Sidewalk Safety

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Falls on sidewalks cause real injuries, and under Village code, it's the property owner - not the Village -who's responsible for keeping them safe. Every residential and business owner must keep the sidewalks, curb cuts, ramps, and driveways abutting their property clear of snow, ice, leaves, and debris. After snow stops falling or ice forms, you have 12 hours to clear it (the hours between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. don't count toward that window). Failure to do so is a violation and can result in fines.​ The full text of Section 19-3 reads:
​Every owner and occupant of land abutting on a highway and/or sidewalk within the Village shall keep all sidewalks abutting on, in front of or passing over such land and/or all curb cuts, aprons, ramps, driveways, and/or motor vehicle ways lying between such sidewalk and the street nearest thereto, free and clear of all snow, ice, wastepaper, garbage, rubbish, and/or other obstructions to pedestrians and/or traffic. (b) Failure to clear snow and/or ice from the sidewalks and/or all curb cuts, aprons, ramps, driveways, and/or motor vehicle ways within a period of twelve (12) hours, not including the period 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., after the snow ceases to fall and/or the ice to form shall be deemed a violation.  
Some neighbors share the work by pooling resources for snow removal; others regularly clear walks for elderly neighbors or those who can't manage it themselves. Both are part of what keeps Kenmore a walkable community where people look out for one another.