Your responsibility in removing snow and ice from the sidewalks
Many people rely on walking and transit as their primary way to get around, and without a wide, clear path through snow and ice, it is especially difficult for people with disabilities, seniors, and children to walk safely. According to the Municipal Code of Chicago (4-4-310 & 10-8-180), property owners and occupants are responsible for keeping sidewalks clear of snow and ice.
Download:
- Sidewalk Snow Removal Guidance for Residents and Businesses (color)
- Sidewalk Snow Removal Guidance for Residents and Businesses (black and white)
Increase awareness of sidewalk snow removal laws
Sidewalk Snow Removal Door Hangers
The door hangers are intended as a reminder to shovel the sidewalk and offer assistance to anyone physically unable to clear their own sidewalks. The door hangers emphasize the importance of sidewalk snow removal and safe winter travel.
The door hangers are mailed to aldermanic offices and dozens of businesses and community groups throughout the city for distribution throughout the neighborhoods.
Download Sidewalk Snow Removal Door Hanger (pdf, 1.3mb)
Report locations that DO NOT clear sidewalks to 311
Report locations that DO NOT clear their sidewalks by making a “Snow – Uncleared Sidewalk or Bike Lane” request with
the City of Chicago 311 Service Request line.
DIAL 311 or Online Snow – Uncleared Sidewalk or Bike Lane Request
If calling from outside Chicago, call 312.744.5000
When you make a “Snow – Uncleared Sidewalk or Bike Lane” request, please note the following:
- Make sure the problem occurs on the sidewalk.–
- DO NOT use this category to report snow on streets, parking lots, or alleys.
- Provide a specific address where the problem occurs.
- Request a reference number from the operator, this will help you track the status and resolution of your request.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sidewalk Snow Removal
Why is sidewalk snow removal important?
Chicagoans of all ages and abilities need to use the sidewalks to get where they’re going every day of the year. Many children, older adults, and people with disabilities face serious mobility challenges in winter time. Clear sidewalks are a shared community responsibility, and this new ordinance clarifies the requirements for snow and ice removal.
Do the new regulations for sidewalk snow removal in Chicago apply to home, business, and property owners?
Yes, the new sidewalk snow regulations affect all home, business, and property owners in Chicago. Business owners that rent space adjacent to sidewalks are responsible for shoveling snow under the ordinance. Some landlords for residential and commercial property hold tenants responsible for snow clearance as a part of their lease agreements, other don’t. Renters who aren’t certain of their shoveling responsibilities should check their rental agreements or ask their landlords for clarification.
When do I have to shovel my snow?
You must shovel snow as soon as possible after it falls. Snow that falls between the hours of 7:00 am and 7:00 pm must be removed no later than 10:00 pm. Snow that falls between the hours of 7:00 pm and 7:00 am must be removed by 10:00 am.
Do I have to shovel on weekends?
Yes. You must shovel 7 days a week in the City of Chicago.
In what way should I shovel my sidewalks to be in compliance?
You must clear a path at least 5 feet wide on all of the sidewalks adjacent to your property, including any crosswalk ramps. Do not shovel the snow into the right-of-way, which includes: transit stops and bus pads, parking spaces, bike lanes, bike racks, Divvy stations, and any other space where snow impedes traffic of any kind.
Are there special rules for corner lots?
Yes. If you are responsible for a corner lot, you must remove snow and ice from sidewalks on all sides of your building and from corner sidewalk ramps. This applies to residential property and business owners.
Can I be penalized for failing to shovel?
Yes, you can receive a citation for failure to shovel. In 2014, 226 citations were issued. The fines range from $50 to $500. The amount of the fine is on a per-case basis, and determined by an Administrative Hearings judge.
How do I report a property owner who fails to shovel their sidewalk?
Report property owners who DO NOT clear their sidewalks by making a “Snow – Uncleared Sidewalk or Bike Lane” request with the City of Chicago 311 Service Request line
Dial 311 or submit a service request online.
