Who Shovels the Sidewalk, Landlord or Tenant? (Wisconsin)
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Short answer
Part of Sidewalk Snow Removal.
What the lease says comes first
The Tenant Resource Center, a Wisconsin housing nonprofit, says a tenant's snow duty should be written in the lease. If the tenant leases the grounds with exclusive possession of the yard and sidewalk, the tenant is probably responsible; if the tenant mows and the lease says nothing about snow, the tenant likely shovels too (Tenant Resource Center, winter issues). In multi-unit buildings with shared walks, it is normally the landlord.
Who the city looks to
Janesville's ordinance 34-59 names every occupant of a lot and every owner of an unoccupied lot (Janesville code). The city's abatement process, though, bills the property owner when it clears a walk (city sidewalks page), so an unshoveled rental becomes the landlord's invoice either way.
Why it matters here
32.7% of Janesville households and 40.6% of Beloit households rent (Census ACS). Landlords with several properties are the people who most often put walks on a seasonal contract so a 12-hour deadline never depends on a tenant's schedule. See sidewalk snow removal and the cost page.
Want a price for your own place?
Call, text, or send the form. You get a written price back before anything is scheduled.
Quick answers
Does a tenant have to shovel snow in Wisconsin?
Only if the lease says so, or if the tenant leases the grounds with exclusive use of the yard and walks. The Tenant Resource Center says a tenant who mows is probably responsible for snow as well when the lease is silent.
Who gets billed if Janesville clears a rental's sidewalk?
The property owner. The city's abatement process bills the owner for all related expenses.
Rather not shovel it yourself?
Tell us the address, the driveway and the walks. We reply with a per-push price and a season price before the first visit.