Need to know: How long can you leave snow uncleared in the Denver metro area?

Need to know: How long can you leave snow uncleared in the Denver metro area?

As we sit inside watching the snow fall under a blanket with a cup of tea, we started wondering how long do we have to go out and clear the snow?

Well, here are the ordinances around the metro Denver area. We’ll update with more municipalities as we find the information.

It should be noted, that all cities and counties have fines in place for failure to comply.

Arvada

The Arvada Municipal Code requires that residents remove snow, ice, and slush from sidewalks within 24 hours after the end of a snowfall.

Arapahoe County

Sidewalk cleaning is the responsibility of the property owners and they should keep sidewalks abutting their property clear of the natural accumulation of snow and or ice. Snow and or ice should be removed within 24 hours of the last accumulation.

Aurora

Residential property and business owners must remove snow and ice within 24 hours after a snowfall ends. If a snow emergency is declared by the city, they have 48 hours to clear the sidewalks.

Boulder

City of Boulder property owners, landlords, and tenants are required to remove snow and ice from their sidewalks within 24 hours after snow stops falling. Failure to remove snow from sidewalks before the 24-hour deadline may result in fines and having to pay for a private snow removal contractor.

Brighton

Snow and ice must be cleared from all sidewalks within 24 hours of any snowfall. The sidewalk must also remain clear of all other obstructions at all times.

Broomfield

Broomfield has an updated snow removal ordinance related to public sidewalks. You now have 24 hours to remove snow from the public sidewalk on your property. The previous ordinance stated: “Public sidewalks must be cleared by noon the day following a storm.”

Castle Rock

Town Code requires all businesses and residential property owners and/or tenants to remove snow and ice from sidewalks within 48 hours of each snow event, with 2 inches or more of accumulation.

Centennial

The city does not have an ordinance requiring snow to be removed from sidewalks, however, the city strongly encourages residents to remove snow from the sidewalks within 24 hours after a snowstorm ends.

Commerce City

The city’s municipal code requires that residents and businesses remove snow and ice from public sidewalks around their property within 24 hours of the last snow accumulation.

Denver

The city requires property owners to remove snow and ice from sidewalks, including adjacent ramps soon after a storm moves through the area.

Businesses should clear their sidewalks immediately after snow stops falling. Homeowners, property managers, renters, and all others responsible for clearing snow need to do so by the next day.

Douglas County

Property owners in Douglas County are required to remove snow and ice from sidewalks per Ordinance O-007-003 within 24 hours after the snow stops.

Englewood

Snow and ice must be removed from all sidewalks throughout the City within 24 hours after the snow stops falling. When removing snow, it cannot be pushed into the street if it hinders traffic flow. Seniors who have difficulties shoveling their walks can access the Snow Buddies Program.

Greenwood Village

Residents must have snow shoveled within 48 hours after the snow stops. Per Ordinance No. 11-2011

Highlands Ranch

Residents must have snow shoveled within 24 hours after the snow stops. This includes areas in front of and along the sides of homes and adjacent mailboxes and fire hydrants.

Jefferson County

Jefferson County does not have an ordinance requiring citizens to shovel sidewalks, but the county encourages citizens to shovel walks adjacent to their homes as a courtesy to their neighbors and for the safety of pedestrians.

Lakewood

Residents and businesses have 24 hours after the end of a storm to clear any sidewalks adjacent to their property, including front, sides, and any pedestrian ramps leading to the street.  The law also prohibits shoveling snow into the street.

Littleton

Residents and businesses are required to remove snow from sidewalks and other public right-of-ways on their property (including RTD bus stops) within 24 hours after snowfall has ended.

Longmont

Longmont Municipal Code states that you have 24 hours after a storm ends to clear your sidewalks.

Thornton

It is unlawful for any owner, agent, or tenant of any lot, block, or parcel of land within the city to allow any snow, sleet, ice, or other obstruction to accumulate or remain upon any sidewalk adjoining such lot, block, or parcel of land within the city for longer than 24 hours from the time of the last accumulation of such snow, sleet, ice, or other obstruction.

Westminster

Residents are required by City Code 8-1-10 to clear their sidewalk within 24 hours of the end of a storm. Uncleared sidewalks can be reported to Code Enforcement at 303-658-4432.

Wheat Ridge

Under the ordinance, the owner, occupant, or tenant of any building, property, or lot within the city must remove snow and ice from all sidewalks adjacent to such building, property, or lot and running parallel to any street within 24 hours after each snowfall of two inches or more.

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