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Casper council amends sidewalk obstruction ordinance to explicitly ban snow deposits; enforcement described as complaint-driven
Summary
On third reading July 15, the City Council amended the city code to add snow to the list of prohibited sidewalk obstructions. Councilors and staff said the change is intended to clarify enforcement for egregious commercial or large-volume snow deposits and is not intended to trigger enforcement against typical homeowners.
On July 15 the Casper City Council approved on third reading an amendment to the municipal code that explicitly prohibits snow deposits and obstructions on sidewalks.
City staff and the city attorney told the council the change is primarily a clarification: when snow is placed in sidewalks or the right of way in a way that blocks pedestrian travel, code enforcement should be able to cite the responsible party. "The addition of the word snow is really just to be very, very clear," the city attorney explained during discussion, adding that code-enforcement officers previously relied on a broader "like substance" clause.
Members of the public asked whether private plowing and neighborhood arrangements could continue. The city attorney and city manager said the city has a limited number of agreements that permit private plowing in specific neighborhoods, but those agreements require clear snow‑deposit areas and guidelines so property is not blocked and public safety is preserved. A resident who identified himself as Sean asked whether private snow-drop locations could be designated; staff replied that such arrangements exist on a limited, contract basis and urged citizens to contact the city manager’s office for specific guidance.
Why this matters: councilors said the amendment is meant to give police and code enforcement a clear tool to address the most egregious obstructions that create safety hazards—for example, forcing schoolchildren into roadways—rather than to pursue routine cases. Councilor Gamroth and others emphasized the city’s code-enforcement staff is small and the ordinance is complaint-driven.
Council action and vote: the ordinance (amending Casper Municipal Code section 12.24.0.03, "Sidewalk obstructions prohibited") passed on third reading with a roll call; Councilor Sweeney voted no and all other councilors voted aye.
Implementation: staff said they will not broadly expand ticketing of homeowners doing routine shoveling; the code change makes enforcement clearer for large-volume or commercial deposit operations. Residents with questions about private plowing agreements were advised to contact the city manager’s office.
