It's like that in Alberta. We have 48 hours after the snowfall stops to clear our sidewalks or face a fine. including the path in your yard to your mailbox(if you happen to be lucky enough to still have house delivery instead of a neighborhood mail station)

Alacritous: It's like that in Alberta. We have 48 hours after the snowfall stops to clear our sidewalks or face a fine. including the path in your yard to your mailbox(if you happen to be lucky enough to still have house delivery instead of a neighborhood mail station)

Exactly. This is hardly news. It's especially not-news worthy considering how little snow Vancouver actually gets.

It's that way many places in the states also.

Vancouver gets snow?

I'm going to guess submitter lives somewhere that it doesn't snow.

One, this is nothing new. Two, how is Vancouver "Nanny State Jr." Do you even remember that the Nanny State term was originally meant to describe England. Three, why are the purple stuffing not flimflam stop pamphleteer.

It's like that in Colorado and has been since before I was born.

/which means a really long time ago

BGates: It's that way many places in the states also.

it is in the town I grew up in.
Much to my chagrin, since I hated shoveling snow.

Shovel me a river, submitter.

40below: Vancouver gets snow?

Depends. When was Fleetwood Mac's last concert there?

It's a common law even south of the border where we allegedly have property rights.

Here, the sidewalk clearing law is usually not enforced against governments or businesses. For example, where a road goes over a highway on an overpass the sidewalks are government-owned and not cleared. But adjacent property owners are required to clear a dead-end path along their section of sidewalk. You read about towns actively fining people who don't shovel, saying the rule is "for the children" who shouldn't walk in the street to get to school. Those same children are evidently only in danger when a private property owner doesn't shovel; the town itself doesn't clear the sidewalk in front of government buildings.

I've never lived anyplace where that wasn't an ordinance. 48hrs is generous, most places in CT are 24hrs after a storm ends.

40below: Vancouver gets snow?

I've seen it! It's a rare site though.

Also I thought that was the law here in Ontario.

I can't speak as to Vancouver's amount of snow, but I know that there are 12 inches of Snow in de one Toronto.

Also I thought that was the law here in Ontario.

If Canada is like the USA -- and we all know it is, deep down -- these laws are municipal rather than provincial.

Living in eastern NC, I call shenanigans on this "snow" myth.

Outtaphase: I've never lived anyplace where that wasn't an ordinance. 48hrs is generous, most places in CT are 24hrs after a storm ends.

Me neither. I think it's 24 hours here. At least they have insurance if someone slips and injures themselves.

unlikely: It's like that in Colorado and has been since before I was born.

/which means a really long time ago

This
Welcome to America Tardmitter

At least they have insurance if someone slips and injures themselves.

The law here says a property owner is not liable for natural accumulation of snow and ice, regardless of city ordinances requiring snow clearing. The sidewalk laws are legally considered to be for the convenience of the city, not for safety. This is definitely not the rule in all states.

After some storms sidewalks are better off not shoveled. The thaw-freeze cycle that puts a hard, walkable crust on snow puts a hard, unwalkable coating of ice on cleared sidewalks.

ZAZ:
If Canada is like the USA -- and we all know it is, deep down -- these laws are municipal rather than provincial.

Probably. The place I lived at last winter, the owner was always up early in the morning to go to work and would shovel the walkway when she got up so never had a problem. I'll find out this winter however.

Does lefty submitter think the GOVERNMENT should be responsible for clearing the snow from in front of his pot-farm commune?

If it snowed in Los Angeles, it would cause a major fuss.

That's the law here in Toronto. Except when it really snows and the mayor calls in the army.

That's the law in Minnesota as well ;-)

In fact, I think it's 24 hours here...

This is crazy. So the city currently clears folk's sidewalks?

I suspect Subby is a trollmitter.

whatshisname: That's the law here in Toronto. Except when it really snows and the mayor calls in the army.

FTFY

/Haha, Toronto

I've just always assumed it was good manners to clear out the sidewalk in front of your house and the walkway to your front door. Only takes a few minutes with the snow blower anyway.

Little_Dictator: I've just always assumed it was good manners to clear out the sidewalk in front of your house and the walkway to your front door. Only takes a few minutes with the snow blower anyway.

Man, snow blower is an awful name for your children. Do you want them to get teased or something?

whatshisname: That's the law here in Toronto. Except when it really snows and the mayor calls in the army.

I came in for this and am leaving satisfied.

I'm from Minnesota, we've had laws to this effect for as long as I can remember. I have a sidewalk in front of my house, I clear it, it's not that big of a deal.

In Michigan it's shovel your sidewalk or get sued. And people will throw themselves down on your sidewalk to try and get a lawsuit.

So this is how Canadian Health Care works - kill all the elderly with weak hearts.

Fano: So this is how Canadian Health Care works - kill all the elderly with weak hearts.

We actually push them out onto the igloos. We aren't barbarians.

BGates: It's that way many places in the states also.

Elk Grove, CA reporting in

except for that part about the snow

So all this time Boston has had a Nanny State telling us to clear the snow on the sidewalk within 24 hours?

woogs: Little_Dictator: I've just always assumed it was good manners to clear out the sidewalk in front of your house and the walkway to your front door. Only takes a few minutes with the snow blower anyway.

Man, snow blower is an awful name for your children. Do you want them to get teased or something?

I was overjoyed when my father got a snow blower when I was a teen. Living in northern New York and having to shovel snow was a pain in the ass. Even worse when it snowed so much you had to re-shovel it two or three times a day.

Ha! This is what y'all get for living so far up north. I haven't seen any snow (besides nose candy) in person for over 20 years.

carnifex2005: Fano: So this is how Canadian Health Care works - kill all the elderly with weak hearts.

We actually push them out onto the igloos. We aren't barbarians.

Well that sounds quite civil.
/It used to snow here

I've almost been smart enough to live where there is no snow.

It snows here in Austin TX once every few years, grr.

You mean there are place that get snow that don't already have that law?

tinfoil-hat maggie: carnifex2005: Fano: So this is how Canadian Health Care works - kill all the elderly with weak hearts.

We actually push them out onto the igloos. We aren't barbarians.

Well that sounds quite civil.
/It used to snow here

Indeed it does. Carry on then.

Winnipeg does not have this law, in fact I think they want us not to shovel it.

Alacritous: It's like that in Alberta. We have 48 hours after the snowfall stops to clear our sidewalks or face a fine. including the path in your yard to your mailbox(if you happen to be lucky enough to still have house delivery instead of a neighborhood mail station)

This is not news: barring a medical excuse, you have that long to shovel your walk in Madison, WI

mrtimo: Winnipeg does not have this law, in fact I think they want us not to shovel it.

All that snow keeps the mosquitoes down.

And gives you something to look at besides Winnipeg.

To those of you living in snow climates--what are you supposed to do if you're gone when the storm comes?

(We have no such laws here. Nobody owns a snow shovel or a snow blower--in 20 years here I have yet to see snow stick around 24 hours.)

Is this a "make fun of subby thread?" If so, Subby's mom is a whore and is apparently unfamiliar with US/Canadian local ordinances!

Fano: We actually push them out onto the igloos to Elliot Lake. FTFY

Yeah, Columbus, OH gives you 24 hours to clear your sidewalk.

Welcome to Stalag Madison Wisconsin.

Loren: To those of you living in snow climates--what are you supposed to do if you're gone when the storm comes?

(We have no such laws here. Nobody owns a snow shovel or a snow blower--in 20 years here I have yet to see snow stick around 24 hours.)

Hire someone or ask a neighbor.

Around here the law seems to be within 24 days, especially along busy streets that'll kill a pedestrian.