The Anne Arundel County Council on Dec. 1 adopted Bill 7,625, changing local law on removal of snow and ice from sidewalks and shifting enforcement from the police department to the Department of Inspections and Permits.

Under the ordinance as amended, property owners abutting county sidewalks must remove snow and ice within 24 hours after the end of a snow or weather event (up from the previous 6‑hour standard, or 11AM for overnight snowfall). The bill adds a warning provision and allows an additional 24 hours to remove snow when accumulation is less than 3 inches and 48 hours when accumulation exceeds 3 inches. The measure also reclassifies violations from a criminal misdemeanor to a civil citation under the county code.

Administration staff said the change responds to last year’s complaints about impassable sidewalks that interfered with children’s ability to get to school and with general pedestrian use. Holly Velez, chief licensing official in Inspections and Permits, told the council that three licensing inspectors would handle complaints “as part of their field days” but acknowledged they would need to prioritize that work alongside licensing duties.

Supporters on the council said moving sidewalk enforcement out of the police department was appropriate so sworn officers can focus on public‑safety duties. Opponents and several public witnesses said the proposal risked imposing fines on residents and small businesses during storms and urged neighborly solutions and stronger transparency about enforcement data.

After public testimony and debate over waiver criteria, staffing and the scale of fines, the council adopted the bill in a 4–3 roll call vote. Council members voting in the affirmative and negative were recorded on the roll call.

The ordinance takes effect according to the timetable in county code; enforcement details (including waiver documentation and procedures) will be developed by Inspections and Permits and the Office of Law, officials said.