Saratoga Springs, New York, gets about 60 inches of snow, on average, in the winter – which is more than double the average for the United States as a whole.
What does that mean? Well, if you have to walk anywhere this winter, you need to make sure that you grab your snow boots before you head out the door.
Unfortunately, no matter how well-prepared you are for the ice and snow, not every property owner will do their part to make the walkways safer to navigate in the winter.
What Saratoga Springs property owners are expected to do
Every property owner is expected to keep their premises in reasonably safe condition – and that includes dealing with weather-related hazards like ice and snow.
Under local statutes, property owners, residents and managers of lots that adjoin city streets in Saratoga Springs are expected to:
- Clear the ice and snow from their walks (or a four-foot-wide space where there are no paved sidewalks) within 12 hours of each snowfall – unless the snow stops falling after 7 p.m., in which case the 12-hour window starts at 7 a.m. the next morning.
- Continue to keep the walks or cleared areas free from snow and ice throughout the season.
- Minimize the risk of slips and falls to pedestrians by sanding icy walks or cleared areas.
In other words, nobody expects property owners to be outside, frantically trying to clear the walks while the snow is still coming down. They are, however, expected to attend to their walks within a specific period of time – no excuses.
If you get injured after a slip and fall on a poorly maintained sidewalk, knowing the city’s regulations helps you better understand whether the property owner can be held liable for your losses.