Apartment Snow Shoveling
With all the snow falling this winter, it’s a good idea to know if, or when, you’re responsible for shoveling. As a general rule, if you are a tenant, you are not responsible for shoveling the entrances and exits of your apartment unless you specifically contracted to do so with your landlord. This article will also review some specifics for Boston and some surrounding towns.
Massachusetts State Law
Some laws apply to all towns and cities in Massachusetts. Your town or city likely has more detail on the exact timing and path width of snow clearance following a snow fall[1]. At a minimum the state mandates that an “owner maintain all means of egress at all times in a safe, operable condition and shall keep all exterior stairways, fire escapes, egress balconies … free of snow and ice.[2]” Practically speaking, your landlord is responsible for removing the snow and ice from both the front and rear entries of your home. You should refer to your local town or city ordinances for the exact window of time in which a landlord must comply. As a general rule, the more populated the area you live in, the sooner the snow will need to be cleared.
Boston
Boston follows along the same lines, stating “no owner, manager … of a building, estate, or land abutting on a sidewalk shall place or suffer to remain in place for more than three (3) hours after snow fall has ended between sunrise and sunset any slush or any loose, granular, or packed snow upon such sidewalk[3].”
| City | Time line | Width | Fines | Website to report |
| Boston | Within 3 hours or 3 hours after sunrise if snow fell overnight | Minimum of 42 inches wide | $50 – $200 depending on unit type and snow clearence. | http://www.cityofboston.gov/mayor/24/ |
| Somerville | Homeowners have six hours between sunrise and sunset after the snow stops to shovel sidewalks | Minimum of 42 inches wide | $25 fine for the 1st offense, $50 for the 2nd and $100 for each subsequent offense | |
| Malden | Twenty-four hours after such snow or ice accumulates on the sidewalk | A minimum passage of 36 inches in width | Between $25 and $200 | http://www.cityofmalden.org/Resident-Issue-Reporting/ |
| Chelsea | Within 24 hours of the when the snow stopped falling | A safe and comfortable width of at least 24 inches | Fines and costs to remove snow are applicable |
Other Resources
Wheelchair Users: You may consider reading this article from WBUR[4].
Help with shoveling: http://neighborsforneighbors.org/
Attorney Callis has been practicing law in Massachusetts and abroad since 2007.
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