Snow Removal requirements City of Imlay City Ordinances by location in the city:

Residential Snow Removal Requirements:

     Section 2.2 Imlay City, MI Code of Ordinances

(t)  The compelling of owners of real property within the city to keep sidewalks abutting upon their property clear from snow, ice, or other obstructions, and if the owner fails to comply with such requirements; to remove such snow, ice or other obstructions and assess the cost thereof against the abutting property in accordance with Section 11.4

Section 11.4 Cost of Acquired Property Added:

Whenever any property is acquired by condemnation, or otherwise, for the purpose of any public improvement, the cost thereof, and of the proceedings required to acquire such property, may be added to the cost of such improvement.

      (Meaning, if the owner does not remove the snow/ice from their sidewalk in a timely manner, the city may):

• Issue a warning for a first offense
• Issue a violation for subsequent events
• Additionally- remove the snow/ice at the owner’s expense

 

Residential- USPS postal carrier addendum-Snow Removal:

While the post office cannot legally “require” you to shovel your sidewalk, they can choose to temporarily suspend mail delivery to your address if your walkway is not clear of snow and ice, creating unsafe conditions for mail carriers, which means they essentially “require” you to clear your sidewalk to receive mail.

Key points about this situation:

• Safety is the primary concern:

The USPS prioritizes the safety of their mail carriers, so they may skip deliveries to homes with obstructed walkways due to snow or ice.

• Local ordinances may apply:

Many local governments have ordinances requiring property owners to clear their sidewalks, which could result in fines if not followed and Imlay City does have an ordinance.

• Communication is key:

The post office will typically notify residents if they are not delivering mail due to unsafe conditions, and may ask you to clear the area to resume delivery.

 Business District Snow Removal: 

• 100.05 MAINTENANCE.

 

• Business District: Removal of Snow and Ice Required; Time Limit: It shall be the duty of every owner, agent, or tenant who may own, lease, or occupy any commercial building within the corporate limits of the City of Imlay City, that abuts any street or alley of the downtown business district of the City, and has a good and substantial cement sidewalk in the front and/or rear of said building, shall clean the same of any snow, slush, ice or other debris within twenty-four (24) hours after the close of any act of nature event which results in the deposit of any measurable accumulation of snow, slush, ice or other debris.

 

Owner, agent, or tenants of any vacant or occupied commercial building, or individuals hired by them, including but not limited to any lot or parcel of land zoned office, business or industrial, and/or any lot or parcel of land zoned multiple dwelling which has on-site parking lots, parking areas, drive-thru or service areas, etc., are prohibited by state law, from shoveling, pushing or blowing snow from sidewalks into a public street, and shall not block any sidewalk area, obstruct vision or create a hazard for vehicles.

• No person, firm, agent, or corporation shall place (intended or unintended) debris, including grass clippings, yard waste, construction materials, or trash on any public street, alley, sidewalk, or public place as part of any routine property maintenance.

Section 2.2 Snow Removal

(t)   The compelling of owners of real property within the city to keep sidewalks abutting upon their property clear from snow, ice or other obstructions, and if the owner fails to comply with such requirements; to remove such snow, ice or other obstructions and assess the cost thereof against the abutting property in accordance with Section 11.4;

Section 11.4 Cost of Acquired Property Added:

Whenever any property is acquired by condemnation, or otherwise, for the purpose of any public improvement, the cost thereof, and of the proceedings required to acquire such property, may be added to the cost of such improvement.

(Meaning, if the owner does not remove the snow/ice from their sidewalk in a timely manner, the city may):

• Issue a warning for a first offense.
• Issue a violation for subsequent events.
• Additionally- remove the snow/ice at the owner’s expense.

Snow Emergencies:

Section 101.03 Prohibited Parking.

No person shall park or allow to remain parked any vehicle on any portion of any street, roadway, highway, or private road within the City during a snow emergency, or park or allow to remain parked any vehicle in violation of any parking restriction instituted as part of a declared snow emergency as provided in this Chapter.  The registered owner of any such vehicle shall be responsible for the cost of removal.

Section 101.04 Declaration of Snow Emergency.

(A)  Declared  Whenever the City Manager finds, on the basis of falling snow, sleet, or freezing rain, or on the basis of a forecast by the United States Weather Bureau or other weather service, that weather conditions will make it necessary that motor vehicle traffic be expedited and that parking on streets of the City be prohibited or restricted for snow plowing and other purposes, the City Manger shall put into effect a parking prohibition on some or all streets within the City or parts thereof, by declaring it in the manner prescribed in this Chapter.

(B) Notice The City Manager, upon declaring a snow emergency, shall cause public announcement of such parking prohibitions and/or restrictions and the affected areas by two or more of the following means:

• Local radio and television media
• City of Imlay City website
• Emergency Alert Notice System
• Cable television public channel
• City of Imlay City approved social media sites.

(C)  Commencement  The parking prohibitions triggered by the declaration of a snow emergency shall become effective one hour after the declaration has been announced in accordance with this Section.

Section 101.05 Termination of Parking Prohibition.

Once in effect, a prohibition under this Chapter shall remain in effect until terminated by announcement of the City Manager in accordance with this Chapter or when both the following conditions have been met:

(1)  significant snowing, sleeting, or freezing rain has ceased;

(2)  street area has become substantially clear of snow and ice from curb to curb for the length of the entire block.

Section 101.06 Enforcement, Impounding of Vehicles.

(A)  Impoundment  Members of the Police Department are hereby authorized to remove or cause the removal and/or impounding of any vehicle that is found parked on any street in the City during a snow emergency.  Such vehicle may be removed and conveyed by or under the direction of a member of the Police Department by means of towing to a vehicle impound lot.  The Police Chief is authorized to engage the services of a licensed towing company to remove vehicles under the direction of a member of the Police Department where the same are found in violation of this Chapter.

(B)  Presumption of Responsibility  The registered owner or lessee of a vehicle is presumed, for purposes of this Chapter, to be responsible for the operation and parking of that vehicle.  In any prosecution with regard to a vehicle parked or left in a place or in a condition in violation of any provision of this Chapter, proof that the particular vehicle described in the complaint was parked or left in violation of a provision of this Chapter, together with proof that the defendant named in the complaint was at the time the registered owner or lessee of such vehicle, shall constitute prima facie evidence that the defendant is responsible for violating this Chapter.

(C) Additional Authority  This Chapter shall be supplemental to any other provisions of law granting members of the Police Department the authority to impound vehicles.

Section 101.07 Exemptions.

In all areas of the City, an owner of a motor vehicle who resides at premises which does not have a driveway shall be exempted from the requirement to move the motor vehicle in the event of a snow emergency; however, residents in the area are required to park their vehicles as close to the curb as possible to make room for snow plows and other emergency vehicles.  Motor vehicles with properly displayed disabled parking placards or license plates shall also be exempt from the provision of this Chapter.

Section 101.08.  Relationship to Other Laws.

Any provision of this Chapter which becomes effective by declaration of the City Manager or upon the occurrence of certain weather conditions shall, while temporarily in effect, take precedence over other conflicting provisions of law normally in effect, except that it shall not take precedence over provisions of law relating to traffic accidents, emergency travel of authorized emergency vehicles, or emergency traffic directions by a police officer.  However, nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to permit parking at any time or place where it is forbidden by any other provision of law.

SECTION 2.  PENALTY.

Any person who violates the provisions of this Chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a penalty not to exceed $500 or imprisonment in the County Jail for a period not to exceed 90 days, or both such fines and imprisonment.