Neglecting Your Snowy Sidewalk This Winter? The Little-Known Consequence Of Leaving It Piled Up

If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, it's important to avoid snow shoveling mistakes. For example, don't wait too long to clear the white stuff — it can be compacted under footsteps, cars, or its own weight, turning into a dense mess that's harder to shovel. In that case, you might just give up on shoveling at all, waiting for warmer weather to eventually arrive and slowly melt the snow away.

If ice-melting temperatures are still several days away or longer, what could happen if you don't shovel snow on your sidewalk? One consequence that many people don't know about is an interruption in postal deliveries. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) can refuse to deliver the mail if carriers believe their safety is in danger from icy conditions. In addition to clearing the sidewalk, the USPS requests property owners also remove snow that's near their mailbox.

If mail carriers cannot deliver the mail because of icy conditions or excessive snow piled around the box, they will attempt to deliver the mail the following day, as long as the property owner clears the site and makes it safe. If you simply cannot clear snow from the area around the mailbox to make it safe, the USPS gives you a few different options, including having your mail delivered to a neighbor, meeting the carrier at a safe location nearby, or visiting the local post office to pick up your mail.

Local carriers and post office managers are allowed to decide whether it's safe to deliver mail. The USPS expects property owners to clear enough of the snow and ice to allow for safe traction for the mail carrier when walking. If there are overhangs near the mailbox, you should clear any snow or icicles hanging off the edge. If you have a mailbox along the curb that allows for vehicular delivery, clear snow from 15 feet on either side of the box to make room for vehicles.

One way to ensure that your property is safe for the mail carrier is to follow local snow removal regulations for timeliness. States and cities each have their own rules regarding snow removal — some cities require you to remove snow and ice within four hours after a storm ends, while others might give you as long as 72 hours to finish the work. Check your local municipality's website for information on snow removal ordinances and requirements.

You could potentially be responsible for injuries from not shoveling snow or ice off a sidewalk if someone slips and falls, and this responsibility can apply to a mail carrier who's on the clock. If they slip and fall because you failed to adequately clear snow and ice from your sidewalk, you could be subject to a lawsuit. The mail carrier might first file a workers' compensation claim to help with the financial hardships while recovering from any injuries, but a personal injury lawsuit against the property owner is also a possibility, depending on the circumstances.

You may have a legal obligation to clear your sidewalk if someone from the public could walk on it, including a mail carrier. Depending on the location of your mailbox, mail carriers might have to walk on the sidewalk leading to your door. Just in case the carrier has a package or a delivery that requires a signature, you should clear snow near your home's front steps and door, too, to allow for safe deliveries and to prevent potential liability issues.