Sidewalk Snow Rules for Commercial Properties in the Spokane Area

The parking lot gets most of the attention in a snow contract, but the sidewalk along your street frontage carries its own set of obligations. Most Inland Northwest cities, including the City of Spokane, require property owners and occupants to keep adjacent public sidewalks clear of snow and ice, generally within 24 hours after a snowfall. For a commercial property, an apartment community, or an HOA, that's a standing obligation from the first storm to the last.

Why It Matters Beyond the Ordinance

A public sidewalk is used by people who never enter your property, and by everyone who does. It's also the surface most likely to be involved in a slip-and-fall claim, because it sees foot traffic at all hours, it's the first thing to refreeze after a sunny afternoon, and it's easy for a plow-focused contractor to skip.

What "Clear" Means in Practice

Rules vary by city, but the common standard is a passable path of a defined width, cleared of snow and treated for ice. Piling plowed snow onto the sidewalk, or into the street, is generally prohibited, which is one reason your site map should show exactly where lot snow gets stacked.

Building Sidewalks Into Your Contract

Your seasonal agreement should list every walking surface that's covered:

• Public sidewalks along street frontage
• Building entrances, vestibules, and stairs
• ADA ramps and accessible routes
• Common-area paths, breezeways, and courtyards
• Mail kiosks, bus stops, and trash enclosures

Sidewalk crews should run alongside the plow route so walks are handled on the same visit as the lot, then treated for ice.

For HOAs

Communities often have both private walkways (the association's responsibility) and public sidewalks along the community entrance and frontage. Both belong on the association's site map. Individual homeowners' walks remain their own responsibility.

Check Your Local Code

Ordinances differ between Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Cheney, and the North Idaho cities, and they change. Confirm the current rule for your jurisdiction, and make sure your contractor's site map reflects it.

PNW Snow Services maps and services every walking surface on the properties we manage. Contact us for a free site walkthrough.