Could You Be Fined When Shoveling Snow Out Of The Yard And Into The Road?

Your hands are in agony, your back is aching, and your nose is numb. Months ago, you had the energy to prepare your garden for heavy winter snow, but now it's cold, it's late, and all you want to do is finish shoveling the drive and walkways as quickly as possible so you can go inside and thaw out. Plus, you're running out of convenient places to shunt the heavy snow piles. You're pretty sure the snowplows will come through first thing in the morning anyway, so really, what's the harm if you add just a little bit more snow to the street? But this seemingly harmless action can put you at risk of making a potentially costly mistake. Depending on where you live, you may face a warning or a fine.

Although many states don't have laws governing snow removal, the municipal ordinances of your city or county will likely have something to say on the subject. Boston, for example, might slap you with a fine of $100-150, depending on how much snow you tried to offload into the street (or sidewalk!). Notoriously snowy Syracuse threatens $100 per violation. Chicago, meanwhile, has potential fees ranging from $50 to $500 awaiting violators. Even if your city or county doesn't have specific laws on improper snow dumping, it's really never a good idea to shovel your snow into a public roadway or sidewalk, as doing so can contribute to ice buildup, traffic obstructions, and other potentially dangerous issues.

Shoveling the snow onto your lawn or into the side yard of your home is always a safe option, as is piling it up evenly on either side of your driveway. In general, you want to make sure you keep snow piles on your property. You may need to take steps to protect shrubs from heavy snow if they're situated nearby, as the additional weight may snap delicate branches. Otherwise, consider yourself lucky to have so much of what the Old Farmer's Almanac calls the 'poor man's fertilizer' piled onto your lawn and garden.

If you're worried about passing snowplows pushing already-shoveled piles back across your driveway, bear in mind that snowplows push snow to the right of themselves. If you pile the bulk of your snow to the right of your driveway when you face the street and clear a space for any accumulated snow on the plow to the left of your driveway, this should help to eliminate the worst of the problem. If a severe winter storm leaves you with more snow than you think you can safely deal with, you may want to consult a professional snow removal service.