One of the most beautiful things about winter is freshly fallen, fluffy snow. It brightens up the gray and cold months and provides ample activities like building snowmen, making snow angels, freezing maple syrup taffies, and going on crazy sled rides. However, shoveling it is far from fun. While it’s a great form of exercise, being in the cold and knee-deep in snowflakes isn’t something many find enjoyable.
So we can imagine the frustration of this woman when her neighbor, mostly out of pettiness, buried her driveway in snow, leaving her to shovel it. Her landlord refused to do anything about it, which pushed her to take matters into her own hands and fix the issue.
Scroll down to find the full story and conversation with Corey Welch, founder of Mowandsnows.com, who kindly agreed to tell us more about snow etiquette and neighbors.
While playing in the snow can be fun, shoveling it, on the other hand, is far from it
Image credits: alexgolovinphotography (not the actual image)
So when this woman's driveway was buried with snow by her neighbor, leaving her to shovel it, she decided to carry out an icy revenge plan
Image credits: Svetlana Afonina (not the actual image)
Image credits: marceliiine
"Pushing snow onto a neighbor’s property is a quick way to create tension"
According to a YouGov US survey, when it comes to snow removal, most American residents (59%) choose to do it themselves. Men seem to enjoy completing this task slightly more compared to women. In fact, women are twice as likely as men to have someone do it for them for free, like a partner or neighbor.
Other ways Americans remove snow include, paying someone to do it (10%) and just waiting for it to melt (12%). Those who choose the latter, usually live in the South and East and experience significant snowfall much less than their Midwest and Northeast counterparts.
People who choose to remove snow themselves should know how to do it without inconveniencing or disturbing other fellow residents. For more insights on how to do this, Bored Panda reached out to Corey Welch, founder of Mowandsnows.com, an app that connects people with landscaping services with just a click of a button.
He believes that a big no-no while removing snow from one's property is pushing it onto the neighbor's side. "Pushing snow onto a neighbor’s property is a quick way to create tension and could even lead to legal trouble, as many cities have bylaws prohibiting it. It’s always best to keep snow on your own property or dispose of it properly," he says.
"If the problem continues, you may need to check local bylaws and escalate the matter accordingly"
If a person, like the author of the story, is getting snowed in by their neighbors removing snow, Welch recommends staying calm and addressing it directly. "Ring their doorbell and politely bring it to their attention—sometimes they might not even realize they’re causing an issue. If the problem continues, you may need to check local bylaws and escalate the matter accordingly," he advises.
Other snow shoveling etiquette rules suggested by Welch that people should follow to avoid inconveniencing neighbors and prevent disputes are:
- Keep sidewalks clear: If your property has a public sidewalk, it’s your responsibility to shovel it in a timely manner.
- Avoid blocking driveways: Piling snow near a neighbor’s driveway can create a huge hassle for them.
- Mind where you throw snow: Don’t push it onto the street, a neighbor’s lawn, or a shared property line.
- Help when you can: If a neighbor struggles with shoveling—like an elderly person—it’s a nice gesture to lend a hand.
Readers joined in and shared more ideas on how to get back at the neighbor
Others praised the woman for the icy revenge
