Snow and ice can be dangerous for all ages and especially for children, the elderly and people with disabilities. Property owners in Owatonna are responsible for removing snow and ice from sidewalks surrounding their property. City Ordinance 94.005 states that the owner, occupant or person in charge of any property within the City of Owatonna must clear sidewalks of any accumulated snow and ice from all city sidewalks within 24 hours from the time the snow ceases to accumulate.
Sidewalk inspections are completed on a complaint-received basis. Property owners who do not adhere to the City of Owatonna snow removal policy may receive a written notice requiring they remove the snow within the next 24 hours. If snow is removed from sidewalks prior to the expiration of the posted 24-hour notice, no further action will be taken. Failure to comply with this ordinance will result in the removal of the snow by the City’s contractor and a penalty will be assessed to the property owner. This penalty includes an Administrative Fee and Contractor Clearing Costs. A breakdown of costs can be found at owatonna.gov.
To report an unsafe sidewalk due to lack of snow removal, use OpenGov or call 507-444-4350.