Fines Falling on Lazy Snow Shovelers

With Chicago slated to snag upwards of five inches of snow Thursday night, it’s important to grab a shovel and clear a path on the sidewalk—or else.

The Municipal Code of Chicago states: "Every owner, lessee, tenant, occupant or other person having charge of any building or lot of ground abutting upon any public way or public space shall remove the snow and ice from the sidewalk..."

In layman’s terms, if you don’t shovel at least a 5-foot wide path, the city could slap you with a hefty fine. For individuals it’s $50, and businesses owners who don’t clear their sidewalk can face fines from $250 to $500 per day.

“Property owners are required to keep a safe sidewalk, whether it be shoveling or salting,” said Ald. Tom Tunney (44th). “Our office is complaint driven on that particular issue, so when we do have a problem, we try to get in touch with the property owner first.”

According to the ordinance, if the snow stops falling before 4 p.m., residents have three hours to clear the sidewalk, except on Sundays. If the snow stops falling after 4 p.m.—or if it’s a Sunday—residents and business owners have until 10 a.m. the next day to clear the sidewalk.

It may sound petty, but for seniors or individuals with mobility disabilities, it could be the difference between injuring themselves and being on their way. That’s why the city has programs like the Snow Corps where neighbors can volunteer to lend a hand to those who need it.

“We’ve had problems with some of the mansions,” Tunney said. “We have a lot of seniors who can’t shovel, and some might leave for the winter. It’s very unneighborly to not have someone in your absence shovel for you.”

Residents who find a dangerously slippery or uncleared sidewalk can make a “Snow – Uncleared Sidewalk” request with Chicago’s 311 request line by dialing 311, or by using Ald. Ameya Pawar’s (47th) new smartphone application.

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