Bend reminds people to clear snowy sidewalks

Snow probably will stick around Central Oregon for at least a little while longer. For many people, the first thing that comes to mind after a major snowstorm is accessing their car, then clearing off their roof.

City of Bend officials said Wednesday it’s important to remember you’re also responsible for your property’s sidewalks. If you forget about them, you could get a warning and (conceivably at least) have to pay a major fine.

The city’s Code Enforcement Department will send out a warning letter if someone complains a business or resident’s sidewalk does not have a clear, safe path through it.

Technically, after a snowstorm, city Code Enforcement gives businesses six hours after sunrise and residents 24 hours to clear off their sidewalks.

The department’s manager, James Goff, told NewsChannel 21 they understand that’s not always a reasonable timeline. In the city’s warning letters, officials generally give a person 10 days to clear out their sidewalks and comply with city code.

If for some reason, a person could not comply, Goff recommends you get help from your neighbors, hire a professional, or call code enforcement to figure out a solution together. He explained, they’re not out to get you.

“We’re not being proactive, we’re not going out and searching violators. We’re complaint-driven, so if somebody does file a complaint, we are following up with that,” he said. “Our hope is that we don’t have to issue a citation. We’d rather work with members of the community.”

It’s also important to note that property owners who live in Bend part-time are just as responsible for their sidewalks as everyone else who lives here year-round.

Goff said people who fall into this category need to make sure they have access to their mail so they don’t come home from out-of-state to outstanding bills. He also explained that the city addresses these complaints case-by-case. They’re willing to help a person out as best as they can.

Though clearing out a sidewalk may not seem like a top priority, Goff said it comes down to safety.

“Not everybody drives,” he said. “We have kids that are walking to school, and when I was driving from the west side of town to the east side of town, I saw a gentleman pushing a shopping cart down the middle of Colorado (Avenue) from Safeway.”

If a business doesn’t clear out its sidewalk within a reasonable time after receiving a warning, it faces a $400 fine each day it is not compliant. A resident faces a $200 fine for the same violation.

There’s no need to panic though.

Since 2015, the city’s sent out more than 2,000 warnings to businesses and residents combined. But not one person has been given a citation.