Theoretically, the District Department of Public Works (DPW) enforces a law that requires residents to remove snow and ice from sidewalks in front of their property within a certain of amount of time following a winter storm. Residents ages 65 years and older as well as residents with a disability may apply for a sidewalk shoveling exemption. The exemption lasts for two consecutive snow seasons. The current exemption runs from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022. The deadline to apply for this two year period is February 28, 2021.

I have no idea if DPW is actually enforcing this law during the public health emergency or if it has ever really enforced this law. In any case, let your eligible neighbor know, or better yet shovel off your eligible neighbor’s walk if you can. Residents can also sign up for assistance removing snow through the snow removal waitlist.