Anne Arundel Council adopts amendments to sidewalk snow-and-ice enforcement; bill set for Nov. 17 hearing

The Anne Arundel County Council on Nov. 3 adopted a set of amendments to a proposed ordinance that would change how the county enforces sidewalk removal of snow and ice and move enforcement from the police department to the Department of Inspections and Permits.

The council approved amendment 10, which defines "frontage" to remove ambiguity about which parts of a property are subject to the rule, by a 7–0 vote. It then adopted administration-backed amendment 11, restoring a provision that allows the county to bill property owners for the cost when the Department of Public Works clears sidewalks, by a 4–3 vote. The council later adopted amendment 13 establishing time frames for required removal: within 24 hours for accumulations of less than 3 inches and within 48 hours for accumulations of 3 inches or greater, by a 7–0 vote.

Sponsor and council members said the changes respond to complaints after last winter and aim to clarify enforcement mechanics. Ethan Hunt, speaking for the administration, told the council the amendments align enforcement practice with departmental capacity and the county’s objective to make the process complaint driven.

Residents who testified raised concerns about practical effects and fairness. Maureen Carr York, president of the Greater Smyrna Park Council, said some neighborhoods lack sidewalks and that older or infirm residents may be unable to comply; she added that the size of fines and the difficulty of shoveling were central community worries. Doug Nichols, vice president of the Greater Severna Park Council, cautioned that moving enforcement to inspections and permits could encourage complaint-driven enforcement and sour neighbor relations.

Council members debated measurement and enforcement details (for example, where an inspector takes a snowfall measurement) and noted language in the adopted amendments that gives enforcement officers discretion to waive modest shortfalls in measurement. The administration said DPW and inspections staff had reviewed the definitions and enforcement approach and are comfortable with the adopted language.

The bill as amended was scheduled for a public hearing on Nov. 17, 2025. The council recorded votes on the individual amendments as follows: amendment 10 adopted 7–0; amendment 11 adopted 4–3 (Ayes: Smith, Pickard, Radbien, Hummer; Noes: Volke, Spiedler, Ledbetter); amendment 13 adopted 7–0.

If the ordinance advances after the Nov. 17 hearing it will move enforcement of county sidewalk snow-and-ice rules from the police department to the Department of Inspections and Permits, set the fine structure and retain a billing mechanism for county removal by DPW.