (Ordinance 12.04.350).
Verified: Check with the town

Cited rule on the Revere page

Chelsea

Sidewalk rule: Property owners and tenants must clear abutting sidewalks within 24 hours after the snow stops, to a width of at least 24 inches. The city snow page does not state a fine; check with the city for the penalty.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Chelsea page

Winthrop

Sidewalk rule: The owner or tenant of property next to a sidewalk must remove snow and ice. The town ordinance PDF (as summarized) allows snow to stay no more than 6 hours between sunrise and sunset, with fines of $25, $50 and $100 for the first, second and third offense. Snow from a sidewalk or drive may not be put in the street.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Winthrop page

Charlestown

Sidewalk rule: Property owners must clear sidewalks and curb ramps within 3 hours after snow stops (within 3 hours after sunrise if it snowed overnight), with a path at least 42 inches wide. Fines for not clearing: $50 for residential buildings with 16 or fewer units, $100 for residential buildings with more than 16 units, $200 for commercial. Each day counts as a separate violation, and pushing snow into the street is also fined.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Charlestown page

East Boston

Sidewalk rule: Property owners must clear sidewalks and curb ramps within 3 hours after snow stops (within 3 hours after sunrise if it snowed overnight), with a path at least 42 inches wide. Fines for not clearing: $50 for residential buildings with 16 or fewer units, $100 for residential buildings with more than 16 units, $200 for commercial. Each day counts as a separate violation, and pushing snow into the street is also fined.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the East Boston page

Cambridge

Sidewalk rule: Owners must remove snow within 12 hours after it stops falling in the daytime, or before 1pm if it fell overnight. Ice must be removed within 6 hours of forming. The fine is $50 a day for each day of non-compliance.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Cambridge page

Somerville

Sidewalk rule: Owners must clear sidewalks and ramps next to their property within six daylight hours after snow stops, to at least 36 inches wide, any time it snows. Fines for one- to three-unit houses are $100, $200 and then $300; for commercial or larger buildings $150 then $300.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Somerville page

Winchester

Sidewalk rule: Under the town bylaws, owners of property open to the public or used for commercial enterprise must clear the sidewalk next to it within five hours between sunrise and sunset on a business day, with a fine of not more than $10 per offense, each day a separate offense. The bylaw does not apply to property used solely for residential purposes, and Winchester News reports that homeowners are exempt. A candidate has said he plans to propose a resident shoveling bylaw; we could not confirm that one was adopted.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Winchester page

Woburn

Sidewalk rule: Woburn Code 12-37 requires abutters to clear only named downtown sidewalks (parts of Main St, Montvale Ave, Pleasant St and Common St) within 2 hours of the snow stopping in daytime, or before 10 a.m. after night snow, with a penalty up to $50. For other streets the city only asks residents to clear their sidewalk if able. Check with the city; the code copy we read is from 2017.
Verified: Check with the town

Cited rule on the Woburn page

Arlington

Sidewalk rule: Town bylaws (Title III, Article 1) require sidewalks next to property to be cleared after a storm. Homes (residentially zoned land) get 8 hours between sunrise and sunset, enough width for two people to pass, with a $25 per day fine (Section 24). Apartment and multi-unit condo owners and businesses get the first 3 hours between sunrise and sunset, full width, with a $50 per day fine (Sections 25 and 26). The town may clear the sidewalk and bill the owner.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Arlington page

Belmont

Sidewalk rule: Belmont's General Bylaws require paved public sidewalks next to residential property to be cleared and made safe for walking. Residents have until 8:00 p.m. the day after the storm ends. Businesses have 12 hours after snow stops. The bulletin gives no fine; call the Code Enforcement Officer at 617-993-2657.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Belmont page

Burlington

Sidewalk rule: Check with the town. We did not find a bylaw that makes homeowners shovel the sidewalk. The Highway Division plows or blows the sidewalks after the roads are done. The bylaws bar putting snow or ice onto a street.
Verified: Check with the town

Cited rule on the Burlington page

Wilmington

Sidewalk rule: The bylaw puts the sidewalk duty on the owner or occupant of a place of business, who must clear it within 24 hours after a snow or ice storm, with a fine of up to $50. For homes, the DPW asks owners to clear the sidewalk in front of their property.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Wilmington page

Bedford

Sidewalk rule: Check with the town. No resident sidewalk-clearing rule was found in the General Bylaws read. The bylaws bar putting snow, beyond small amounts, on a public sidewalk or street the town has already cleared, with a $100 fine. The town starts with school routes, aiming to clear sidewalks within about 3 days.
Verified: Check with the town

Cited rule on the Bedford page

Lexington

Sidewalk rule: The town's winter brochure says Lexington's bylaws do not require residents to clear sidewalks in residential neighborhoods, but strongly encourages it. In commercial and industrial districts, owners may not leave snow or ice that blocks pedestrians for more than four hours between sunrise and sunset (General Bylaw 100.3 A).
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Lexington page

