How long do you have to shovel the sidewalk in Boston, MA?
Massachusetts · Last checked November 2026
Boston gives owners 3 hours after snow ends, or 3 hours after sunrise if it stops overnight, to clear sidewalks and curb ramps with at least a 42-inch path. Each day counts as a new violation.
Key facts
- Deadline
- 3 hours after snow ends, or 3 hours after sunrise.
- Path
- At least 42 inches wide, including curb ramps.
- Fine
- $50 a day for homes with 16 or fewer units.
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How it works
Most cities make the owner of the property next to a public sidewalk clear it after snow, even though the city owns the walk. Deadlines range from a few hours in Boston and New York to 48 hours in Des Moines, and cities that clear it for you send the bill.
- Check when the clock starts: when the snow stops, at sunrise, or at a set hour.
- Clear the full width, or at least the minimum path your city sets, including curb ramps.
- Do not push snow into the street, alley or crosswalk. Many cities fine that separately.
- Treat ice with salt or sand, since many rules cover ice as well as snow.
- If you travel or cannot shovel, line up a neighbor or a service before the storm.
What it costs
Fines usually run $40 to $250 and can repeat daily. If the city sends a crew, you pay its cost, sometimes with an added fee. A seasonal snow removal contract for a house often costs a few hundred dollars.
Full guide: how long you have to shovel, city by city.
More in Massachusetts and nearby
- Cambridge 12 hours or less
- Newton About 24 hours
- Somerville 12 hours or less
- Worcester 12 hours or less
- Naperville 48 hours
- Chicago Set time of day
- Antioch About 24 hours
Sources
Last checked November 2026. Programs open, close and change funding every year. Confirm with the city before you hire anyone. Report a change.
See all Massachusetts homeowner rules in one place.