During last week’s storms, Boughner said city code compliance officers gave property owners some leeway since the storms rolled in back to back and because a lot of schools in the area canceled classes. Code enforcement officers tend to be stricter if students have to walk to school on icy sidewalks.

Technically, you’re supposed to clear your sidewalk 24 hours after each storm, he said. But in many cases it was snowing again when code enforcement officers followed up on a complaint on Thursday. Code enforcement officers who did go out on Wednesday and Thursday did encourage people to clear their sidewalks in order to keep up with the snowfall.

It’s easier if you keep up with the accumulation, rather than letting it go, Boughner said. If you let it go, then the snow can thaw and refreeze creating a mess of ice and snow that’s more difficult to remove.

One thing that pleases Boughner is stories he hears from neighbors who all pitch in and give gas money to one person on the block who clears all of the sidewalks.