Avoid Fines By Shoveling Your Sidewalks Sioux Falls

Now that Old Man Winter has officially unpacked his bags in the Sioux Empire and looks poised to overstay his welcome again for the next five months, the city of Sioux Falls wants to remind residents that snow shoveling is serious business.

No, city officials haven’t turned into snow tyrants, but they do expect everyone to stay on top of clearing sidewalks, and if you’ve got a fire hydrant nearby, that too.

A city ordinance requires that sidewalks be cleared within 48 hours after any snow or ice event.

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Why the rush?

Simple: public safety. Also, nobody enjoys the thought of having to perform a triple axle on the sidewalk just to get the mail.

Justin Christensen, the city’s Property Maintenance Inspections Manager, explained to Dakota News Now that sidewalks need to be cleared “edge to edge down to the concrete,” including any crosswalks for corner-lot residents and curb cutouts on your property. Basically, if the snow touched it, you should shovel it.

So what happens if you don’t?

If the city receives a complaint after that 48-hour window, an inspector will stop by to check things out. If your sidewalk still resembles Antarctica, you’ll get a bright green door hanger explaining the rules; consider that your first friendly warning.

Ignore that, and things start to get expensive. According to Dakota News Now, you could be hit with a $100 penalty, and the city will hire a snow removal company to clear your sidewalk for you, also on your dime.

And don’t forget the fire hydrants!

If you have one on or near your property, the city asks that you shovel a clear path with a three-foot radius. Fire crews need room to work if an emergency strikes, and buried hydrants are not their idea of a good time.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to keeping people safe. Sioux Falls is simply asking residents to pitch in and help keep sidewalks accessible for everyone brave enough to venture outside during the winter months.

Panzies like me, I'll start using city sidewalks again in May!