If calling from outside Chicago, dial 312-744-5000
When you make a “Snow – Uncleared Sidewalk or Bike Lane” request, please note the following:
– Make sure the problem occurs on the sidewalk
– DO NOT use this category to report snow on streets, parking lots, or alleys.
– Provide a specific address where the problem occurs.
– Request a reference number from the operator. This will help you track the status and resolution of your request.
Annual Christmas Tree Recycling Event
Every year since taking office, Alderman Tunney coordinates a Christmas Tree Pick-up event in conjunction with the City of Chicago’s Christmas Tree recycling program to residents of the 44th Ward. This event is an easy and environmentally-friendly alternative for 44th Ward residents to ensure their Christmas tree is recycled. The Alderman and his team begin picking up trees on Friday afternoon and continue through Sunday evening.
Please make sure your tree is in the alley next to your garbage cart and is free of all lights, garland and decorations. Do not wrap trees in plastic bags or any other material. If you have curbside pickup, place your tree in the parkway in front of your home.
44th Ward residents can sign up to have their Christmas tree picked up by filling our Tree Pick-up Form
Feel free to say hello if you see Alderman Tunney and his team picking up trees!
44th Ward Shovel Assistance
My office offers snow shoveling assistance to 44th Ward seniors and residents with disabilities. If you need or someone you know needs assistance with snow removal, please complete the questionnaire below.
Snow Command
The Department of Streets & Sanitation (DSS) coordinates Chicago’s snow and ice control efforts from Snow Command. This high tech command center allows them to access and view a network of cameras and pavement sensors to get a quick and accurate assessment of our pavement conditions citywide. They track incoming weather systems via Doppler radar and through constant communication with meteorological consultants and the National Weather Service. They combine all of these technologies along with the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) on all Snow Fighting Trucks to strategically deploy our personnel to over 280 snow routes. Once on the roadways the trucks patrol, plow or salt our routes as necessary.
DSS is responsible for maintaining winter roadway safety on a route system of 9,456 lane miles. The routes consist of city main streets, neighborhood streets and Lake Shore Drive. The expressway system that travels through Chicago is maintained by the State of Illinois’ Department of Transportation, IDOT, and their familiar orange trucks.
During a snow program Streets & Sanitation’s first priority is to clear our main routes and Lake Shore Drive. Once arterial streets are plowed and deemed safe is generally when Snow Command turns their attention to the side streets.
While most side streets are cleared by full size Snow Fighting Trucks, Chicago’s narrowest side streets are cleaned by a fleet of over 20 smaller plows. These include 4×4 pick-up trucks with plows and heavy salt capacity.
For major snowstorms, Streets and Sanitation also has the capacity to equip as many as 200 garbage trucks with “quick hitch” plows to supplement the fleet. Since these don’t have salt spreading capability, they are run in tandem with trucks that do. In addition, heavy equipment and labor are available from other municipal departments for snow clearance during and after a blizzard.
Winter Snow Parking Restrictions
In order to ensure that the most critical roadways in Chicago are kept open to full traffic capacity at all times, the City of Chicago instituted and vigorously enforces a Winter Overnight Parking Ban on 107 miles of vital arterial streets from 3 am to 7 am between December 1st and April 1st, regardless of snow.
Motorists who ignore this permanently posted seasonal tow zone face a $150 towing fee (minimum) in addition to a $60 ticket and an initial $20 daily storage fee.
A separate snow related parking ban exists for another 500 miles of main streets and can be activated after there are at least two inches of snow on the street, no matter the time of day or the calendar date. While the 2” inch snow ban is not activated often, motorists who are parked there when it snows heavily could receive a ticket or find that their vehicle has been relocated in order to facilitate snow clearing operations.
Both of these parking bans were implemented on designated arterial streets to prevent recurrences of problems that happened in 1967 and 1979 when Chicago came to a traffic standstill due to major snowstorms.
Additional Information: