Snow & Ice-Resident Responsibility 

The City of La Crosse would like to remind property owners and residents of the need to clear snow and ice from public sidewalks adjacent to their homes, businesses, and properties. Sidewalks are used by many City residents and visitors. Ice and snow presents a significant impairment and hazard, especially to elderly and disabled citizens. For the safety of our citizens and visitors, the City has an Ordinance that requires snow and ice to be removed from the sidewalk and curb ramps within twenty-four (24) hours after it ceases to fall. City Engineering Department, handles inspections for ordinance compliance and that may occur anytime throughout the season beginning with the first snowfall. 

Complaints of non-compliance, contact the City Engineering Department.

Per City Ordinance 40-8 - Snow, Ice, and Debris Removal:

• Sidewalks shall be cleared to the full width.
• If packed snow cannot be removed; it should be treated as ice and sprinkled with ashes, sand or salt until such time that it can be removed.
• Curb ramps at corner lots or cross walks should be kept free from snow and ice extending past the curb and gutter to the street pavement
• That portion of the sidewalk that crosses an alley should be kept clear to the alley centerline by adjacent property owner/occupants

Failure to comply with Ordinance 40-8 will first result in a citation of $187.00. The owner will then have 24 hours to clear the non-compliant sidewalk. If the owner fails to bring sidewalk into compliance, the City will clear their sidewalk for them. The rate of $0.33 per square foot cleared, will be billed to the property owner. If the property owner violates Ordinance 40-8 a second time following another snow event, they will receive a second citation for the amount of $218.50. If the City has to clear their sidewalk, they will be charged the rate to clear again.

The City of La Crosse does not plow alleys.  It is the responsibility of the residents to remove any snow, if necessary. 

The City provides sand mixed with salt for residents to use on the City sidewalks. Residents are required to bring their own shovels & containers. See here for locations.

Public Sidewalks & Crosswalks 

Residents and businesses are asked to refrain from shoveling, snow blowing and plowing snow from sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots onto city streets. The snow dumped onto the street causes a public safety hazard, can create more work for the neighbor down the road that ends up getting the extra snow, and can cost additional time and personnel for us to return and clear it.

City Ordinance, 5.08(D), prohibits shoveling, blowing, dumping, and plowing snow and ice onto city streets. Fines depend on the amount of cleanup required by the contracted crew, and property owners are billed accordingly. Property owners should deposit the snow from sidewalks and driveways onto their yards or boulevards (the strip between the curb and sidewalk). It is suggested that schools, businesses, shopping centers and other property owners with parking lots make sure that snow being cleared from their lots is either deposited somewhere on the property or hauled away, not dumped onto the street.  

Parked Cars

The single biggest problem in snow plowing is parked and abandoned cars. Those cars present obstacles to our plows, which we try to get as close to the curb as we can. We regularly return to plow snow islands left by parked cars.