Providence Snow Removal

[Bethany Phillips]

Hello, I am a new landlord of a single family home that I split into two units and as it starts to get colder in RI I was wondering if anyone can help explain the city of Providence's ordinances regarding snow removal. For my current tenants I have in the lease that I will take care of the snow removal (I will have to pay someone to go do it since i'm a long-distance landlord. I am thinking of having them do the front path entrance and stairway to the first unit, the driveway which belongs to the first unit, the path to the entrance of the second unit, and maybe the deck/deck stairs or at least a pathway on the deck to the slider-the deck is shared between the two units and the slider leads to the first unit.) But for future reference, I am wondering if I should put in the lease that it is the tenant's responsibility. I started to research the legality of this and of course I cannot for the life of me understand it. Please help explain!!: 

a)All owners or persons having care of any property bordering any street, highway or public place within the city, shall, within the first eight (8) hours of daylight after the end of any snowfall, or the fall or deposit of snow or ice on the sidewalk of said property, from any cause whatsoever:

(1)Remove or cause to be removed all snow or ice from a path not less than three (3) feet in width the length of the sidewalk of the entire border in or on said street, highway, or public place, including from any pedestrian access ramps cut into street curbs bordering said property and, for corner lots, from the portion(s) of the sidewalk extending past the property to and including the street curb, and provide for the treatment of any snow or ice remaining on any shoveled sidewalk, with sand, salt or other suitable material;

(2)Remove or cause to be removed all snow or ice from around any fire hydrant on the sidewalk bordering said property; and

(3)Remove or cause to be removed all snow or ice from the opening of any catch basin bordering the sidewalk of said property.