Oxford council weighs new sidewalk-snow ordinance focused on snow routes

Oxford City Council on a recent meeting held a first reading of an ordinance to repeal and replace Oxford Code section 52106 and require property owners on designated snow routes and the middle-school trail route to clear sidewalks of snow and ice by 10 a.m. the day after a snowfall. The draft ordinance would let city crews or a contractor remove snow by force account and charge the property owner, with unpaid charges certified as a lien.

Why it matters: Councilors and residents said sidewalks on major pedestrian routes were impassable for weeks after recent storms, forcing pedestrians into the street. The change would target major corridors used by students and by people walking to transit and businesses, rather than a blanket rule for every street.

The city’s Director of Service, Doug (Director of Service), told council that Oxford has “approximately over 70 miles of sidewalks” and that a Jan. 5–6 storm left “many hazardous locations…