Most laws about snow and ice removal are municipal laws, so check your city or town ordinances, and contact your local municipality to file a complaint or make an inquiry about the law.

Feb 14, 2025 · Have a plan and acquire tools, like snow shovels and ice-melt, in advance. If you can’t personally shovel snow due to a disability, make sure you have a plan in place for staff or a hired service to shovel within the appropriate amount of time.

Feb 5, 2015 · A review of Massachusetts snow ice removal laws, bylaws and town ordinances. Do you have to shovel public sidewalks or walkways? How long to shovel? Can the tenant be responsible for snow removal?

Feb 17, 2021 · If a person injures themselves falling on snow or ice on your property, then you may be liable. Massachusetts state law changed in 2010 when the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court overturned 125 years of legal precedent when deciding Papadopoulos v. …

In Massachusetts, owners of property have a legal duty to keep their property free from dangerous snow and ice. Cities and towns have their own individual snow removal laws regarding how long a property owner has to clear snow and shovel sidewalks.

Dec 8, 2021 · As a property owner in Boston, you must clear snow, sleet, and ice from sidewalks and curb ramps abutting your property. Don’t shovel or push snow into the street. If you do, the City may fine you. Clear sidewalks and curb ramps within three hours after it stopped snowing.

Learn more about property owner responsibilities to clear snow following a winter storm from the Department of Public Works and Parks.

Jul 28, 2010 · In a much anticipated ruling, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court overruled 125 years of legal precedent and announced a new rule of law that all Massachusetts property owners can be held legally responsible for failing to remove snow and ice from their property.

Snow and ice operations are conducted on a 24-hour a day, 7 day a week schedule. The DPW aims to keep clear all main routes and feeder roads and maintain a clear driving track on either side of the centerline on secondary streets within 6 hours of the end of snowfall.

Snow needs to be removed within 12 hours after snow stops falling during the day and before 1pm if it snowed during the night, per City Ordinance. Corner properties are required to shovel/clear ramps at corners near their properties to help make crossing safer for all.