Snow on your sidewalk: the Anne Arundel County rule.
24 hours to clear it after a storm under 3 inches, 48 hours at 3 inches or more. A new county law since January 19, 2026.
- Insured
- Locally owned
- Free estimates
The county's clock
24 hours
after a storm leaves under 3 inches of snow or ice; 48 hours at 3 inches or more.
- $50 is the most a home can be fined.
- $125 is the most for any other property.
- 19.3 in of snow falls at BWI Airport in a normal year.
How long do you have to shovel your sidewalk in Anne Arundel County?
24 hours after a storm under 3 inches ends, 48 hours at 3 inches or more, under county Bill 76-25, in effect since January 19, 2026 (County Code 12-7-110). A complaint starts enforcement, and a posted notice gives 24 hours more before a fine of up to $50 on a home. We do snow removal around Annapolis.
Sources: Anne Arundel County and NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Checked on 11 October 2026.
Whose strip is whose
Yours
is any sidewalk fronting the property: along the road that reaches it, and along side and corner lot lines too.
- 24 to 36 hours after a storm under 6 inches is when the county says its own road clearing should be done.
Snow work we take on.
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Snow removal for homes
Ask for it with your lawn and landscape estimate. We cannot promise a time after a storm.
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Snow and ice for businesses
Commercial properties get their own quote.
Questions about the sidewalk rule
What happens after a neighbor reports my sidewalk?
Nothing until the 24 or 48 hours are up. Then, the county says, an inspector visits on a complaint made by calling 3-1-1 or through SeeClickFix, and posts a reminder notice that gives 24 more hours. After that comes a violation notice, and Public Works may clear the walk and put the cost on the property as a lien, collected like taxes. The county's page says each day a violation exists counts as a separate offense.
What if I am out of town when it snows?
The sidewalk still has to be cleared on time. The county says the duty falls on the owners, users, lessees or occupants, and that someone away during a storm should hire a service or arrange it with a neighbor beforehand.
Is there an exemption for seniors or people who cannot shovel?
No. The law as passed applies to all private property, and an age exemption in the first draft was taken out before the vote. The Department of Inspections and Permits may waive or decrease a fine, but the county says the walk must still be cleared in time, and it points people who cannot shovel to Maryland Access Point and 2-1-1 for volunteer help.
What did the rule say before 2026?
Six hours. Under the old section 9-1-710, which Bill 76-25 repealed, the snow had to be off the sidewalk within six hours of the snowfall, or by 11 a.m. if it fell between 3 p.m. and 6 a.m., with a fine of no more than $10, enforced by the police. The county's own summary of the bill called that fine too small to motivate anyone.
Where should I put the snow I shovel?
Into the yard, not the street. The county asks residents to stand facing the street and throw snow to the right, onto the lawn, and never to push it into the road. Waiting until the plow has made one pass saves shoveling the driveway end twice, and one car parked in a cul-de-sac can keep the plow out altogether.
Does the City of Annapolis have its own sidewalk rule?
Yes. The City of Annapolis requires both residential and commercial property owners to remove snow and ice from their sidewalks, and enforces it in phases, warnings first and citations after. After the winter storm of late January 2026 it suspended enforcement for homes until conditions reasonably allowed clearing.
Does ice melt hurt the grass beside the sidewalk?
It can. University of Maryland Extension lists poor or stunted spring growth in grass next to walks, driveways and streets as a sign of salt damage, and says most cases are treated by soaking the area with 1 inch of water three or four times in spring. Sand, ashes or kitty litter give traction without salt, and Maryland's Lawn Fertilizer Law bans fertilizer as an ice melter.
Get a free estimate.
Snow removal for homes and snow and ice management for businesses, around Annapolis and across Anne Arundel County. We cannot promise a time after a storm, so ask early.
