The Chicago Department of Transportation is launching this year’s campaign to encourage greater compliance among businesses and residents to clear sidewalks of snow and ice as required by law (Chicago municipal code sections 4-4-310 and 10-8-180),
Snow and Ice present significant challenges to safe and comfortable walking during the winter. These challenges are even greater for children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Additionally, not all Chicagoans choose to use or have access to a car. Instead, they rely on walking and transit as their primary way of traveling throughout the city.
Chicago Municipal Codes
4-4-310 Public ways–Maintenance–Littering Prohibited
It shall be unlawful for any person licensed to engage in any business or occupation on premises abutting a public way, or for any person using any part of a public way for or in connection with his business or occupation, to litter or to permit the accumulation of any paper, rubbish or refuse upon that portion of the public way abutting said premises or on and about that portion of the public way so used. It shall also be the duty of the licensee to remove the snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of his premises.
10-8-180 Snow and Ice Removal
Every owner, lessee, tenant, occupant or other person having charge of any building or lot of ground in the city abutting upon any public way or public place shall remove the snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of such building or lot of ground. If the sidewalk is of greater width than five feet, it shall not be necessary for such person to remove snow and ice from the same for a space wider than five feet. In case the snow and ice on the sidewalk shall be frozen so hard that it cannot be removed without injury to the pavement, the person having charge of any building or lot of ground as aforesaid shall, within the time specified, cause the sidewalk abutting on the said premises to be strewn with ashes, sand, sawdust, or some similar suitable material, and shall, as soon thereafter as the weather shall permit, thoroughly clean said sidewalk. The snow which falls or accumulates during the day (excepting Sundays) before four p.m. shall be removed within three hours after the same has fallen or accumulated. The snow which falls or accumulates on Sunday or after four p.m.
Sidewalk Snow Removal Campaign
CDOT and the Mayor’s Pedestrian Advisory Council (MPAC) are continuing two efforts to encourage sidewalk snow removal by businesses and residents.
The Sidewalk Snow Clearance campaign recognizes businesses or that do an outstanding job of clearing snow and ice from nearby sidewalks. Residents can nominate businesses for their snow-removal efforts by clicking on this link. Nominated businesses will receive a thank-you letter and a certificate.
This winter’s campaign builds on the success of a similar campaign last winter.
Citizens can report addresses where sidewalks are unshoveled to 311.
