Snow Removal Etiquette

It's that time of year again... for those of us who live in cold climates, sometimes removing the snow can be a test of how much we love thy neighbor.

(PRWEB) December 11, 2005 -- Last year at this time, I can remember bemoaning my neighbor's early morning revving of his snow blower. Because my own driveway was consistently cleared by a good old-fashioned shovel-and-hand method, I was appalled at someone who would begin the clearing process at such an ungodly hour.

But this morning, I was awakened abnormally early (5:30am) by a noise of a different sort...my own husband gearing up to run out and fire up his new shiny 5.5 horsepower snow thrower! And so,it reminded me that it's time to think about snow removal etiquette again.

Managing snow is certainly one of those situations when a bit of consideration is appropriate. For anyone who’s ever experienced it, the fact is that we can get into somewhat of a ‘zone’ and become so focused on the task at hand that we forget to look up and consider what’s being created by the work we are doing. Frequently, neighbors stack snow on adjoining lawns simply because they are oblivious to the problem that this creates. But a bit of forethought and consideration might ensure good relations with the neighbors.

First, when shoveling, we should make it a habit to carefully consider the best way to handle the snow so that the excess is thrown onto our own property as often as possible and when throwing it onto the neighbor’s lawn is unavoidable, it is essential that the snow is added to the non-traffic areas of their property such as the grassy section of the lawn. Snow which falls onto your property is your responsibility so if, in the process of removing it you do end up transferring some onto a neighbor’s driveway or sidewalk, it is necessary for you to remove it right away.

Another issue involving snow blowing is with the timing. Naturally, for those who leave for work early in the morning, the only available time to blow or shovel the snow might come early, which is disturbing to late-rising neighbors. When unavoidable, it might be a nice gesture to simply make contact with the neighbor and let them know that despite the fact that you’d rather shovel later in the day, your work schedule prohibits it. If it is an unreasonably early hour (earlier than say 6:00am or so) then you might want to consider shoveling in the afternoon or evening upon your return from work. As is often true, communication is key to avoiding conflict or resentment.

So as we buckle down for more winter storms to come, just remember that one good thing about snow is that it can make your lawn look as much like a Rockwell painting as your neighbors.

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