Have you shoveled your sidewalk in Brockton? What city rules say and the potential fine.

Cody Shepard
The Enterprise

BROCKTON — After the Brockton area received over a half-foot of snow Sunday and with more in the forecast on Tuesday, sidewalks are likely to be covered in snow.

Shoveling or snowblowing is a natural part of every storm, but did you know the city actually has rules and regulations about snow removal, including shoveling sidewalks and potential fines for those who don't do so?

More:Here's how much snow the Brockton area got from Sunday's storm. There's more on the way.

Here's what Brockton's ordinances say about snow removal.

In this Saturday, Dec. 8, 2017, file photo, Don Schoenfisch, of Brockton, shovels snow in front of his Forest Avenue home.

Removing snow from a sidewalk

City ordinances require that owners, occupants or tenants of any building or lot of land abutting sidewalks in certain areas must remove the snow, including from handicapped ramps and curb cuts.

This applies to certain areas of the city, as stated in the ordinance: "Starting at the intersection of North Montello Street and Charles Street; thence southerly along North Montello Street to the intersection of Court Street; thence easterly along Court Street to the intersection with Plymouth Street; thence southerly by Plymouth Street to the intersection with Crescent Street; thence westerly to the intersection with Perkins Street; thence southerly to the intersection of Lawrence Street; thence westerly to Main Street northerly to the intersection of Father Kenny Way; thence westerly to the intersection of Warren Ave; thence westerly on Bartlett Street to the intersection of Newbury across Belmont Street and along Arlington Street to the intersection of West Elm Street; thence easterly to the intersection of Newbury Street; thence northerly along Newbury Street to the intersection of Spring Street; thence easterly to the intersection of North Warren Ave, thence northerly to Wyman Street, thence easterly across Main Street to the point of beginning."

All snow is required to be removed from sidewalks within eight hours of the end of each snowfall, including if snow falls off a roof and lands in a sidewalk.

When shoveling or removing snow and ice, people are also required not to put it in a public way, like the road.

Anyone who violates these provisions can be fined up to $50, per city law.

Are sidewalks near schools any different?

It is the responsibility of the city to remove snow and ice from sidewalks adjacent to all school buildings.

"Sidewalks adjacent to school buildings and access routes to these buildings shall be plowed by employees or agents of the department of public works for a reasonable distance leading to the schools for the safety of the children," city ordinances state.

Plowing of sidewalks near schools is required to start within eight hours of the end of a snowstorm.

A CAT plows the parking lot across from Brockton City Hall as snow continues to fall on Sunday evening, Feb. 7, 2021.

Can police tow my car?

The city's ordinances also specify how and when vehicles that are "interfering" with snow or ice removal can be removed, or towed.

You know the drill — the city issues a snow emergency, bans on-street parking and you're left to find a spot to park. If you forget, your vehicle might get towed away.

Some storms, Brockton tows dozens of vehicles that are left on city streets.

A van illegally parked on Leavitt Street in Brockton is towed to allow for snow removal, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. There's a winter parking ban in effect in the city that prohibits on-street parking.

So, what do the city's ordinances say about towing for snow removal?

"In order to remove or plow ice or snow from any way the superintendent of streets may cause the chief of police to remove or cause to be removed, any vehicle which interferes with such work," the city's ordinances state.

The city is required notify anyone whose vehicle is towed within 48 hours of removal by sending a notice by mail to the owner of the vehicle.
