The Department of Public Works (DPW) is charged with enforcement of the Winter Sidewalk Safety Act (“WSSA”), which requires District residents to remove snow and ice from the paved sidewalks, curb ramps and curb cuts abutting their property after a snowstorm. Qualified residents who are disabled and/or 65 or older are exempt from enforcement with an approved exemption. The Sidewalk Shoveling Exemption Program (SSEP) exempts qualified residents from enforcement by DPW for not removing snow and ice from their sidewalks within the first eight hours of daylight after the end of a winter storm. The exemption is valid for two consecutive snow seasons. Once approved, residents must apply every other year to DPW to continue to receive the exemption.
All individuals who are accepted into the 2024-2025 exemption program will receive a certificate of acceptance from the Department of Public Works Solid Waste Education and Enforcement Program (SWEEP) for the Sidewalk Shoveling Exemption Program period November 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025. Any resident found to be ineligible for exemption last year have to re-apply by October 31, 2024 to be considered for the current exemption period. Residents who fill out the applications below will be considered for the next exemption period.
For additional questions related to this program and eligibility, see the FAQ.
Click here to apply for the Sidewalk Shoveling Exemption.
FAQs/Sidewalk Shoveling Exemption Program
- What is the Sidewalk Shoveling Exemption Program?
- The Sidewalk Shoveling Exemption Program (SSEP) exempts qualified residents for two consecutive snow seasons from enforcement by the Department of Public Works (DPW) for not removing snow and ice from their sidewalks within the first eight hours of daylight after the end of a winter storm. Once approved, residents must apply every other year to DPW to continue to receive the exemption. The next exemption period is from November 1, 2023 - March 31, 2025. The deadline to apply is October 31, 2023. Residents who are currently enrolled in the program will continue to receive this benefit through March 31, 2024, so do not reapply.
- Who is eligible for the exemption?
- Qualified DC residents who meet the following criteria:
- They own and live in their own homes (single-family or apartment buildings with no more than three units), AND
- They are 65 years old or older and/or living with a disability.
- Qualified DC residents who meet the following criteria:
- How are property owners notified of the requirement to shovel their sidewalks and that an exemption from enforcement is available for qualified residents?
- The Department of Public Works reaches out to qualified residents by:
- Mailing postcards to residential property owners.
- Including information about SSEP in the English and Spanish versions of the snow brochure that is posted on snow.dc.gov.
- Providing links to the English and Spanish brochures to the DC Public Library for electronic distribution to their stakeholders.
- Providing English printed snow brochures for the Department on Aging and Community Living to deliver to their stakeholders.
- Posting snow-related messages weekly on Nextdoor during the snow season
- Providing information about the program to members of the District Council, their staff members, and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners.
- The Department of Public Works reaches out to qualified residents by:
- How can residents apply for the exemption?
- First-time applicants and those whose previous application was rejected must apply by September 30, 2023, for the two-year exemption period, November 1, 2023 – March 31, 2025. They may apply:
- Online at DPW’s website https://shovelexemption.dpw.dc.gov.
- By calling the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center at 311. Applicants should receive a confirmation number at the end of the call.
- By mailing the completed Sidewalk Shoveling Exemption application, (obtained from https://shovelexemption.dpw.dc.gov) to:
- Department of Public Works Sidewalk Shoveling Exemption Program SWEEP, 250 E St SW, Suite # 430, Washington, DC 20024.
- First-time applicants and those whose previous application was rejected must apply by September 30, 2023, for the two-year exemption period, November 1, 2023 – March 31, 2025. They may apply:
- Does DPW shovel the sidewalks of qualified residents?
- No, DPW employees do not shovel residents’ sidewalks.
- Is there a DC government agency that will shovel the sidewalks of qualified residents?
- Serve DC enlists volunteers to shovel the sidewalks of residents who own and live in their own homes (single-family homes only, no apartment buildings), who are 60 years old* and/or living with a disability. The Serve DC - DC Volunteer Snow Program is 100% voluntary.
- Suppose a resident who is exempt from the sidewalk shoveling requirement receives a ticket for not shoveling. What should that resident do?
- If you have misplaced your Letter of Certification, the resident should call DPW’s Solid Waste Education and Enforcement Program (SWEEP) at (202) 645-7190 to receive the number of the exemption approval certificate sent to the resident then follow the instructions on the back of the ticket.
- If you have your Letter of Certification, please follow the instructions on the back of the ticket.
- Suppose a resident who is receiving sidewalk shoveling services from Serve DC gets a ticket. What should that resident do?
- If the resident has received an exemption from enforcement, that resident should contact DPW SWEEP at (202) 645-7190 and provide the number of the exception approval certificate, or the resident may follow the instructions on the ticket to protest it to the Office of Administrative Hearings.
- If the resident is receiving sidewalk shoveling services from Serve DC but has not been approved for the exemption from shoveling, the resident may protest the ticket but there is no assurance the ticket will be overturned.
- How much is the fine for not shoveling one’s sidewalk?
- The fine is $25 for residential properties and $150 for commercial properties. Only District of Columbia residents who meet the criteria for may qualify for the exemption from enforcement.
- Can a tenant in a three-unit building qualify for the exemption?
- No, only a homeowner who is 65 years old or older and/or disabled and lives at the property can request an exemption from the sidewalk shoveling requirement.
- Where can I get more information about applying for the exemption?
- Residents may call the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center at 311 or DPW SWEEP at (202) 645-7190.*Serve DC’s age requirement is 60 years of age; however, the sidewalk shoveling exemption regulation sets the age for qualified residents at 65 years of age.