Lowell

Sidewalk rule: Lowell's code (Chapter 243, Sec. 243-3) requires the owner or person in charge of a building or lot bordering a public way to clear snow and ice from the sidewalk within 12 hours after the snow stops falling or the ice forms, or before 1:00 p.m. the next day if it stops or forms after 6:00 p.m. The code does not state the fine on that page; it is set in the city's fee schedule, which we did not read. City DPW clears only some sidewalks.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Lowell page

Chelmsford

Sidewalk rule: The town asks residents and businesses to clear the sidewalk in front of their property and to use sand or deicer on ice. The town's posted rules state no deadline and no fine for this. The DPW plows town sidewalks and says it tries to finish within 4 days after a storm.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Chelmsford page

Dracut

Sidewalk rule: Check with the town. No resident sidewalk-clearing rule was found in the bylaws read. The bylaws do bar putting snow on a public road or sidewalk where it blocks traffic or plowing, or on a hydrant, without written consent from the Director of Public Works.
Verified: Check with the town

Cited rule on the Dracut page

Tyngsborough

Sidewalk rule: Check with the town. No resident sidewalk-clearing rule was found. Article 38 of the town by-law bars putting snow, beyond incidental amounts, on a public sidewalk, street or way the town has already cleared; the fine is $50 for the first offense and $100 for each one after.
Verified: Check with the town

Cited rule on the Tyngsborough page

Westford

Sidewalk rule: The town does not do winter maintenance on sidewalks and encourages residents to clear the sidewalk in front of their property. The 2025 General Bylaws have no resident clearing deadline or fine. Snow may not be placed on a street or sidewalk the town has already cleared.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Westford page

Billerica

Sidewalk rule: Property owners must clear the sidewalk next to their property within 24 hours from the end of the storm after the town has cleared the street, and keep it passable until the snow is gone. The fine is $10 per offense, and each day is a separate offense.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Billerica page

Tewksbury

Sidewalk rule: Check with the town. No resident sidewalk-clearing rule was found in the town's posted rules. The Highway & Forestry Division clears town sidewalks, and the bylaws bar leaving snow on a traveled public way or sidewalk where it blocks traffic or plowing, or on a hydrant.
Verified: Check with the town

Cited rule on the Tewksbury page

Andover

Sidewalk rule: The FAQ read says that in the downtown Central Business District, property owners are responsible for snow and ice removal on sidewalks. It states no residential sidewalk duty. Town crews start sidewalks only after road clearing is done. Check with the town for the residential rule.
Verified: Check with the town

Cited rule on the Andover page

Lynn

Sidewalk rule: Under the city's snow removal ordinance (2015 amendment), owners of a residential building with six or fewer units must clear the sidewalk within 10 hours after sunrise or after snowfall ceases. Commercial, mixed-use and larger residential buildings (more than six units) get 3 hours between sunrise and sunset. Clear the full paved width or at least 42 inches, including curb cuts and ramps. Fines are $50 for the first violation, $100 for the second and $300 after that, and each day is a separate offense. No one may shovel or throw snow from their property or sidewalk onto city streets (same fines).
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Lynn page

Swampscott

Sidewalk rule: The town's snow emergency notices say property owners are responsible for cleaning snow from adjoining sidewalks to avoid being ticketed. Check with the town for the deadline and fine.
Verified: Check with the town

Cited rule on the Swampscott page

Marblehead

Sidewalk rule: We found no town rule on how fast owners must clear sidewalks. Town notices only say snow and ice may not be put on a fire hydrant, sidewalk or roadway. Check with the town.
Verified: Check with the town

Cited rule on the Marblehead page

Nahant

Sidewalk rule: We found no town sidewalk shoveling rule. A 2021 Town Meeting article to require owners to clear sidewalks was voted down (46 for, 203 against). Check with the town.
Verified: Check with the town

Cited rule on the Nahant page

Salem

Sidewalk rule: Owners must clear sidewalks and curb ramps within 6 hours after snow stops in the daytime, or before noon if it stops at night. Fine: $25 for the first offense. Salem pages disagree on later fines: $75 and $100, or $50. Snow may not be shoveled or thrown back into the street ($75 first fine, then $150 and $200).
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Salem page

Beverly

Sidewalk rule: Owners of property next to a sidewalk, including curb ramps, must clear snow 6 hours after snowfall ends (daytime snow) or by 1 pm the next day (overnight snow), and make the sidewalk safe within 6 hours after it becomes icy. The fine is $25, and each further 24 hours is a new $25 fine. Pushing snow into streets or sidewalks is banned. Hardship exemptions are available.
Verified: Yes

Cited rule on the Beverly page

Peabody

Sidewalk rule: Check with the city. We could not find a citywide rule on the city website that makes homeowners shovel the sidewalk, and the online city code could not be read.
Verified: Check with the town

Cited rule on the Peabody page

Danvers

Sidewalk rule: Check with the town. We did not find a bylaw that makes homeowners shovel the sidewalk. The bylaws do bar putting snow and ice onto a street. The town DPW plows 38 miles of sidewalks.
Verified: Check with the town

Cited rule on the Danvers page

Middleton

Sidewalk rule: Check with the town. The town snow page covers only town buildings' sidewalks, which crews clear after the roads. It does not say what homeowners must do.
Verified: Check with the town

Cited rule on the Middleton page

Topsfield

Sidewalk rule: Check with the town. We did not find a Topsfield rule on shoveling the sidewalk. The Highway Department says the town has about 25 miles of sidewalks.
Verified: Check with the town

Cited rule on the Topsfield page

Checked October 13, 2026. Rules change; confirm with your town. This is not legal advice. Parking bans and alerts for every town.

