City adjusts sidewalk snow removal enforcement during severe weather

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The City of Grand Rapids is temporarily adjusting how it enforces its sidewalk snow removal ordinance after recent heavy snowfall and extremely cold temperatures. The goal is to keep sidewalks safe and accessible while recognizing the challenges residents face during severe winter weather.

What Remains the Same

• Property owners are still responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks.
• Clear sidewalks are important for pedestrians, people using mobility devices and emergency responders.

Temporary Changes

• If a property owner shows a good‑faith effort to clear snow and ice — such as shoveling, scraping or using salt or traction materials — and the sidewalk is reasonably passable, the City may close the complaint even if some snow remains.
• Contractor snow removal will generally be ordered only when there is no sign that the property owner attempted to address the sidewalk conditions.

What Residents Should Do

• Make a visible effort to clear sidewalks as soon as it is safe.
• Use salt or other traction materials when possible.
• Understand that the City is taking reasonable efforts into account during this period of severe weather.

Interim City Engineer Cindy Irving said the temporary changes are necessary to keep enforcement fair and realistic during the current weather conditions.

“In the last week, the city has received 315 complaints with inspections scheduled to begin today,” Irving said. “We’re averaging about 60 new complaints a day. Our clearing crews simply cannot keep up with that volume. The delays between posting notices and actual clearing create confusion and frustration when residents see enforcement notices but no immediate progress on the ground.”

Irving added that while the ordinance requires snow and ice to be cleared within 24 hours of a snow event, the current conditions call for a temporary shift in approach.

“In the interest of public health and safety, we’re recommending these short‑term enforcement adjustments so we can focus on the most serious issues while still encouraging residents to do what they can,” she said.

These temporary enforcement changes will be reviewed as weather conditions improve.

For more information or to report an uncleared sidewalk CLICK HERE or dial the City’s customer service team at 311 or 616-456-3000.