Can You Push Snow Into the Street in Wisconsin? (Janesville Rules)

The local rules

Janesville: ordinance 34-343 prohibits depositing snow from a sidewalk, driveway or driveway approach onto a city street or alley. The city says the most frequent violation is snow from a driveway or parking lot pushed across the street and piled on the opposite terrace or in the street (City of Janesville winter reminders).

Edgerton: it is unlawful for any person or corporation to push or deposit snow from a personal driveway, sidewalk or parking area into the city's streets or alleys (Edgerton chapter 345).

Rock County roads: the county's policy points to Wisconsin statute 346.94(5) as prohibiting it (Rock County policy document). Other Wisconsin counties cite the same statute along with 86.01, 86.07 and 346.95, and warn that whoever deposited the snow can be held liable for a resulting accident.

Where driveway snow can go

• On your own lawn beside the drive, which is where a plow normally stacks it.
• At the top of the driveway or beside the garage on a short urban lot.
• Not on the terrace across the street, not in the gutter line, and not over a fire hydrant.

When you hire it out, the plow operator is the one placing the snow, so ask where it goes before the first storm. On a narrow city lot with nowhere to stack, say so; the price may include hauling or blowing it into the back yard. More on driveway snow plowing.