Sidewalks to be Kept Clean.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 116-8
in effect116-8. Sidewalks to be Kept Clean.
1. SNOW AND ICE. The owner, occupant or person in charge of any real property abutting or fronting upon a paved public sidewalk or crosswalk shall remove and clear away all snow and ice on the entire paved surface within 24 hours after the snow or ice has ceased to fall. Whenever ice has so formed on any sidewalk that it cannot be removed, then the persons responsible for snow and ice removal under this subsection shall prevent the remaining ice from presenting a hazard to the users of the sidewalk by applying sand, abrasive material or any product that melts ice to the entire paved surface. Upon placement of excessive amounts of snow in the crosswalks by city plows or other mechanical devices, the commissioner of public works shall be responsible for mechanical clearing of such accumulations so as to provide reasonable pedestrian access from the public sidewalk to the roadway crosswalk. After mechanical clearing by the city is complete, the owner, occupant or person in charge shall be responsible for any needed hand-clearing of the crosswalk opening as required in this subsection.
2. COMPLAINT. In construing the provisions of this section, only owners of vacant lots or vacant premises are deemed to be the proper person whose duty it shall be to comply with this section; where the real property consists of a single family residence or is solely used for business, the owner or occupant shall be deemed to be the proper person whose duty it shall be to comply with this section; and as to any other real property, the owner or any occupants, unless a person has been designated by the owner to be in charge of the premises and is residing thereon, are deemed to be the proper persons whose duty it shall be to comply with this section.
3. MUD AND DIRT. It shall also be the duty of the owner, occupant, or person in charge of the property to keep the sidewalk clean of any dirt, dust, cinders, mud, oil or other similar substances when the sidewalks are clear of snow and ice.
4. CHARGES AND COSTS. a. If a person is found to be in violation of the requirements of this section, the person shall be subject to a special charge of $75. There shall be an additional special charge of $100 for failure to clear or otherwise abate any condition that remains in violation of this section. Upon a subsequent failure to comply with this section in the same calendar year, the person shall be subject to a special charge of $125. Any costs incurred by the city in abatement or remediation shall constitute additional special charges.
b. Special charges made under this subsection shall be due and payable 30 days after billing or, if not paid within that time, become a lien on the subject property as provided in s. 66.0627, Wis. Stats. The lien shall take effect as of the date of delinquency and shall include an administrative charge of $25. The lien shall automatically be extended upon the current or next tax roll as a delinquent tax against the property and all proceedings in relation to the collection, return and sale of the property for delinquent real estate taxes shall apply to such charge.
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-1/CH116.pdf#page=2Fetched: 10/26/2026