So... What's the rule on snow on the sidewalk?

I just got back from walking my dog and I almost took some serious tumbles out there on the sidewalks. Just take a quick drive down Ridgeway. The hill in particular is pretty bad.

Is the HOA also going to clear the paths through southern walk? I only ask because it's nothing but an ice slick right now. Every other black top surface is completely clear.

I thought that it was required that something like 24 hours after a snow storm the sidewalks need to be cleared. People need to understand that just like the grass if they have sidewalks on their property they are required to clear them as well and not just their driveways.

Sorry to rant but it's actually dangerous out there to walk on the sidewalks.

 

I agree. There are parts on Village that are bad, too. Actually, on Friday morning there was a crew out on my street. But, they only cleared off one side street. So, everyone across the street still has an icey sidewalk and I feel bad for anyone wanting to take their kids along to the mailboxes, or worse yet, an elderly person or someone in a wheelchair!

 

I believe that sidewalks are the responsibility of the homeowner. And If I am not mistaking, they must be cleared within 24 hours of the end of the snow event. Neil Z., chime in if I am wrong!

 

Everyplace I have lived the sidewalks in front of your home are the responsibility of the homeowner. There is usually a city ordinance to reflect this with the possibility of a fine if not taken care of in 24 houirs. Not sure what loudouns law is on this. The common areas are the responsibility of the hoa's.

Lee J Buividas

 

I agree, that's how it should be. That doesn't explain the crew on our street on Saturday.

What about the areas that aren't in front of people's homes? Or, by the mailboxes in the townhomes?

 

Clearing your sidewalks is required by Virginia and Loudoun County codes. There's an article about it on page 5 of the latest Newsletter. Snow must be removed within 6 hours of the end of the snowfall. If it falls overnight, it must be removed by noon the next day. Failure to comply will result in a $250 fine by the county.

 

If you all expect the county or here is it vdot? to plow your streets consistantly especially the newer streets. Think again!!! This county or vdot does not have enough equiupment and people to make that happen.

Just a few years ago waxpool behind MCI took forever to plow and that is a fairly heavily traveled road. County or vdot services in new areas can be spotty at best. I live in a fairly new subdivision near the broadlands and even though we have approved roads our hoa or something still has a private company to plow the roads or they would never get plowed.

Lee J Buividas

 

Sorry, my original post was a bit confusing. I was talking about two issues at once. Re-reading it I was not very clear.

Talking about the homeowner sidewalks, very interesting about the time frame. It's a lot less time than I had thought. How exactly does the county enforce this or do they? It seems to me that this would be one of those rules that are on the books to get homeowners to comply but never actually gets enforced. It would seem quite a few people don't know about this rule.

The other issue I was talking about is the black top path that goes through southern walk. I'm pretty sure that it is still being maintained by the developer since it's not been given it's final top coat yet. It's not a huge deal but it does currently have about a half an inch of ice over almost the entire path. It was fun to keep my feet planted as my dog pulled me over the ice.

Sorry about the bad wording of my original post.

I don't think anyone said they expected VDOT to clear these areas.

 

Cliff et al: One thing our HOA staff does with our website is re-post the snow removal regs at the top of the main page every time it snows, or is ready to. It seems to help a lot with so many people moving in.

Saw the article on sledding and wondered if it was the hill you guys frequently discuss. Some of those kids in the photos had some great air going!

Barbara Munsey, from South Riding.

 

The only way it can be enforced is if the County is informed it is not being done, the County Department of Building & Development is the OPR for this. Of course, people can be held liable if they fall on the sidewalk, and hurt themselves due to the negligence of the homeowner. And of course, ignorance of the law is no excuse, so it is legally and fiscally prudent to clear the sidewalks, and use ice melt to keep ice from forming.


The HOA newsletter posts this information on sidewalk clearing in every edition during the snow season (I believe). FWIW .. snow should be cleared on any sidewalk, whether public or private, that abuts an owner's property, front, sides or rear. So if you have a corner lot, you have to do the entire sidewalk around it if you have a sidewalk surrounding your property. Here's a link to the county ordinance: http://tinyurl.com/btlfy

If it hasn't been turned over to the HOA, then it is the developer's responsibility.





Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

I agree that snow removal on sidewalks in front of homes and property is the home owner's responsiblity. Of at least equal concern is that many areas of common property that are not cleared. In townhouse areas there are many such areas that are left alone. Can we get the HOA to take care of this?

 

decalr-
The HOA has not in the past attempted to keep all of the walking trails clear. It would be very expensive to do so.

Barbara-
That's the hill. The problem is that at the bottom of the "air" is a 4-lane divided road that the kids often shoot out into!

 

I do believe that for some of the common areas that homeowners should take the initiative and help out. At my last home we had a community mailbox area and there were about 4 of us that pitched in to keep the walk way and surrounding area clear so we could get mail. We actually once got yelled at by a person for putting the snow near their property, not on it. lol Some people.

 

Yikes. No wonder you guys don't want to take over the hill property.

Our regs include that homeowners are responsible for adjacent common areas. Not the parks, totlots etc, but sidewalks running between homes that abut natural areas.

This is the only time of year I bemoan a corner lot: two sidewalk stretches, the corner ramp, and three storm drains (which must be dug free, or the handicapped ramp--the lowest point adjoining the property--can back up with melt during the day and freeze at night. Liability!)

Barbara Munsey, from South Riding.

 

IMO
I have to disagree about homeowners taking responsibility for clearing common areas and/or strips of sidewalk in front of them. My husband and I barely have the time to clear our own drive and walk and after working 10 hour days or more(like many of us do around here) who wants to clear what the HOA has responsibility for!

 

There are plenty of kids in the neighborhood that you can pay to do it

 

Let's hope those that can...do their part the next time we get snow or ice.

 

Exactly! I've seen kids walk around with snow shovels after a snowfall. Dixie - what happens if someone falls on your sidewalk....and really hurts themselves? My husband and I are daily walkers - no matter what the weather - and it's very frustrating trying to keep our balance on these unshoveled walks in front of people's houses. If you don't shovel and then it freezes - you have solid ice.....not a good situation. Tough on dogs too.

 

Dixie,
I'm sure I won't be the only one to point out that your opinion is wrong as a matter of law. It has been pointed out in numerous other threads, and earlier in this thread, that the HOA does not have responsibility for clearing the sidewalk in front of your house</u>. The legally binding HOA covenants that you signed when you closed on your house explicitly leave that responsibility to the homeowner.

 

All, apparently you didn't read my post closely... I was very discript about COMMON AREAS I never said personnal sidewalks. Also, let me add that I have had this conversation with a memebr of the HOA and have been told that the HOA has the responsibility for clearing the walks that are deemed common areas

My point being that we clear what we are obligated to clear and not common areas. Hopefully that makes it clear.

Happy Shoveling.