Snow and Ice Removal Code- Baltimore City

Baltimore City Code requires property owners to clear snow and ice from sidewalks fronting any residential or commercial building, occupied or vacant, or any empty lot.

The specifics of the Code language are provided below:

Baltimore City requires that snow be cleared away from sidewalks fronting any residential or commercial building, occupied or vacant, or any empty lot. Specifics of the law follow:

(a) Every person must keep the gutters leading to, and the pavements or sidewalks situated in the front, rear, or sides of the premises, free from ice and every obstruction of any kind. After any snowfall that results in an accumulation of snow on the ground: (1) every person using or occupying in any manner, or for any purpose, any house, store, shop, stable, or tenement of any kind; (2) every person having charge of any church or public building of any kind; and (3) the owner of any unoccupied house or unimproved lot situated on any paved street, lane, or alley in the City, must remove and clear away the snow or cause it to be removed and cleared away from the foot pavement fronting the house, store, shop, stable, church, building, or lot.

(b) Time and manner: The snow must be removed and cleared away: (a) within 3 hours after the snow has stopped falling; or (b) if the snow stopped falling between 3 p.m. and 6 a.m., before 11 a.m.

(c) The snow must be removed and cleared away in such a way as not to obstruct the passage of water in the gutters.

Reference: (City Code, 1879, art. 47, §125(2nd sen.); 1893, art. 48, §147(2nd sen.); 1927, art. 32, §65(2nd sen.); 1950, art. 24, §144(2nd sen.); 1966, art. 19, §151(2nd sen.); 1976/83, art. 19, §177(b).) (Rev. Ords. 1858-033; Ord. 66-871; Ord. 88-047; Ord. 99-548.)