Snow
Removal
Berkley is very fortunate to be a walkable community. Our residents, especially children, are fortunate to be able to walk to school and parks. It shows pride in ownership and respect for your neighbors and the community if you shovel the sidewalks abutting your property.
Community Development
3338 Coolidge Hwy.
Berkley, MI 48072
248.658.3320 phone
248.658.3321 fax
building@berkleymi.gov
Office Hours
M-F 8:30AM-5PM
Closed from 1-2PM every day
Information for
Businesses
If your property is in a non-residential district, the R-M-H multiple high-rise residential district, or the Residential Corridor district, you must ensure that snow and ice are removed from sidewalks, ramps, and private alleyways in a timely manner. If the snow and ice stop during the day, you will have 12 hours to complete removal. If the snow and ice stop overnight, you will have until 6 PM the following day to complete removal.
If it isn't cleared on time and it's the first time during the season (October 1 through May 31), the City will notify you in person, by phone, mail, email, or a notice left at the property. You'll have 24 hours to clear it. If it's still not cleared, you'll receive a Municipal Civil Infraction Notice of Violation, and the City may clear it at the owner's expense. Every time after that, you will not receive a warning, and the City may issue a Civil Infraction Citation and clear the snow and ice at the owner's expense.
These rules apply to owners, occupants, and anyone in charge of the property, whether it's occupied or vacant. If you or your contractor needs to coordinate snow removal with our City services, we recommend contacting our DPW department at 248-658-3490 or publicworks@berkleymi.gov.
Click the link below to view the full ordinance.
More
Information
While it shows pride in ownership and the community to shovel the sidewalks, city law only requires Oxford Park Towers and all business property to be cleared of snow (Berkley City Code, Section 106-221).
The ordinance does not apply to everyone because there is no fair way to enforce such a provision. It would take many hours to inspect all the residential and non-residential properties in the City of Berkley. Depending upon the weather, more snow could fall before our officers finished the City or the previous snowfall could melt by the time they reached the other end of the city.
Business properties that do not shovel in a timely manner (as defined in the ordinance) are given a reasonable period of time to correct the matter. Berkley City Code, Section 106-222 provides that the City can clear the sidewalk and bill the property owner for the work. Our Public Works Department provides this service when needed.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding snow removal, please call 248-658-3320.
FAQ
When clearing driveways and parking lots of snow, please remember to not push the snow into the street and be mindful of stacking snow too high, creating dangerous sight obstructions. This is prohibited by Section 106-44 of the Berkley City Code.
When clearing snow from the street end of the driveway, if you pile the majority of the snow on the side opposite the direction that the snow plow travels (i.e. if the snow plow comes by your driveway headed north, pile the majority of the snow on the north side of the driveway) there will be less snow for the snow plow to pile back into the end of your driveway.
If you have a fire hydrant located on your property, please ensure that you do not pile snow on or around it, which might hinder access to the fire hydrant in the event of an emergency.
To assist us in our snow removal operations, please do not park vehicles on any street until after we have cleared the snow from the street.
What materials do we use for de-icing our streets?
We use three materials:
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Unrefined rock salt which contains approximately 98.5% Sodium Chloride, 1.2% Calcium Sulfate, and 0.1% Magnesium Chloride, and 0.2% rock.
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Salt Brine which is predominately Calcium Chloride
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Sugar Beet Juice which is a by product of the Sugar Beet refining process
Why is the salt sometimes blue in color?
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The blue coloring is an additive that serves two functions. First, it helps to prevent clumping of the rock salt while it is being stored, and secondly, it makes it easier for the snow plow operator to see the salt as he/she is applying it to the street.
What is a typical winter snow accumulation in the City of Berkley?
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Southeastern Michigan normally receives between 39 to 43 inches of snowfall annually.