Pgh. Public Works: Clear Your Sidewalk

Pittsburgh’s sidewalk snow removal ordinance is back in effect this season after a brief suspension last winter.

Pittsburghers are expected to clear their sidewalks within 24 hours of a snowfall. Public Works Director Rob Kaczorowski says if residents or businesses don’t comply, they’ll be given warnings for first offenses and $25 fines subsequently.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl put a moratorium on the rule for last February’s blizzard, but Kaczorowski says that suspension was lifted after the state of emergency expired. He says renters should check with property owners to find out if they should clean up or not.

“That would be under the lease agreement, who maintains the property, whether it’s the tenant or the landlord who’s responsible for it,” says Kaczorowski. “Obviously, we don’t know who every tenant is, so we would send to the property owner the warning to have the sidewalk cleared.”

Kaczorowski says most citations result from complaints or requests from city residents.

The Public Works Director says there is no heavy snow expected in the coming week, but his crews will be ready to plow Pittsburgh’s 1200 miles of street even with 1 or 2 inches. He says his department has stayed within the expected response times for snow removal so far this year.