Keeping our sidewalks free of ice and snow is the neighborly thing to do. Together, we are all responsible for keeping Minneapolis safe and comfortable for winter walking. Please do your part. It’s the law. It’s much better to speak to your neighbor tactfully about any problem than to let the situation escalate into an angry altercation. They may be unaware of the law.
Minneapolis ordinance requires that property owners clear sidewalks after the end of a snowfall within:
- 24 hours for houses and duplexes
- Four daytime hours for apartment and commercial buildings (daytime hours begin at 8 a.m.)
When you shovel snow and clear ice:
- Shovel the sidewalks on all sides of your property – the full width of the sidewalk down to the bare pavement.
- Remove all ice from sidewalks. After the sidewalk is clear, sprinkling a little sand can help prevent slipping.
- Pile snow onto your yard and boulevard. It’s against the law to shovel snow into streets and alleys.
- If you have corner property, clear curb cuts at corners and crosswalks to the street gutter.
Avoid a ticket:
- If the City of Minneapolis gets a complaint or discovers that a sidewalk is not properly cleared, Public Works will inspect the sidewalk and give the property owners a chance to clear it.
- If the sidewalk has not been cleared upon re-inspection, the property owner may be issued a citation with a fine.
Crews will remove the snow and ice from the sidewalk. Property owners will be billed for this service, and unpaid bills will be added to the owner’s property tax.
Call 311 or visit www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/sidewalks for more information.
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