Full Notification

City Officials would like to advise new residents and remind all other property owners of the Harper Woods Snow Removal Ordinance.

For pedestrian use, all property owners shall keep sidewalks in front or adjacent to clear from snow and / or ice. Whenever any snow or ice has fallen or accumulated it shall be cleared within thirty - six (36) hours after it has fallen or accumulated.

The City Ordinance and penalty are listed below:

Sec. 23-4. - Removal of snow and ice from sidewalks by owners of abutting property.

The occupant or owner of any premises shall keep the sidewalks in front of, or adjacent to such premises cleared, so far as is practicable and reasonable, from snow and ice to facilitate pedestrian use. Where there are no sidewalks, the occupant or owner as aforementioned, is required to clear a path free from snow and ice where a sidewalk would otherwise be, to facilitate pedestrian use. Whenever any snow or ice has fallen or accumulated it shall be cleared within thirty-six (36) hours after it has fallen or accumulated.

Sec. 23-4a. - Penalty; enforcement.

(a)Any person who is found to have violated this section shall be deemed responsible for a municipal civil infraction as defined by section 113(1) of the Revised Judicature Act (MCL 600.113(1)) and punished by a civil fine as provided herein plus costs and expenses.

(1)For a first offense, a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall be assessed.

(2)For a second offense, a fine of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) shall be assessed.

(3)For a third offense and all subsequent offenses, a fine of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) shall be assessed.

(b)For purposes of this section a prior offense means a prior or current resident of the property or prior or current owner of the property for which the current violation applies has had a judgment entered against them for a violation of this section for that property within the same snow season. Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense.

(c)For purposes of this section a snow season shall mean from October 1 to April 30 of the following year.

(d)To charge a violation as a subsequent offense, the issuing officer shall note on the citation that it is a subsequent offense and all dates of the prior offenses and all of the names of all persons or entities to whom the prior citations were issued that make this a subsequent offense.


(e)Lien against property. If the owner fails to pay any fines, fees, penalties, or civil infraction awards required by this section, then the amount due shall accrue interest at the rate of twelve (12) percent per annum or, if twelve (12) percent is deemed invalid for any reason, the highest amount allowable by law, from the date when it becomes due and shall be filed with the city assessor's office and shall collected in the manner fixed by law for collection of taxes and assessments.

All criminal fines and/or civil infractions, which are awarded in favor of the city and assessed against the owner and/or agent may be assess against the property in any way allowed by this section or any other law.