By Tony Zeli
The crews at the Portland Department of Public Works say they are ready for Portland’s famous winter storms. During and after every storm they care for more than 560 lane miles of road. In addition to all those roads, the parks department clears off more than one hundred miles of sidewalks. But most sidewalks are the responsibility of city residents, and Portland has rules that you are expected to know.
Shoveling & Sanding
Property owners must remove snow from public sidewalks.
In fact, the City’s sidewalk snow removal ordinance requires business owners to remove snow and ice from sidewalks abutting their property within 12 hours following a storm. Residential owners must clear sidewalks abutting their property 18 hours after a storm or when the City finishes their snow removal operations, whichever is later.
A minimum of 4 feet.
On all public sidewalks and sidewalk access ramps, residents must clear a path at least four feet wide and treat it against ice. Do not push or dump snow from driveways and parking lots onto public sidewalks and access ramps.
-WEN file photos by Tony Zeli
There are fines.
Business owners who fail to remove snow and ice within these time frames risk facing a $250 fine for the first offense, $500 for the second offense within the same winter season, and $1,000 for any subsequent offense within the same season. For residential owners, the first fine is $75, then $125 for the second, and $250 for any subsequent offense in the same season. Additionally, should the city have to remove the snow and ice or arrange for its removal, they will charge the property owner for the cost of removal plus a 10% charge for administration.
Help your neighbors.
The City encourages everyone to help their neighbors who are physically unable to clear their sidewalks. Elderly and disabled residents who need help should contact the City’s Elder Services Department at 207-541-6620. Also, the Age-Friendly Portland Steering Committee is looking for volunteers willing to shovel snow for an elderly neighbor this winter.
Also, the City encourages members of the community to help the Portland Fire Department by keeping their neighborhood fire hydrants clear. The City currently has 1,460 public hydrants. Additionally, the City asks residents to help Public Works by clearing catch basins and storm drains in front of their homes. This will help prevent water from ponding on city streets and in residents’ driveways.
Get your sand here. The City’s residential sand and salt pile will be located at the Little League parking lot at Payson Park on Baxter Boulevard. This sand and salt pile is free for residential use, and contractors are not allowed. Residents may fill two five-gallon buckets at a time.
Winter Storms & Parking Bans
The City can call a city-wide parking ban, a peninsula ban, or a yellow zone ban, which covers the downtown district. View parking ban alerts on the City’s website or sign up to receive email, text, and phone notices via the Stay Connected feature. Or text”PortlandParkingBan” to 38276 to receive text notifications. People can also get parking ban updates by following City news on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Or call the parking ban hotline at 207-879-0300.
All vehicles left on the street during a snow parking ban will be towed at the owner’s expense. Only cash, VISA, MasterCard, or Discover cards are accepted. No checks. Call the snow impound lot at 207-774-3025.
Find snow ban parking lot options at https://www.portlandmaine.gov/393/Snow-Bans. Lot availability does change. This year there are changes to school lots due to construction activity.
CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINES
For customer service related to winter operations, please call 207-874-8493.
Sidewalk plowing concerns, please call 207-874-8793.
For parking bans, please call 207-879-0300.
More Information
To view a map of city sidewalks cleared by Public Works and Parks, Recreation & Facilities staff, see winter sidewalks.
Tony Zeli is publisher and editor. Reach him at thewestendnews@gmail.com.
