If there is ice or snow on the sidewalk outside your home, you’re responsible for removing it. That’s the word from City of Edmonds Street Manager Tod Moles, who notes he receives many questions about sidewalk conditions at this time of year.
“With the recent cold weather we have been getting a lot of inquiries about slick sidewalks, responsibilities and liabilities,” he said. “Sidewalk trip claims are one of the most common claim for damages I have to respond to as the Street Manager.”
According to Moles, the City of Edmonds has “a clearly defined ordinance” that places the responsibility of maintaining a safe walk path on the property owner next to the sidewalk. In fact, line F of Ordinance 9.20.100 speaks directly to the buildup of snow and ice,” he added.
You can read the complete ordinance here.
“The city has no program to de-ice sidewalks other than those sidewalk that are abutting a public facility,” Moles said. “I would encourage those property owners that see an unsafe condition in front of their home/business to take action to eliminate slick or unsafe sidewalks.”
The ordinance seems very clear relating to public safety. Trees can be very dangerous if they are allowed to grow in a way that they could fall upon a street or sidewalk. These trees can also fall and damage utilities. Does anyone know what the process is for a citizen to identify a dangerous tree and have it trimmed or removed to reduce the public danger?
See https://www.edmondswa.gov/tree-code-project.html and https://www.edmondswa.gov/tree-board.html for information.
Thanks Melissa, The tree board stuff does not address the safety elements and the need to identify and deal with safety issues.