5. Condominiums and HOAs

For condos, the master deed and bylaws decide who is responsible for common areas, and the board hires the vendor. Ask your attorney to point to the bylaw clause on maintenance of the common areas. The association owes visitors the same reasonable care as any owner.

A practical routine for small owners

Look up your town's sidewalk rule in the table above.
Decide who clears, and write it in the lease or the contract.
Clear the walk, front steps, back stairs and rear exit, not only the driveway.
Salt stairs and walks after clearing.
Keep a log: time, and a photo before and after. A service with a photo log does this for you.
Tell your insurer promptly if anyone reports a fall. See insurance and liability.

Parking bans and tenants

Many towns ban parking on streets during a snow emergency. That affects where tenants park and where plowed snow can go. See the parking ban rules for every town we serve.

Sources

Each number above links to the passage it relies on. Checked November 1, 2026. We are a snow contractor, not a law firm or an engineer; confirm legal and structural questions with your attorney, insurer or town.

Mass.gov, Massachusetts law about snow and ice Papadopoulos v. Target Corp. , 457 Mass. 368 (2010) This case abolished the legal distinction between natural and unnatural accumulations of snow and ice.
Rolli v. Burlington Residences, LLC, 18 Mass. L. Rptr. 571 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2004) owners and occupiers of land owe a common-law duty of “reasonable care in all the circumstances" to all lawful visitors.
Massachusetts model jury instruction 4.01, premises liability: breach of duty You should consider whether, in view of all the circumstances, an ordinarily prudent person in the defendant's position would have taken steps, not taken by the defendant, to prevent the accident that occurred.
Massachusetts model jury instruction 4.01, premises liability: breach of duty The fact that an accident happened, by itself, is not proof of negligence.
105 CMR 410.260 (State Sanitary Code, Chapter II), means of egress The owner shall ensure every means of egress is maintained at all times in a safe, operable condition.
105 CMR 410.260 (State Sanitary Code, Chapter II), means of egress For all exterior stairways, fire escapes, egress balconies and bridges, the owner shall ensure: (a) They are maintained free of snow and ice
Mass.gov, Snow removal and accessibility in Massachusetts The housing provider is responsible for keeping the shared paths of egress, including exterior shared stairways, parking lots (but not cars parked in it), ramps, and sidewalks clear of snow and ice
105 CMR 410.260 (State Sanitary Code, Chapter II), means of egress The occupant is responsible for maintaining free of snow and ice, the means of egress under their exclusive use and control
105 CMR 410.260 (State Sanitary Code, Chapter II), means of egress provided there is a written rental agreement that clearly identifies the occupant's responsibility.
Mass.gov, Massachusetts law about snow and ice Cities and towns may require removal of snow and ice from sidewalks
Mass.gov, Massachusetts law about snow and ice Most laws about snow and ice removal are municipal laws, so check your city or town ordinances

Questions

Is a Massachusetts landlord responsible for snow and ice?

Generally yes. Owners must use reasonable care to keep the property safe from snow and ice (Papadopoulos v. Target Corp., 2010). The state sanitary code also requires owners to keep exterior stairs and other means of egress free of snow and ice. A tenant can take on a limited part only through a clear written rental agreement.

How fast must a landlord clear snow in Massachusetts?

There is no one statewide clock that we found. Towns set sidewalk deadlines by their own bylaw or ordinance, and they differ. See the town table on this page and confirm with your town. For other areas, the standard is reasonable care in the circumstances.

Can a lease make the tenant clear the snow?

Only in a narrow case under the sanitary code: the egress is under the tenant's exclusive use and control, and a written rental agreement clearly says the tenant is responsible. Shared stairs, drives and walks stay with the owner. Even then, ask an attorney whether the owner is still exposed to a claim from an injured person.

Is the old natural accumulation rule still in use?

No. In Papadopoulos v. Target Corp. the Supreme Judicial Court dropped the old rule that treated natural snow and ice differently from other hazards.

Is this legal advice?

No. It is a plain summary with sources. Rules change and facts matter. Ask an attorney about your building.

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Massachusetts landlord snow removal law: what owners of small buildings must do

1. The owner's duty is reasonable care

2. Exits and stairs: the state sanitary code

3. When a tenant can be made responsible

4. Sidewalks: set by each town

5. Condominiums and HOAs

A practical routine for small owners

Parking bans and tenants

Sources

Questions

Small property managers

Townhome complexes

How a condo board hires a snow contractor

Snow removal bid checklist (printable)

Snow removal insurance and liability

Snow removal cost per unit