AITA for not clearing the snow from the front of my house?

A Reddit user shares their experience with snow removal in a city that receives heavy winter snowfall. While they always clear their sidewalk as required by law, they’ve grown frustrated with a neighbor who regularly parks in front of their house, taking advantage of the cleared space.

Last winter, instead of shoveling the snow, the user chose to pack it down with their new Bronco, creating icy obstacles that prevented the neighbor from parking there. When the neighbor confronted them about their intentions for the upcoming winter, the user stood firm in their decision not to clear the snow, leading to a heated exchange.

Now, they’re left wondering if they’re in the wrong for prioritizing their parking needs over neighborhood norms. To unpack this snow-covered situation further, read the original story below.

‘ AITA for not clearing the snow from the front of my house?’

I live in a city where we get several feet of snow every winter. I always clean off my sidewalk because it’s the law and the right thing to do. I used to clear off the street parking in front of my house too because I didn’t want to get stuck. One of my neighbors would take advantage of this and occasionally park one of his cars there until they had a chance to speak their spot.

Which meant I had to park down the road. I asked them not to buy they said, rightly, that no one owns the street parking. Last summer I bought myself a Bronco. Last winter I didn’t clear the snow from in front of my house either. I just packed it down with the Bronco. It was a couple of lumpy little icebergs in front of my house.

He tried parking on it but he got stuck on the soft snow between the icebergs and had to spend almost an hour digging himself out. He tried complaining to the city bylaw enforcement but was told that the sidewalks were all I was responsible for since “I didn’t own the parking spot on the street”.

I got to park in my spot all winter with no problems. It was kind of funny in the spring. All the other snow in the area had melted but my icebergs made it into may. Yesterday he talked to me after work. He asked if I was planning on cleaning the snow this coming winter. I said no because I bought a car that didn’t require me to do so.

He said that everyone else on the street cleaned in front of their houses and that I was a d**k for not following suit. I told him that when I cleaned in front of my house sometimes assholes would park there taking advantage of my work. He didn’t like that at all.

See what others had to share with OP:

extinct_diplodocus −  Yes! Well played! Well called out, too! Your neighbor wants you to clean a spot for him to park in. If not, he wouldn’t care what you did. NTA for failing to do extra work you don’t need so that your neighbor can benefit.

snickers2120 −  NTA – your neighbor should *let it go*

[Reddit User] −  NTA. What a beautiful example of malicious compliance. I salute you.

Specific-Succotash-8 −  NTA. If it’s not required, it’s not required. I also deeply enjoy the pettiness of your response to him.

lostalldoubt86 −  NTA- Your neighbor is angry that they can’t park in your spot anymore. You don’t need to clear the spot to park your car there, so you don’t.

NGG16 −  Stealing a cleared spot is ‘sNOw’ joke! NTA

Beck2010 −  Ha! Good for you. NTA. If your neighbor wants a clean space, he can clean one out for himself.

Individual_Ad_9213 −  NTA. No one is under any obligation to shovel their streets; that’s why the snow plows come by, every so often. He wants to continue to take advantage of your efforts. As a compromise, you might shovel your parking lane when (or shortly after) he shovels his.

sweetpotato37 −  NTA. I love your closing comment. He knows he’s the a**hole who ruined it for himself.

Ok_Thought_8721 −  NTA. Here in Chicago your neighbor would be in violation of the “dibs” unspoken laws. People shovel out their cars from their spots on the street and after moving the car they put old lawn chairs, etc. in the cleared spot to establish their dibs on the spot. Woe unto anyone that takes the spot. The violating car is apt to be vandalized for breaking the “law”.

Do you think the user was justified in not clearing the snow in front of their house, given the neighbor’s behavior, or should they have followed the neighborhood norm? How would you handle a situation where your actions as a homeowner clash with the expectations of those around you? Share your thoughts below!