Do I have to shovel my driveway, sidewalk in Louisville? What law says
Louisville will be hit by freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall throughout the weekend; This could mean chores for local residents as snow covers the city’s gardens, streets and sidewalks.
under one Louisville Metro ordinanceAfter snow events, homeowners and residents are responsible for clearing driveways and sidewalks in front of their properties. While the meaning of the ordinance is clear and includes a penalty for violations, the city has not issued any citations under the ordinance in years, according to a records request filed by The Courier Journal under Kentucky’s open records law.
Here’s what you need to know about Louisville’s snow removal law and enforcement.
Do Louisville residents have to shovel snow off sidewalks? Will I be penalized for not rowing?
Louisville Metro ordinance puts the responsibility for clearing snow from sidewalks on the property owner or occupant of the property.
“All persons and corporations who own or maintain property adjacent to a public street in Metro Louisville shall have the duty to clear snow that may fall on the sidewalks in front of their property within 24 hours thereafter,” the ordinance states.
For unused properties, the responsibility belongs to the owner or agent. In properties used by someone other than the owner, the responsibility belongs to the owner and the tenant; Both could potentially be cited for violations.
The ordinance requires snow to be placed “on either private property or a public driveway at least 12 inches from the curb.” However, snow cannot prevent water from flowing; so keep it away from gutters, drains or basins.
Those responsible for not removing the snow within 24 hours will be fined between $25 and $100.
How often are we talking about people who don’t shovel the sidewalks in Louisville?
An open records request for citations for violations of the snow removal ordinance between 2020 and 2025 produced no records, meaning no one has been charged for violating that ordinance for years.
The issue of enforcement came to the fore January 2025That’s when Louisville was hammered by multiple snowstorms that dumped several inches of snow.
At the time, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said the city did not enforce the ordinance, adding that officials “reserve the right to change our minds about enforcing this as we continue to move forward.”
Still, he urged people to clear sidewalks to make room for pedestrian traffic.
“We want people to be able to walk and move again. So please, if there are sidewalks and you own the property, it’s your responsibility to shovel and maintain those sidewalks,” Greenberg said at the time.
Will Louisville enforce snow removal regulations this winter?
Spokesperson Kristen Shanahan Louisville Metro Public WorksHe said residents who notice that sidewalks are not being cleaned can report the situation to authorities Metro311The city’s call center for non-urgent issues. The department notifies the property owner and the issue is usually resolved without a citation.
“Based on these reports, the city can conduct inspections and notify property owners that they must clear their sidewalks per ordinance,” Shanahan said in an email. he said. “Often when businesses/property owners are notified they clear the sidewalks, which avoids the need for a citation.”
Killian Baarlaer covers the Louisville Metro Government. He can be reached at kbaarlaer@courier-journal.com or @bkillian72 X. Contact Marina Johnson at marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.
This article first appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal: Do I need to shovel my driveway and sidewalk in KY? What does the Louisville law say?
