How to Clear Obstructions From City Sidewalks

Pick up any garbage that is an obstruction, and remove it by hand, if possible. You may wish to use protective gloves if handling waste or garbage. Put the garbage in a bag and set it out on the side of the road for trash pickup assuming you receive that service. If you do not have trash pickup in your area, take the garbage to a dumpster or city dump.

Remove fallen tree branches by hand. Put the branches into a wood chipper, if one is available. If not, check to see if your city will pick up them up with the trash. Another alternative is to burn the branches in your fireplace, if you have one.

If branches are too big to remove by hand, call a tree removal service to get them off of the sidewalk. Some cities may also take care of this for free.

Trim any plants or bushes that may be obstructing the sidewalks. In most cities, you are responsible for lawn maintenance, and you may be fined if your lawn or plants are obstructing a sidewalk in front of your house. If the trees or plants are city-owned and blocking the sidewalk, call the appropriate department in your city and ask for the plants to be maintained.

Use a shovel to remove any snow that is obstructing the sidewalk. You may place the snow into your yard to keep it off the sidewalk. If the sidewalk is covered by ice, throw salt across it to melt the ice. In some cities, snow and ice removal is handled for you.

Call your city's public works department if you cannot remove an obstruction. This may be necessary if the obstruction is in front of a neighbor's house, and you do not have the authority to remove it. Most cities will remove the obstacle, or ask that your neighbor do so.