MoCo

Sidewalk Snow-Clearing Enforcement Paused Until February 2

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County has paused enforcement of sidewalk snow-clearing requirements until Monday, February 2, after sustained freezing temperatures left many sidewalks icy and difficult to clear.

The pause follows the county’s earlier notice that homeowners were required to clear sidewalks by the evening of Tuesday, January 27, with enforcement and complaint response originally set to begin Wednesday, January 28. While enforcement is on hold, officials continue to encourage property owners to clear sidewalks when it is safe to do so, prioritize accessible routes, and use interim safety measures such as traction aids.

UPDATE: Sidewalk snow-clearing enforcement paused until Mon, Feb 2.
Due to sustained freezing temperatures, snow- and ice-packed sidewalks have become unreasonably difficult to clear. In some cases, plowing also contributed to sidewalk accumulation. To be responsive to our residents, Montgomery County has paused enforcement of sidewalk clearing requirements and will not issue notices of violation during this time. The County will resume enforcement on Monday, February 2. Despite enforcement being paused, property owners are encouraged to help their neighbors and community by clearing sidewalks as soon as it is safe and possible to do so, prioritizing entrances, exits, and accessible routes.

If a snowplow re-deposits snow or ice on a sidewalk or other walkway after a person has complied with this Section, the person is not responsible for clearing the walkway until the designated time frame after the snowplow re-deposited the snow or ice. Please see section 49-17(a) on the attached link for the specific Code reference.

Letters are sent to homeowners who are reported to be in violation. Inspections of commercial properties and multi-family properties are conducted within one business day of a complaint. DHCA Housing Code Enforcement does not have jurisdiction inside the municipalities of Gaithersburg and Rockville. Complaints regarding rental properties within the City of Takoma Park are also handled by DHCA but complaints regarding commercial or owner-occupied properties in that jurisdiction are handled by the City of Takoma Park.

To efficiently handle the large volume of requests following a snowfall and to ensure DHCA Housing Code Enforcement has the most complete information required to enforce the law, please provide the exact address of the un-shoveled sidewalk. Locations without an address will be accepted but further investigation regarding ownership and responsibility for removal may result in additional time for enforcement action.

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