It shall be the duty of every person occupying any property abutting on a paved sidewalk to remove snow, sleet or ice from such sidewalk within 12 hours after the snow or sleet ceases to fall or the ice ceases to form. If any such property is unoccupied, it shall be the duty of the owner or the person having charge thereof to comply with the requirements of this section.
If the total accumulation of snow, sleet and ice exceeds six inches or more, the aforementioned 12-hour time limit to remove snow, sleet and ice from such sidewalk shall be extended to 24 hours after the snow or sleet ceases to fall or the ice ceases to form. If the total accumulation of snow, sleet, and ice exceeds 12 inches or more, the aforementioned 24-hour time limit to remove snow, sleet or ice from such sidewalk may be extended by the city manager up to 36 hours after the snow or sleet ceases to fall or the ice ceases to form. The duration of the extension, as determined by the city manager, shall be based on the total amount of accumulation of snow and ice, the projected temperatures in the city, and any other relevant weather conditions.
For purposes of this section, the city manager shall declare when the snow or sleet ceases to fall or the ice ceases to form by using any communication method the city manager deems appropriate to communicate the declaration. However, if (1) the accumulation of the snow, sleet, and ice does not exceed six inches or more; and (2) if the city manager determines that the snow or sleet ceased to form during the night, then the snow, sleet and ice shall be removed from the sidewalk by 6:00 p.m. the following day.
A violation of the prohibition contained herein shall be punishable by a civil penalty of not more than $50.00.
State law reference – Authority of city to require removal of snow from sidewalks, Code of Virginia, § 15.2-1115. |
(Code 1985 § 26-15; Code 1964 § 25-7; Ord. 2026-01)