In response to more than 800 complaints last winter against residents and businesses that did not shovel a Chicago city council committee has approved a proposal to hike the fine for failure to remove snow.

Fines as high as $500 for residents, businesses, who fail to shovel

Snow.

No one likes to think about it. But, most Illinois municipalities have ordinances requiring residents and individuals to remove snow from their sidewalks.

These laws are seldom enforced and the penalties have few teeth. But an upgraded

Chicago snow removal law would have the bite of a fierce January day.

In response to more than 800 complaints last winter against residents and businesses that did not shovel — and as a revenue booster for the cash-strapped city — a city council committee has approved a proposal to hike the fine for failure to remove snow.

Fines would range from $50 to $500, up from  $50 to $100. Residents and businesses would be required to remove snow by 10 p.m. if it snowed that day, and by 10 a.m. the next day for an overnight snow.

Initial violators would receive a warning. Fines would be assessed for the repeat, flagrant offender,” Jeffrey Levine of the city’s law department told a city council committee.

Chicago officials say snow removal is vital, particularly for the elderly and others with mobility problems.

But shoveling snow can be difficult or dangerous. So, Chicago has created the Chicago Snow Corps., which connects volunteers with residents in need of snow removal. Chicago residents can request a volunteer by calling 311.

Other local communities also have snow-removal laws. And many offer residents assistance with snow removal.

Here are just a few examples:

Evanston requires that following a 4-inch snowfall, walks must be cleared within four hours. The fine for failure to remove snow is $75.

Evanston offers a volunteer snow shoveling program for senior citizens and the disabled. The City of Evanston provides a list of volunteers. It is up to the resident needing the service to contact the volunteer and make whatever scheduling and financial arrangements are necessary.

A form to become part of the program is on Evanston’s website,
https://cityofevanston.wufoo.com/forms/mxi9dkx1lgwq3u/, or call 311.

Franklin Park has a senior snow removal program that costs $15 per service request. Call the village at (847) 671-8240.

In Oak Park, snow must be removed within 24 hours of a snowfall. The potential fine is $30, or $50 if not paid within 30 days.

Call your town to find out the laws governing snow removal and possible available assistance.

The full Chicago City Council is slated to decide on the new snow
removal proposal when it votes on a city budget for the new year.

–City council committee approves shoveling fine proposal–