If You Do This In Buffalo, You May Be Breaking The Law

While the cold weather season has been around for a few weeks now, the last few days have been especially brutal in the Buffalo and Western New York area. We've already been blasted with some super cold air and some lake effect snow, but at this point of the year, things are only going to go downhill from here. While that is great news for the ski slopes and sled hills (and snowplow drivers), it's not such good news for those of us who have to go out and shovel the sidewalks in front of our homes.

So far this year, we have not seen the rock salt shortages that we had last year in the Empire State, so by all means, you should make sure you are stocked up with all the supplies you need to get through the long winter we have ahead.

While you're at the big box store or your local salt supplier, stocking up, you might want to be mindful of what you buy and where you plan to spread it, because you may be breaking the law in the city of Buffalo, and you're using salt to clear the sidewalks near your property.

Can You Believe Spreading Salt On Buffalo Sidewalks May Be Illegal

If you take a look at the City of Buffalo Charter, there is a local law that looks like it is against city code to use salt and some other snow removal substances on city sidewalks and other paved parts of city streets.

No person shall use salt, lime or any deleterious substance to remove snow or ice from the sidewalks or paved portion of any street or public place...
-City of Buffalo Code, Article 7, Chapter 413, Section 52-C

The penalties for breaking this law are classified by the city code as a Class D and Class F fine(s), with penalties that can range from $75 to $450.

READ MORE: The 2026 Golden Snowball Race Is Underway

Considering that the city of Buffalo owns all the sidewalks, but requires property owners to maintain them while also prohibiting them from using salt or other ice melt, seems like an odd law for a city that is routinely among the snowiest cities in America. It's especially odd when you see city snowplows dumping tons of salt on our roads.

Hopefully, the city's code enforcement officers are too busy reviewing the more than 7,000 abandoned and vacant properties the city owns to decide to fine you for clearing the ice from their property.

Get our free mobile app