Owning or renting a single family home is great. Yes in most cases you have next door neighbors but there not a floor above you or right on the other side of your living room wall but with living in a single family home you have as the owner and possible as the tenant responsibilities.

All municipalities have ordinances that govern how the municipality runs and who is responsible for what.  During the growing season for instance is indicates and governs that the grass is cut in the area and it is not thigh high. When it is icy and snowy outside it spells out who is responsible for cleaning the sidewalks in front of the house from ice and snow.

The ordinances are not only for business owners they are for everybody who lives or works in the municipality. Many homeowners or even tenants don’t realize that they are responsible for clearing the public sidewalk that is in front of the home they own or rent. Many tenants might be getting caught off guard when they all of a sudden receive a notice and maybe fine when they did not clear the sidewalk in front of their rental unit thinking it is the responsibility of the landlord.

In many cases the landlord has written in their lease agreement that it is the tenant’s responsibility to obey by local codes and ordinances and that does include cutting the grass during the growing season and having the sidewalks cleared of ice and snow when it is icy and snowy outside.

When you are not familiar with your local ordinance you can call your local mayors or Town Manager office to find out more.  All of them are more than willing to answer any question you might have.