Sidewalk Snow Removal

It's snow season! Please review the Snow Removal Season Handout.

Snow Removal Ordinance


The city's snow removal ordinance (PDF) and abatement procedures go into effect November 23, 2014.

Keeping our sidewalks free of ice and snow is the neighborly thing to do.2015-2016 Snow Season 
 
Ypsilanti ordinance requires that property owners clear adjacent sidewalks within 24 hours of the first accumulation.

Together, we are all responsible for keeping Ypsilanti safe and comfortable for winter walking. For your own benefit and to help your neighbors, people pushing strollers, using wheelchairs, or the many people in Ypsilanti who walk, please do your part!

To report snow on sidewalks, please call:
(734) 482-2061 or (734) 483-8590.
Shoveling Snow
Do you have neighbors who are elderly or have a disability? Work with your neighborhood and lend a hand and ensure your entire block is safe and accessible to all.
Shoveling Tips
When you shovel snow and clear ice:
  • Shovel the full width of the sidewalk on all sides of your property, down to the bare pavement.
  • Remove all ice from sidewalks. After the sidewalk is clear, sprinkling sand or cat litter can help prevent slipping.
  • Pile snow onto your own yard or boulevard. It's against ordinance to shovel snow into streets and alleys.
  • If you have a corner property, you are required to clear the curb ramps at crosswalks down to the street gutter.
How To Avoid A Ticket
If the City of Ypsilanti receives a complaint or discovers that a sidewalk is not properly cleared within 24 hours of snow fall, Ordinance Enforcement will inspect the sidewalk and give the property owner a citation. 
  • The property owner may also be required to appear at the Administrative Hearings Bureau.
  • Future violations will result in additional citations and immediate abatement with no additional notice left at the property.
  • Abatement crews will remove the snow and ice from the sidewalk. Property owners will be billed for this service.
   Remember:
  • You are just as responsible for clearing ice on your sidewalk as you are for clearing snow. The sooner and more completely you shovel, the less likely that ice will form.
  • If you're going on vacation, make arrangements for someone to take over while you are away.
  • Ypsilanti City Code Chapter 94, Section 94-135(a) defines the snow season as October 1st - May 31st.