Divisions & Programs

Sidewalk Snow Clearance Information

The City of Cambridge is working to improve sidewalk snow clearance and enforcement of violations. The City's procedures now include the following elements.

The Department of Public Works (DPW) regularly distributes Snow - Our Winter Challenge, a brochure reminding property owners that they are responsible for keeping all sidewalks that border their property clear of snow and ice.
The Department of Traffic, Parking, and Transportation also includes this information in the street cleaning schedule given to everyone who receives a parking permit.
Parking Control Officers have been authorized to write citations for sidewalk snow clearance violations, increasing the enforcement of this requirement. In addition, the DPW hotline (617/349-4854) now has increased coverage.
DPW now clears snow from the city's busiest bus stops as well as on sidewalks along City property.

Section 12.16.110 of the Cambridge Municipal Code (Sidewalk - Snow and Ice Removal) requires that property owners remove snow from the sidewalk within twelve hours after snow stops falling in the daytime and before 1:00 P. M. when snow has fallen during the night. Ice must be cleared from sidewalks or treated with an ice-melting substance. Calcium chloride is better for the environment than sand or rock salt. Help is available from the Council on Aging for property owners who are elderly or disabled and cannot shovel or afford to hire people to shovel their sidewalks.

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For More Information

More information about sidewalk snow clearance can be found at the DPW Winter Storm Information web page.

For more information about pedestrian programs contact Rosalie Anders, randers@cambridgema.gov, at 617/349-4604. The Community Development Department TTY line is 617/349-4621.

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