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Sidewalk Clearing and Ordinance Compliance
Many Massachusetts towns make the owner or occupant clear the public sidewalk in front of the property within a set number of hours, and fine you if you miss it. We clear and salt sidewalks for businesses and landlords, and log every visit. Rules differ by town. Check the table below and confirm with your town.
For: Businesses and landlords with public sidewalk frontage.
What is included
- Full width of the public sidewalk along your frontage
- Corner curb cuts and crosswalk approaches on your property
- Salt or sand after clearing
- Time-stamped log and photos as a compliance record
Trigger depth, response and salting
Trigger. We plow at 2 in of accumulation. Seasonal contracts state the trigger in writing; some properties choose a 1 in trigger for entrances or a higher one for large lots.
Response. Our target is to start within about 4 hours after snowfall ends, serving seasonal contracts first. That is a target, not a guarantee, and storms that run long may get a mid-storm pass at a stated depth. Contracts spell out the response commitment before you sign.
Salting. Salt or sand is a separate line item: roughly $120 to $250 per application (draft range) depending on the property, or a flat seasonal add-on. We salt after clearing, on request or per a written trigger such as a forecast freeze.
Documentation for liability
Each visit is logged with arrival and departure times and before and after photos, so a board or manager has a time-stamped record if a slip-and-fall claim is ever made. Logs are shared on request or by monthly summary.
Contract terms and season
- Seasonal or per-visit pricing by linear feet
- Response target aligned to your town's window where verified
- Exclusions policy
- Season: November 15 to April 15. Sign by November 1 for the first storm.
Sidewalk ordinance by town
| Town | Sidewalk rule | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melrose | The city says owners and business operators are responsible for the sidewalk in front of their property, but no residential deadline or fine could be confirmed. The last code text read (Sec. 177-12) set a six daylight hour rule and a $50 fine for commercial, office and manufacturing areas only. Check with the city. | Check with the town | cityofmelrose.org/439/Snow-Operations, pedbikemelrose.org/committee-supports-update |
| 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 | cityofmalden.org/607/Winter-Weather-Central, cityofmalden.org/DocumentCenter/View/859/Mal |
| 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 | medfordma.org/snow |
| 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-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1221/CH1, stoneham-ma.gov/248/Snow-Plowing |
| 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 | wakefieldma.gov/405/Highway-Division, ecode360.com/12314703 |
| 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-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1347/Town- |
| 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 | readingma.gov/241/Snow-Ice-Guidelines, readingma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/24891/Prop, readingma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=907 |
| 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 | lynnfieldma.gov/467/Snow-Ice-Control |
| 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 | northreadingma.gov/833/Winter-Sidewalk-Maint, northreadingma.gov/882/Winter-Sidewalk-Maint |
| 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 | web.archive.org/web/2025if_/https://cityofev |
| 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.org/departments/public-works/winter-w |
| 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 | chelseama.gov/snow |
| 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 | winthropma.gov/260/A-Residents-Guide-to-Snow, winthropma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/247/Remov |
| 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 | boston.gov/departments/public-works/rules-cl |
| 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 | boston.gov/departments/public-works/rules-cl |
| 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 | cambridgema.gov/snow |
| 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 | somervillema.gov/snow |
| Winchester | Residential and commercial owners must clear the sidewalk in front of their property within 24 hours of the end of a storm (Town Ordinance 7). If not, the town may inspect, issue a $100 citation and charge for Public Works to clear it. | Yes | townofwinchester.org/articles/shovel-your-sh |
| 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 | woburnma.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Titl, web.archive.org/web/2025/https://woburnma.go |
| Arlington | Town bylaws require residents and businesses to clear snow and ice from sidewalks next to their property after a storm (Title III, Article 1, Sections 24-26). The fine is $25 to $50 per day. The page we read does not give the number of hours, so check the bylaw; news reports say 8 daylight hours for homes. | Yes | web.archive.org/web/2025/https://www.arlingt |
| 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-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12847/TA- |
| 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.org/Faq.aspx?QID=126, burlington.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3 |
| 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 | wilmingtonma.gov/public-works/pages/sidewalk |
| 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 | bedfordma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/512/The-Ge, bedfordma.gov/465/Winter-Operations |
| 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 | lexingtonma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/674/Wint, lexingtonma.gov/303/Snow-Ice-Removal |
| Lowell | Check with the city. Lowell's code has a Streets and Sidewalks chapter (Chapter 243) with a snow and ice section, but the current text could not be read, so no deadline or fine is stated here. City DPW clears only some sidewalks. | Check with the town | lowellma.gov/193/Snow-Operations |
| 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 | chelmsfordma.gov/359/Winter-Safety, chelmsfordma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17137/S |
| 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 | dracutma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2657/Town-o, dracutma.gov/620/Snow-Ice-Division |
| 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 | tyngsboroughma.gov/329/Winter-Emergency-Snow |
| 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 | westfordma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12396/Sno, westfordma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/16674/Gen |
| 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.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11423/Gene |
| 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-ma.gov/209/Snow-Ice-Operation, tewksbury-ma.gov/210 |
| 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 | andoverma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/534/Winter |
| Lynn | Check with the city. We could not read a current Lynn sidewalk ordinance on an official page. | Check with the town | lynnma.gov/city_government/departments/dpw/s |
| 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 | swampscottma.gov/home/news/snow-emergency-ef |
| 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 | marbleheadma.gov/town-snow-emergency-parking |
| 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.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2021-d |
| 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.com/FAQ.aspx?QID=107, salem.com/city-engineer/faq/if-i-do-not-have |
| 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 | beverlyma.gov/294/Snow-Ice-Information |
| 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 | |
| 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 | danversma.gov/404/Snow-Ice, danversma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/256/Town-B |
| 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 | middletonma.gov/409/Snow-Removal |
| 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-ma.gov/1651/Highway-Department |
Checked October 13, 2026. Rules change; confirm with your town. This is not legal advice. Parking bans and alerts for every town.
Questions
Can a fine be avoided with a contract?
A contract helps you get the sidewalk cleared on time and gives you a time-stamped record. The legal duty stays with the owner or occupant under your town's rules.