Snow Removal

Under City Codified Ordinances, 9.08.110. - Snow removal and disposal, Article A. Any owner, occupant, or other person having the care of any building or lot of land that borders any street or public right-of-way (where there is a sidewalk) shall be responsible to clear the snow creating a pathway at least three (3)  feet wide, for the safe passage of pedestrians within five (5) hours of daylight after the snow stops. The Zoning and Inspection Department may issue citations for non compliance with this ordinance.

Yes. City ordinance marks the following streets as tow zones for emergency snow removal work:

• Annandale Road
• Bedlow Avenue
• Bellevue Avenue, from Kay Street to Bowery Street
• Bliss Road
• Broadway
• Coggeshall Avenue
• East Bowery Street
• Farewell Street
• Friendship Street
• Gibbs Avenue
• Gould Street
• Kay Street
• Powell Avenue
• Spring Street
• Summer Street
• Thames Street
• Third Street
• Van Zandt Avenue, from J.T. Connell Memorial Road to Malbone Road
• Warner Street
• Washington Square
• Washington Street
• West Marlborough Street
• West Narragansett Avenue
• William Street

The City must remove the snow from the traveled portion of the road. Generally, the snow is pushed towards the parked cars on narrow streets to prevent damage to these vehicles. In the pavement, you will see various cast-iron utility castings such as manhole covers, sewer covers, water gate boxes, gas gate boxes, etc. If one of these gates is slightly raised the plow can catch the lip of the cover causing the truck to be jolted and slide sideways.

Due to the fact that the plow blades are slanted to push the snow to the side of the truck, when the plow catches a utility cover, the truck is jolted in the opposite direction. If the plow driver were pushing the snow to the non-parking side of the street, the truck would be jolted into the parked vehicles causing damage to both the City truck and the parked cars. So to try and minimize these types of collisions, we push the snow towards the cars which will slide the plow away from the cars when they catch a raised utility cover. On wider streets plows can clear lanes that are not directly adjacent to parked vehicles away from the cars.

On two-way streets where there is only parking on one side, the plow operator cannot push the snow away from the parked cars into the oncoming traffic, as it would create a hazard and liability. Snow is always pushed away from the oncoming traffic. When heavy snowfalls are predicted, residents are asked where possible not to park on the roads. This is done to reduce the occurrence of plowing in parked vehicles, eliminating the chance of damaging vehicles, and allowing for a more efficient plowing operations.

The City does not clean driveways for a few reasons: There are thousands of driveways in the City, the task to clear each driveway would be impossible as it would take days or weeks to complete, the mechanics and operation of the plows do not allow a driver to maneuver to clear driveways, and the cost to of time and materials to clear each and every driveway for each snow event would be enormous.

Unfortunately, this cannot be avoided. The snow must, at minimum, be removed from the traveled portion of the roadway but plow drivers are requested to plow curb to curb where possible. When the City receives a heavy snowfall, if possible, do not shovel your driveway until after the plow has gone by. If you must shovel before that, do not throw the snow out into the roadway as you may create a hazard for another vehicle, and if an accident were to occur you might be held liable.

Under City Codified Ordinances, 9.08.110. - Snow removal and disposal, Article B. No person shall dispose of any snow by throwing or plowing it onto the travel lane portion of any public roadway; nor shall any snow that is shoveled, plowed or collected be deposited directly into any waterway, including, but not limited to, all fresh water ponds and the waters of Newport Harbor.

Shoveling snow into public streets from vehicles, sidewalks, and private driveways is strictly prohibited and against the law. The Police Department may issue citations for this behavior as it can create a hazardous situation.